An Outlaw and a Lady, Jessi Colter
An Outlaw and a Lady, Jessi Colter
3 Rating(s)
List: $21.99 | Sale: $15.39
Club: $10.99

An Outlaw and a Lady
A Memoir of Music, Life with Waylon, and the Faith that Brought Me Home

Author: Jessi Colter, David Ritz

Narrator: Devon O'Day

Unabridged: 6 hr

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Published: 04/11/2017


Synopsis

Renowned songwriter, singer, and wife of Waylon Jennings writes an intimate, enormously entertaining memoir of American music, of life with Waylon and the Outlaws, and of faith lost and found.The daughter of a Pentecostal evangelist and a race-car driver, Jessi Colter played piano and sang in church before leaving Arizona to tour with rock-n-roll pioneer Duane Eddy, whom she married. Colter became a successful recording artist, appearing on American Bandstand and befriending stars such as the Everly Brothers and Chet Atkins, while her songs were recorded by Nancy Sinatra, Dottie West, and others. Her marriage to Eddy didn’t last, however, and in 1969 she married the electrifying Waylon Jennings. Together, they made their home in Nashville, which in the 1970s, was ground zero for roots music, drawing Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Shel Silverstein, and others to the Nashville Sound. And Jessi was at the center of it all, the only woman on the landmark Wanted: The Outlaws album, the record that launched the Outlaw Country genre and was the first country album to go platinum. She also tasted personal commercial success with the #1-single “I’m Not Lisa.”But offstage, life was a challenge, as Waylon pursued his addictions and battled his demons. Having drifted from the church as a young woman, Jessi returned to her faith and found in it a source of strength in the turmoil of living with Waylon. In the 1980s, Waylon helped launch the super group The Highwaymen with Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Kris Kristofferson, and the hits kept rolling, as did Waylon’s reckless living. Amid it all, Jessi faithfully prayed for her husband until finally, at Thanksgiving 2001, Waylon found Jesus, just months before he died. An Outlaw and a Lady is a powerful story of American music, of love in the midst of heartache, and of faith that sustains.

About Jessi Colter

Jessi Colter is one of America’s most beloved singer-songwriters. Her storied career began in the sixties when, encouraged by her first husband, guitar legend Duane Eddy, she composed hit songs for Dottie West, Nancy Sinatra, and Hank Locklin. Best known for her collaboration with her husband, Waylon Jennings, and for her 1975 country-pop crossover hit “I’m Not Lisa,” she was the only woman featured on the landmark album Wanted: The Outlaws that forever changed American music. She has fifteen major-label albums to her credit, and her songs and records have sold in the tens of millions. She lives near Scottsdale, Arizona.  

About David Ritz

David Ritz, called the "first call celebrity collaborator" by the New York Times, recently wrote Willie Nelson's bestselling It's A Long Story. He has collaborated on memoirs with, among others, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and B. B. King. His books include Scott Stapp's Sinner's Creed; Nik Wallenda's Balance: A Story of Faith, Family, and Life on the Line; and Messengers: Portraits of African American Ministers, Evangelists, Gospel Singers, and Other Messengers of the Word. He lives in Los Angeles, California.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Valerity (Val) on September 03, 2019

3.5 of 5 stars When I ran across this biography of Jessi Colter awhile back I decided to grab it. I had seen both Jessi and her husband Waylon Jennings in concert in Gainesville, Florida with Jerry Reed at a small venue many years ago (‘82, ‘83ish) when I lived in Central Florida briefly the first ti......more

Goodreads review by Rod on April 29, 2018

The wife of Country music outlaw "Waylon Jennings" tells us her side of the story. And it's nice to hear. She sounds like a lovely lady who put up with a whole lot of Crap. The first thing we learn is that Jessi Colter is not her real name. That was her given entertainment business name. I don't even......more

Goodreads review by Mark on August 15, 2017

In her well written autobiography Jessie Coulter, with assistance of David Ritz, details her life along with her years with Waylon Jennings. It was not the first marriage for the country music stars but it would be their final one lasting over 25 years. As in most relationships, individuals do not c......more

Goodreads review by Jennifer Little on April 14, 2017

Where do I even begin. I have always loved Waylon which is what made me want to read this book. I was not prepared for the journey this book took me on. I laughed, cried, got angry and felt a spiritual release. Jessi is in my opinion the kind of woman I want to be. She showed such grace and strength......more

Goodreads review by Karen on May 28, 2019

Wonderful book. Waylon is my favorite singer of all time & I have loved Jessi Colter’s music. I grew up with their music & story. I have read all of the Waylon biographies & it was so wonderful to read about the story from Jessi’s point of view. It was a beautiful story & interesting to find out how......more