Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

10 Facts About Jessi Colter That You Probably Didn’t Know

Jessi Colter Facts
by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

Jessi Colter is more popularly known to many as the country legend and outlaw pioneer Waylon Jennings’ wife and vocal duo. Their collaborations have been largely successful, and they were dubbed as the outlaw movement’s “it” couple. But of course, Jessi Colter is more than just an associated name to a great country music singer. In fact, Jessi Colter – just like Jennings – is a highly-respected and successful singer in the genre. She was one of the very few female artists who emerged from the ‘70s outlaw movement with a breakthrough country music career. 

And so, let’s get to know Jessi Colter better with these 10 facts that you probably didn’t know about her. 

1. Jessi Colter is not her real name. 

Jessi Colter was born Mirriam Joan Johnson on May 25, 1943, in Phoenix, Arizona. She was raised in a strict Pentecostal home with her mom as a preacher and her father as a racecar driver. And by the age of 11, she was already playing the piano at church. It was in 1961, after she graduated from Mesa High School, that she started singing in local clubs in Phoenix. At the time, she was still using her birth name as her artist name. It was years later that she changed her stage name and billed herself as Jessi Colter. 

2. She married right after high school. 

Jessi Colter, or at this time still known as Mirriam Johnson, met her first husband, Duanne Eddy, in 1961. Eddy is an American instrumental rock guitarist, and he held a string of hit records back in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s. They were married in Las Vegas and settled as a couple in Los Angeles. During this time, Colter used her married name Mirriam Eddy when she pursued a career in songwriting. They also had a daughter named Jennifer. 

3. Her songs were recorded by big names in the music industry. 

During her early songwriter days, her songs were recorded by the likes of Don Gibson, who wrote the country standards “Sweet Dreams” and “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” Nancy Sinatra, who is Frank Sinatra’s eldest daughter, and Dottie West who is considered one of the most influential and groundbreaking female country artists. 

4. As Mirriam Johnson, Colter released two singles. 

She released her first work as a singer and an artist using her real name. She released two singles under the Jamie Label, with her first song entitled “Lonesome Road.” It received scattered airplay in several US markets but didn’t manage to make it into any national charts. The second single failed worse and didn’t even get regional airplay. 

5. Jessi Colter didn’t record for nearly a decade after her two failed releases. 

After her releases flopped, she didn’t record again and only toured with her husband Eddy until they separated in 1968 and divorced the next year. She then went back to her home state Arizona. 

6. She met and married Waylon Jennings in 1969. 

It was a whirlwind of events that happened between Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter. The two first met in 1969 in Phoenix in a bar called JD’s. Jennings was on a gig, and Jessi had just gotten back after her separation from her ex-husband Duane Eddy. 

Jennings, who was signed with RCA Records only three years before, helped Colter secure her recording contract with the label. And she did so, which became a turning point in her life and career. They married, moved to Nashville, and then collaborated with Jennings, co-producing Colter’s debut album, A Country Star Is Born. They had a son in 1979 (May 19) named Waylon Albright “Shooter” Jennings.

7. By the time she released her debut album, she adopted a new stage name. 

When she released A Country Star Is Born, she adopted her stage name Jessi Colter which was born out of her love of outlaw culture and her own family tree. It was a feminized version of Jess Colter, an ancestor who robbed trains, made counterfeit money, and rode with the then-popular James gang.

8. It was 1975 when she got her first-ever hit. 

She signed with Capitol Records in 1975 and released her debut single, “I’m Not Single,” which gave her the breakthrough in country and pop. It topped the Billboard country charts, reached the top five on the pop charts, and became a 2x platinum single. The next Jessi Colter songs also proved to be very successful, and she established herself as a big-selling ‘albums artist. She was on a career-high until the 1980s, when her success began to decline. 

9. She almost divorced Waylon Jennings. 

It wasn’t a secret that Jennings had serious problems with his addiction to drugs. And back in the 1980s, the couple nearly divorced. But they chose to remain together until Jennings’ death in 2002. 

10. In 2006, Jessi Colter made a comeback. 

It was in 2006, four years after her husband’s death and 20 years after her last studio album, that she finally decided to go back and record. She released her album Out of the Ashes, a reflection on Jennings’ death, under Shout! Factory label. And in one track titled “Out of the Rain,” she featured an unused vocal of her husband. 

