Colter was the one for Jennings because there is someone out there for everyone. The vocalist of ‘Storms Never Last’ claimed that none of her husband’s third wife understood him.

Colter, a well-known singer known for her hits ‘I’m Not Lisa’ and ‘What’s Happened to Blue Eyes’ among many others, was married before to meeting Jennings.

Rockabilly icon Duane Eddy was her first husband. In 1961, he helped Colter realize her dream of becoming a singer by producing a record for her. As a result, her star began to shine brightly. The couple had a daughter named Jennifer after getting married.

Nevertheless, despite being married, Colter eventually began seeing Jennings. Jennings was not interested in it, but Colter wouldn’t budge, and Eddy started to feel jealous. They eventually got divorced in 1968 after splitting up.

While still married to their respective husbands, Colter and Jennings first met. Colter wonders, in retrospect, what she was thinking while collaborating on a song with Jennings. The song had been about a failed marriage, surviving pain, and dealing with the consequences from a broken relationship.

Although she wasn’t aware of it at the time, she now understands that she may have unintentionally shared her marriage problems with Jennings because most writers go into the shadowy corners of their minds to get material.

Despite her sadness, she tried to convey that everything was OK. balancing her responsibilities as a wife, mother, and songwriter.

As her marriage developed, she came to the conclusion that she didn’t want to continue in a relationship marked by rising bitterness and a lack of romance. She wanted the pain to stop as she endured in silence.

Despite considering divorce to be an emotionally unpleasant process and an admission that no one wanted to make it work, she broke the cord and divorced.

JENNINGS AND COLTER FORM A COUPLE

Later on, Colter would find out that Jennings was also unsatisfied in his marriage. When Colter and Jennings started dating, Jennings already had five children: four biological from his marriage with Maxine Caroll Lawrence and one adoptive from his five-year union with Lynne Jones.

Terry, one of Jennings’ sons, claims that before getting married to Colter, his kids were informed of their father’s behavior and his several relationships. Terry, like their father, chose Colter over the rest of their father’s ‘wives-in-waiting,’ though.

Although Colter and Jennings would go on to become one of the most well-known couples in the outlaw movement in country music, their marriage wasn’t always easy.

Terry claimed that Colter’s acceptance of much of Jennings’ behavior was the only reason the marriage survived. According to The Boot, she would say to CMT:

‘I merely adored him, I adored him! He kept me thoroughly amused. He got me laughing. I felt loved by him. He motivated me.’

However, they had only one objective: to preserve the family’s unity. Jennings told Terry that he intended to arrange a private celebration for their 25th anniversary, during which he and Colter would renew their vows. He also desired the presence of all of his children and grandchildren.

Waylon also revealed that Colter had written Jennings a letter before they got married explaining that he was a wild stallion and needed someone who would let him go free. Years later, Terry’s wife Debra heard Jennings defending himself. He said:

You have no idea how much Jessi begged with me to be with her. Colter refuted Jennings’ claims, and when he produced the letter to support his argument, she minimized it. Terry mentioned that he could only speak highly about Colter.

Fortunately, Jennings changed completely once he became sober in the 1980s, and Colter was rewarded for her persistence in dealing with him.

Colter would later admit that it took a lot of effort to get there and that in order to follow Jennings’ logical path, she had to give up things she needed or wanted.

Colter felt the need to give up her work for her children, even though Jennings constantly encouraged her to pursue her career and even insisted they record a duet album, ‘Leather and Lace.’

She desired time with her small children. Shooter, the kid she shared with Jennings while she was still a teen, was still very little. She’d state: They required all of my focus, and I was happy to give it to them.

LEGACY OF JENNINGS AND HIS HUGE FAMILY

Like any other marriage, theirs had its ups and downs, and in the 1980s, and the problems   even put them on the verge of divorce. But they decided to remain faithful to one another till Jennings passed away in 2002.

Jennings was not merely a musician. He was a legendary musician who was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in October 2001. He is credited with starting the outlaw trend in country music.

In addition to his career, he also left a legacy. Five of his seven children were biologically his own, one was adopted, and the other was a product of his third wife’s previous relationship.