Whey Jennings comes from country music royalty, and he intends to continue to honor his family’s heritage with his music. The grandson of Waylon Jennings just released a new song, appropriately called “Old Country Song,” featuring Wes Shipp.
Jennings also celebrates other artists who are continuing the legacy left for them in the video, which features Keith Whitley and Lorrie Morgan‘s son, Jesse Keith Whitley and John Paycheck, son of Johnny Paycheck. Fellow outlaw Creed Fisher also appears in the “Old Country Song” video as well.
“John Paycheck just so happened to be in town, and same for Jesse Keith Whitely. Jesse Keith and I have been friends for five or six years, and I’ve always enjoyed working on various things with him over the past few years,” Jennings explains to Taste of Country. “We all just happened to be in the same town, at one time, and as rare as that is considering how busy we all stay, I’d call it dumb luck or call it a blessing.
“Whatever it was, I’m glad it happened,” he adds. “It’s always good seeing my brothers and catching up whenever we can.”
Jennings knows that country music has gone through a lot of changes since his famous grandfather was making music. Still, the singer-songwriter vows to do whatever he can to keep that style of music alive and thriving, for generations to come.
“People like us, traditional country music fans, are a dying breed, and by ‘us’ I don’t mean just artists,” Jennings explains. “There’s a large cult following for old country music-loving men and women, and we are all like-minded individuals that when old country songs are played, it brings us all together. With me and fans, I ain’t never gone wrong with an old country song, so you can plan on me to keep the tradition alive for as long as I can.”
“Old Country Song” is from Jenninggs’ next album, Just Before the Dawn album, scheduled to be released on Sept. 22.
“These are the greatest songs I’ve ever released, written, or had any part of in my career,” Jennings maintains. “They highlight my past, my present, and my future. I believe they will speak to a large audience and be accepted in an amazing way. That’s how I feel about this project and I pray fans feel the same.”
Jennings also recently released “Wild Child,” a song that also celebrates his love of traditional country music. It all points to Waylon, both with his music and their shared sobriety journey.
“My grandfather’s influenced pretty much everything I’ve ever done in music, because I always think about how he did it,” Jennings previously told Everything Nash. “And I’m wondering if it’s about the same mindset I’m in. I remember when my grandfather got sober, and he was really trying his best to do a new album, without the same dark edge on it. I’ve been thinking on it and thinking on it and thinking on it, and writing and writing and writing.
“And I don’t want to go too all the way right,” he added. “I don’t want to stay in the dark. I want it to have a real impact on anybody. People who have been sober their whole life, people who have been sober for just a little bit. People who aren’t sober. I just want it to be something that my kids can enjoy. Something that everybody can enjoy.”
All of Jennings’ music at WheyJennings.com.
