The Unexpected Relationship Between John Lennon and Waylon Jennings

Music has an interesting way of making opposites attract. Whether it be a mutual fondness for the same song or a respect for another person’s talent or taste, music has the power to bring people together in a way no other means does. That being so, it unexpectedly brought together two iconic musicians and created a relationship worth mentioning. The relationship in question is between Waylon Jennings and John Lennon.

On the surface, Lennon and Jennings couldn’t be farther apart on the musical and general life spectrum. One dude is an outlaw country singer from Texas and the other dude is a pop rocker from England. In a way, you might have a better chance of making a dog and a cat get along. However, throw all of these face-value judgments aside, as when Lennon and Jennings met they took quite a liking to each other.

Waylon Jennings and John Lennon’s First Interaction

Even though the two resided in different genres, they were of similar age. Thus, they surely shared some of the same musical influences such as Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, and Little Richard. Although, their first interaction and newfound relationship had nothing to do with music. Rather, they just liked each other as good-humored dudes with a similar edge.

In a 1996 interview with Terry Gross, Jennings recalled the time he met Lennon stating, “I met John Lennon, and we were cutting up and everything at one of the Grammy things.” Jennings added, “And I said, ‘Man, you’re funny. I didn’t know you were funny,’” and “‘I thought you were some kind of mad guy or something like that.’”

Lennon replied, “Listen, people in England think you shoot folks.” Humor matches humor in this situation and given both figures’ dry sense of humor, it seems the two respected the shots they both gave each other.

Lennon’s Letter

Following their meeting at a Grammy function, Lennon went so far as to write a letter to Waylon Jennings. Lennon wrote in the letter, “Twas good ta meet ya” and “I should have released it as a single myself, but I left it too late… but it ain’t for someone else.” Lennon closed out his letter with, “All the best to you” and “Saw you on T.V. last week V.G.(Nice Band.)”

For a Beatles and country music fan such as myself, we rarely get to see these types of crossovers. Thus, this moment and the letter that ensued is a moment that should be relished despite its age. In all, it’s just cool and makes one think about all the other topics and jokes the two threw at one another in their unexpected relationship.

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