There’s not much news about Jessi Colter these days, but maybe we’ll hear from her hopefully sometime soon! 

Latest Stories

Split image of Zach Bryan performing live on stage with guitar and John Moreland playing guitar in a studio; reflects their public feud following a canceled collaboration.

Folk Musician John Moreland Says Zach Bryan Was Rude, a D*head, and Not Who You Think

Well, the gloves are off in Oklahoma. What started as a cryptic shot from Americana singer-songwriter John Moreland has now turned into a full-blown fallout with country megastar Zach Bryan, ...

Carrie Underwood appears as a judge on American Idol, amid speculation she may not return next season—not because of backlash, but because she knows she belongs on the stage, not behind the desk.

American Idol Was Renewed but Carrie Underwood Might Not Return for the Right Reasons

Carrie Underwood isn’t the problem with American Idol. In fact, she may have been the best thing that happened to the show this season. But if the rumors are true ...

Garth Brooks' Mississippi lawsuit was dismissed but the California case continues.

Garth Brooks’ Mississippi Lawsuit Is Over, But the California Case Is Just Getting Started

A Mississippi judge has dismissed Garth Brooks’ lawsuit against his former hairdresser as “moot,” ending one chapter of an ongoing legal battle. But don’t let that ruling fool you. The ...

George Strait, seen performing with his signature black cowboy hat and guitar, recently revealed he may only have five years left on the road

George Strait Says He Has “Maybe Five Good Years” Left to Tour and That Sound You Hear Is a Million Hearts Breaking

You never want to imagine a world where George Strait isn’t somewhere on a stage, guitar slung over his shoulder, letting the steel ring through the rafters while the crowd ...

Carrie Underwood speaks passionately as a guest judge on American Idol, wearing a floral purple outfit, while fans react online to her controversial critique.

Carrie Underwood Faces Idol Backlash After Fans Call Her Critique Rude and Unfair

Carrie Underwood knows a thing or two about American Idol pressure, but some viewers think she brought the wrong kind of heat this week. After Sunday and Monday’s Top 5 ...

Vince Gill smiles while playing guitar onstage at the Grand Ole Opry as his granddaughter Everly and daughter Jenny Gill join him, creating a touching three-generation family moment.

Vince Gill’s Granddaughter Everly Steals the Show with Surprise Grand Ole Opry Debut

There’s legacy, and then there’s bloodline. And when you’re Vince Gill’s granddaughter, stepping onto the Grand Ole Opry stage isn’t just a “moment”, it’s a birthright. On Saturday, May 3, ...

George Strait pays tribute to Johnny Rodriguez following the late singer’s passing.

George Strait Honors Late Country Legend Johnny Rodriguez With a Heartfelt Tribute

Country music legend Johnny Rodriguez, one of the genre’s most groundbreaking voices and its first major Mexican American star, died Friday, May 9, in San Antonio at 73. His daughter, ...

John Foster performs Brooks & Dunn’s “Believe” on American Idol as his emotional mom watches from the audience with a supportive sign on Mother’s Day.

John Foster Sings Brooks & Dunn’s “Believe” for His Mom and Brings Her to Tears in the Audience

It takes guts to sing a Brooks & Dunn song on national TV, especially one like “Believe.” But it takes something even heavier to pull it off on Mother’s Day, ...

Chris Stapleton and Keith Urban side by side as fans debate Stapleton's powerful ACM performance of "Blue Ain't Your Color" and whether it outshined the original.

Chris Stapleton Took On Keith Urban’s “Blue Ain’t Your Color” but Who Sang It Better

Keith Urban may have recorded it first, but Chris Stapleton just might’ve claimed it for good. When Stapleton took the stage at the 2025 ACM Awards and delivered a smoldering ...

Maren Morris appears in a recent interview, attempting to clarify her stance on country music after previously signaling a departure from the genre.

Maren Morris Now Claims She Never Said She Was Leaving Country Music

Maren Morris wants you to know she never said she was leaving country music. Apparently, all that talk about burning it down was just a misunderstanding. In a new interview ...