Flashback: See Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter’s Stunning ‘Silent Night’
One memorable Christmas Eve, “I’m Not Lisa” singer Jessi Colter was surprised at home by her husband Waylon Jennings, who had backed his 1969 Mack truck up to the house. He then proceeded to unload a Chickering grand piano in the couple’s living room. The gift was one Colter would play for years, even recording songs on it that would be included in the star-studded tribute LPs to her husband, who died in 2002.
Married in 1969, the couple lived in Nashville and had a son, Waylon Albright “Shooter” Jennings, who has not only contributed to his famous dad’s legacy but also carved his own unique musical path. The couple, who recorded together throughout their separate solo careers, reached an emotional peak with this breathtaking version of “Silent Night.” Jennings sings the first verse with a warm and passionate vocal that accentuates the song’s reverent retelling of the birth of Christ. Colter, who accompanies him on piano throughout, offers a more soulful interpretation with her solo on the second verse, which also features Jennings singing harmony.
Colter is currently working on a new album and also readying the release next year of An Outlaw and a Lady: A Memoir of Music, Life with Waylon, and the Faith That Brought Me Home. The book will chronicle her early years and her sometimes turbulent life with the Country Music Hall of Fame icon. Penned with David Ritz, the memoir will be released April 11th.