Shooter Jennings facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shooter Jennings
Jennings in 2009
Background information
Birth name	Waylon Albright Jennings
Born	(1979-05-19) May 19, 1979 (age 46) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres	Country rock outlaw country southern rock
Occupation(s)	Singer musician record producer songwriter
Instruments	Vocals guitar piano
Years active	1996–present
Labels	Universal South Black Country Rock Media Low Country Sound

Waylon Albright "Shooter" Jennings (born May 19, 1979) is an American musician and record producer. He is the son of famous country singers Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter. Over his long career, Jennings has explored many different styles of music.

Jennings released his first single, "4th of July," in 2005 from his album Put the "O" Back in Country. The song was a success, reaching No. 22 on the Billboard country charts. Since then, Jennings has released many more albums, including Electric Rodeo (2006), The Wolf (2007), Black Ribbons (2009), Family Man (2012), The Other Life (2013), Countach (For Giorgio) (2016), and Shooter (2018). He has also released live albums and other recordings.

Early Life

Jennings was born in Nashville, Tennessee, on May 19, 1979. There are two stories about how he got his nickname, "Shooter." His mom says it came from her and his dad's love for cowboys and westerns. But his dad told a funnier story. He said that right after Shooter was born, he surprised a nurse before he even had a diaper on. Jennings has said, "I love my mom, but I like Dad's version better."

Growing up, Jennings spent his early years on his parents' tour bus. He was surrounded by music legends like Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson. He started playing drums when he was only 5 years old. At age 8, he began piano lessons, and by 14, he was playing the guitar. Sometimes, he even played percussion in his father's band.

In high school, Jennings was the lead singer for an industrial rock band called KilRaven. In 1996, he and his father recorded an album together called Fenixon. They couldn't find a company to release it at the time. Some of the songs were later used on the album Waylon Forever. The full Fenixon album was finally released in 2014.

Music Career

Stargunn

In 2001, Jennings moved from Nashville to Los Angeles to start his music career. He formed a rock band called Stargunn. The band released their first album, The Only Way Up Is Down, and toured with other popular bands. Music Connection magazine named Stargunn one of the Hot 100 Unsigned Artists of 2001.

The band's music was featured in a tribute album to Waylon Jennings and in the movie Made. After three years, Jennings decided to end Stargunn in 2003 to start a solo career. He was even asked twice to be the lead singer for the rock supergroup Velvet Revolver, but he chose to focus on his own music.

First Solo Albums

In 2005, Jennings signed with Universal South Records and released his first solo album, Put the "O" Back in Country. The album's single "Fourth of July" became a hit. The album version of the song even featured the legendary George Jones. That same year, Jennings played his father in the movie Walk the Line, about the life of Johnny Cash.

His next album, Electric Rodeo, came out in 2006. It had a louder, more rock-and-roll sound. In 2007, he released The Wolf, which had a 1970s feel and included a cover of the Dire Straits song "Walk of Life".

New Directions

After leaving Universal records in 2009, Jennings started to experiment with his sound. He appeared on the TV show CMT Crossroads with his friend, musician Jamey Johnson. They performed several duets together.

His 2010 album, Black Ribbons, was a big change from his country work. It was a rock opera that told a story set in a future world. The famous author Stephen King even had a speaking part on the album. This project earned him many new fans and showed how versatile he was as an artist.

Return to Country and Film

In 2012, Jennings returned to his country roots with the album Family Man. He had recorded so much music that he split the project into two parts. The second part, The Other Life, was released in 2013 and had a darker tone.

Jennings also created a 32-minute film to go with The Other Life. The movie tells the story of a musician on tour who faces many challenges. The film won Best Short Film at the 2013 Horror Hound Festival. His music was also featured in the TV series The Punisher, where he made a guest appearance as himself.

Producer and Recent Work

In 2013, Jennings started his own record company, Black Country Rock Media. This allowed him to release music for himself and other artists.

His 2016 album, Countach (For Giorgio), was a tribute to the electronic music pioneer Giorgio Moroder. It featured guest artists like Brandi Carlile and Marilyn Manson. The album was a surprise hit on the dance music charts.

Jennings has also become a successful record producer. He worked with Brandi Carlile on her Grammy-winning album By the Way, I Forgive You. He also produced While I'm Livin' for country legend Tanya Tucker, which also won two Grammy Awards. His work as a producer has helped many artists create award-winning music.

Musical Style

Shooter Jennings's music is a mix of many styles. His influences include rock artists like David Bowie and Nine Inch Nails, as well as country stars like Hank Williams Jr..

Rolling Stone magazine has called him a "country-rock outsider." Jennings himself doesn't like to be put into one category. His music often combines hard rock with outlaw country. His album Black Ribbons even explored metal and electronic music. This shows he is an artist who plays by his own rules.

Personal Life

Jennings is the son of country music stars Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter. His father passed away in 2002. At his father's memorial service, Shooter sang one of his dad's famous songs, "I've Always Been Crazy."

Jennings was in a long-term relationship with actress Drea de Matteo. They have two children together: a daughter, Alabama Gypsyrose (born 2007), and a son, Waylon Albert (born 2011).

On June 4, 2013, Jennings married Misty Brooke Swain. They live in Hollywood, California.

Discography

Studio albums

• Put the "O" Back in Country (2005)
• Electric Rodeo (2006)
• The Wolf (2007)
• Black Ribbons (2010)
• Family Man (2012)
• The Other Life (2013)
• Fenixon (with Waylon Jennings) (2014)
• Don't Wait Up (for George) EP (2014)
• Countach (For Giorgio) (2016)
• Shooter (2018)
• Sometimes Y (with Yelawolf) (2022)

Film and Television Appearances

Awards and Nominations

The Grammy Awards are given out each year by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Jennings has won two awards from five nominations for his work as a producer.