1– In 1959, Waylon Jennings gave up his seat to J. P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson, who was suffering from the flu, on the ill-fated flight that crashed and killed musicians Richardson, Buddy Holly, and Ritchie Valens. He was haunted by the tragedy and the loss of his close friend, Holly.
2– Waylon was the narrator of The Dukes of Hazzard and also composed/sang the show’s theme song “Good Ol’ Boys.”
3– After several disciplinary issues, 16-year-old Jennings dropped out of high school— oddly enough at the insistence of the superintendent.
4– Waylon was fired as a radio DJ after he played two Little Richard records in a row during his program.
5– Jennings performed some of the hand claps on Buddy Holly’s tune “You’re the One.”
6– While living in Nashville, Waylon rented an apartment with Johnny Cash.
7– In 1972, Jennings was hospitalized with hepatitis and considered retiring from music permanently since he was also fed up with the music industry.
8– During his hospitalization, Waylon grew a beard and was convinced to keep it to match the image of Outlaw Country.
9– In 1985, Jennings joined with USA for Africa to record “We Are the World” but he left the session due a dispute over the song’s lyrics that were to be sung in Swahili. (Ethiopians do not speak Swahili…)
10- The country singer-songwriter made a cameo in the 1985 live-action film Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird. He played a turkey farm truck driver who gives character Big Bird a ride. He also sings “Ain’t No Road Too Long” on the soundtrack.
