Is portrayed by his son Shooter Jennings in Walk the Line (2005).

He was usually regarded as the unifying, central force of "The Highwaymen", as he brought together Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson, all of whom he had been friends with since the 1960s.

He claimed that his guitarist Jimmy Byrd was the only other man who could perform his trademark "Chicken Picking" style of guitar playing and often called him "Abe Lincoln" due to his resemblance to former president Abraham Lincoln.

Stevie Nicks wrote her 1981 hit "Leather & Lace" at Jennings` request, as a song for he and wife Jessi Colter. It was his intent that they would record the song at a future time. However, by the time Nicks finished penning the song, Waylon and Jessi had split. Nicks recorded it with Don Henley (of The Eagles). The Nicks/Henley version was included on her 1981 LP "Bella Donna" and went to #6 on the US charts. Waylon and Jessi never made a studio recording of the song.

Jokingly told his friend Buddy Holly that he hoped his plane crashed, after he gave up his own seat, but was said to be extremely remorseful of the light-hearted comment and for years felt somehow responsible for his friend`s death.

Worked as a DJ at a Lubbock, TX radio station.

Son (with Jessi Colter) Shooter Jennings (b. Waylon Albright Jennings, 1979) sings with the L.A. band Stargunn.

He often refused to attend music awards shows on the grounds that performers should not compete against each other. Despite those sentiments, he won two Grammy awards and four Country Music Association awards. He did not attend his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001.

When he was told by doctors to quit touring, he auctioned off much of his equipment. Less than a year later, though, he was back playing concerts.

Survived by Jessi Colter, his fourth wife, and seven children.

He sold more than 40 million albums and singles worldwide, including 16 #1 country hits.

Won a Grammy Award for a version of "MacArthur Park" recorded with The Kimberleys.

Named Male Vocalist of the Year by the Country Music Association in 1975.

His other hit singles included "I`m a Ramblin` Man", "Amanda", "Lucille", "I`ve Always Been Crazy" and "Rose in Paradise".

His "Greatest Hits" album in 1979 sold four million copies--a rare accomplishment in country music for that era.

"I`d like to be remembered for my music-- not necessarily by what people see when they see us-- but what they feel when they talk about you," he said in 1984.

In the mid-`80s he joined with Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson to form the quartet The Highwaymen, which recorded together and did concert tours.

He made occasional forays into TV movies, including Stagecoach (1986) (TV) and The Oklahoma City Dolls (1981) (TV), plus the Sesame Street movie Sesame Street Presents: Follow that Bird (1985) and a low-budget country/western musical, Nashville Rebel (1966).

Had have one of his feet amputated due to diabetes in 2002.

High school dropout who got his GED in 1989.

Ended a 20-year cocaine addiction in 1984. At times he was spending $1500 a day on the drug.

Was supposed to be on the flight that killed Buddy Holly, `The Big Bopper` and Ritchie Valens. The Big Bopper was ill and wanted to fly rather than ride the tour bus, so Jennings gave him his seat on the plane.

He was married and divorced three times before marrying Jessi Colter.

Was briefly a member of Buddy Holly`s band as the bass player.

Married 4 times.