Luke Bryan‘s comments about outlaw country greats being “strung out on drugs” and “laying in a gutter” have caused an uproar among fans and even some family members — with one of Waylon Jennings‘ daughters-in-law posting a particularly heated response on her Facebook page — but other Jennings family members have stepped in to say that there is no ill will.
Jennings’ son Shooter Jennings has revealed that Bryan apologized to Jessi Colter, Jennings’ widow, and he commends the “Kick the Dust Up” hitmaker for his humility.
“Luke Bryan called my mom today to clarify that he would never disrespect my dad or me or any of us,” Shooter Jennings tells the Los Angeles Times. “He also asked for Buddy’s number to call Kathy [Pinkerman Jennings, the daughter-in-law who posted her feelings on Facebook]. Whether or not he does, that takes a lot of guts.”
After all, Jennings says, plenty of artists — himself included — have said things in interviews that they regret.
“I misfired and said some things in the past about people, namely John Mayer. And I didn’t have the guts to apologize,” Jennings continues. “So, that being said, that kinda won me over.”
He adds later, “I’ve had my fair share of words being twisted and articles being sliced and diced. So I figured it was that … My point is, it’s all flush in my book. He said some [stuff], and because of the internet, it came back on him. But he went above and beyond and manned up and apologized. In the long run, I believe his image has improved.”
Shooter Jennings’ comments are a huge contrast to Kathy Pinkerman Jennings’ remarks. In her Facebook postings, she called Bryan a ”platinum, disrespecting, no singing, whining, grasping for media attention, a–hole.” While Shooter Jennings says that he loves his sister-in-law for her “defense of the family and caring so much for the legacy,” he doesn’t necessarily agree with her distaste for Bryan.
“[A]s my mom says, [some] people out there want things the way it WAS, and nothing else. I’m not defending pop music, but I am defending new music. My dad never liked labels, and neither do I,” Shooter Jennings says, adding, “While I support my family obviously, personally the whole thing didn’t make a difference to me.”
Bryan is currently on his 2015 Kick the Dust Up Tour with opening acts including Dustin Lynch, Thomas Rhett, Randy Houser and Florida Georgia Line.
