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

Remembering The Death Of Waylon Jennings, One Of The First Country Outlaws

Waylon Jennings Death
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.

On February 13, 2002, Waylon Jennings died after a long battle with diabetes-related health problems. The country legend was said to have died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Chandler, Arizona. He was 64.

Unfortunately, Jennings’ unhealthy lifestyle – with decades of excessive smoking, drug use, and poor diet – led to diabetes, which made him miserable. In 2000, he even had his left foot amputated following a diabetes-related infection.

Waylon Jennings was buried in the City of Mesa Cemetery in nearby Mesa, Arizona. A headstone was placed on his grave, which comes with his famous “Flying “W” symbol.

His Death Hit Country Music Community Real Hard

Several country stars whose music he influenced and the lives he touched reacted to Waylon Jennings’ death. This includes Martina McBride, who noted how Jennings didn’t just open doors, but “knocked down doors for all artists who want to break the mold.” Meanwhile, Kix Brooks revealed that the legendary singer was one of the reasons he got into country music.

More than a month after his death, Jennings was honored by his friends during a memorial service at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. This includes Kris Kristofferson, Billy Ray Cyrus, Travis Tritt, and more.

Jennings actually has one of the most illustrious careers in country music. For five decades, he had recorded 50 albums and charted several singles on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, with 16 of them reaching the top spot.

He had his greatest run of successes in the 1970s with a bass-driven sound that yielded from years of experimenting with honky-tonk-flavored music. Among the most popular songs of Waylon Jennings are “I’m a Ramblin’ Man,” “Good Hearted Woman,” “I’ve Always Been Crazy,” “Rose in Paradise,” “Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love),” “Are You Sure Hank Done It,” “I Ain’t Living Long Like This,” and “Amanda.”

Truly, Waylon Jennings has become one of country music’s most enduring and distinctive hitmakers. He will never be forgotten.

Latest Stories

Mary MacGregor performs "Torn Between Two Lovers" live in the 1970s, holding a microphone with a soft, emotional expression that captures the song’s quiet heartbreak.

“Torn Between Two Lovers” Might Be the Most Soft-Spoken Cheating Song Country Music Ever Adopted

In a decade full of outlaw anthems, trucking songs, and Conway Twitty slow burns, nobody saw this one coming. Released at the tail end of 1976, “Torn Between Two Lovers” ...

WWII Marine Corps veteran Don Graves, age 100, sits in a Nashville recording studio wearing a military hat and red shirt, having just signed his first country music record deal.

This WWII Veteran Just Signed His First Country Record Deal at 100 Years Old

There are country songs, and then there are country lives. Don Graves didn’t just live through one of the bloodiest battles in American history. He came home, built a life, ...

Split image of Toby Keith and Blake Shelton performing with guitars; highlights the backstory of how Shelton’s label passed on “I Wanna Talk About Me,” which became a massive hit for Keith.

Blake Shelton’s Label Rejected “I Wanna Talk About Me” and Toby Keith Turned It Into a Monster Hit

Every artist’s got one: the song that got away. For Blake Shelton, it just happens to be one of Toby Keith’s biggest bangers. Blake recently dropped by The Tonight Show ...

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, ...