Honoring a legend – and his good friend.
Travis Tritt has often spoken about the influence that the legendary Waylon Jennings had on him, from the advice he gave him early in his career to his friendship through the later years of Waylon’s life.
Back in 2021, Travis revealed the career-changing advice that the country music legend gave him when he was facing criticism within the industry early in his career:
“He said, ‘I’ve been hearing all these things they’re saying about you on the radio stations and some of these people in Nashville and some of these country music magazines. I just want you to remember one thing:
Those people get their music for free. They never pay a dime for music. The only people that you need to care about are the people that work hard. 40, 50, 60 hours a week to put food on the table for their families and put a roof over their heads.
And those people that are willing to spend some of that hard-earned money to go out and buy your music every time you release a new product, or occasionally, they will splurge for a concert ticket to come see you play when you play live somewhere close to them.
Those are the only people that you need to care about. The hell with the rest of them.’”
Amen.
And even today, over 20 years after Jennings passed away, Travis continues to pay tribute to his friend from the stage.
During a recent show at The Caverns in Pelham, Tennessee, Travis took some time to honor Jennings with an incredible acoustic medley, while also taking some time to talk to the sold-out crowd about what Waylon meant to him:
“I loved everything about Waylon Jennings before I ever met him. I loved his singing voice, I loved his songwriting, I loved his guitar pickin’. And one of the things I loved about him the most was that he was going to do things one way and one way only, and that was his way.
When I got started in the music industry that’s all I wanted to do too, was to just do things my own way, and be a little bit different.
Waylon and I became very good friends. We had a chance to write together and record together and played onstage together numerous times. As a matter of fact I played with Waylon the very last concert that he ever did at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
Because I loved him so much, and I know for a fact that he loved me, if you don’t mind I’d like to do my own little tribute to my buddy Waylon Jennings.”
Well of course nobody minded at all when Travis launched into a medley of some of Waylon’s hits, including “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way,” “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys,” and “Good Ol’ Boys,” the theme song from the Dukes of Hazzard.
It was an incredible moment, and The Caverns provided a magical setting not just for the tribute to Waylon but for the entire evening.
If you’ve never checked out the venue in Pelham, Tennessee, just outside of Nashville, it’s set inside a cave that provides unmatched acoustics and a unique venue for some incredible music. They’ve really done an amazing job with the place, from the restrooms to the concession stands, making it a great experience that you may not necessarily expect from a show in an underground cave.
And even though it was cool outside during the show, the natural setting provides the perfect climate control for a comfortable 59-degrees year round (which feels just right when it’s filled with concertgoers).
Not only do they have the stage inside the cavern, but they’ve also added an outdoor stage and unique “yurts” that you can stay in when you come for a show (perfect if you have too much to drink and don’t feel like driving back).
The whole thing was a pretty special experience, capped off by this magical tribute to a country legend.
