Twenty years ago, the country music world was shaken to its core at the loss of country music legend, Waylon Jennings.
Battling type two diabetes, the outlaw country icon passing away in his sleep at age 64, in February of 2002, in his Chandler, Arizona, home.
Needless to say, the man was an inspiration for to so many up and coming country artists in the ’80s and ’90s, including the likes of Hank Williams Jr., and Travis Tritt.
After his death, the Grand Ole Opry hosted a tribute night for Jennings, with a number of artists either covering his songs, or playing songs inspired by him.
Travis Tritt, Hank Jr., and Marty Stuart were three of them.
On the Opry stage in front of a rambunctious crowd, the trio played Hank Jr.’s iconic Waylon inspired 1985 song, “Outlaw’s Reward,” while leaving a fourth seat open on the stage in memory of their hero and friend.
Of course, “Outlaw’s Reward” is no cry in your beer type song, as it’s a song about the rowdy lifestyle outlaw country artists live, as Jr. sings about the reward Jesus has on his head for living a life of sin.
Just Travis and Hank on the acoustic guitars, and Stuart on the mandolin.
This was also Bocephus’ first trip back to the Grand Ole Opry in more than 20 years…. I’d say the song was the perfect tribute.
