Travis Tritt Recalls The Advice From Waylon Jennings That Changed His Career Forever

Travis Tritt may have climbed the charts early in his career, but that didn’t mean Nashville always embraced him with open arms. When the pressure to fit into country music’s mold started to get heavier, Waylon Jennings was a shining light that stepped up to remind him why staying true to himself mattered most.

During an interview on the Marty & McGee CMA Fest Special presented by Regions Bank, the country act recalled how much love he felt after dropping his first three singles – “Country Club,” “Help Me Hold On,” and “I’m Gonna Be Somebody.” These songs were accepted by the Nashville industry because they fit right into the bounds of the genre, however everything changed when he wanted to switch things up to incorporate influences beyond country music in 1990’s “Put Some Drive In Your Country.”

Feeling The Negativity From Music City

“All of a sudden they hated me, man. They were just trashing me left and right. ‘We don’t know what he is. He’s a renegade, he’s a rebel, he’s a non-conformist.’ And then they finally hit on one that they really seemed to stick on. They hit on, ‘oh, we know what he is. He’s an outlaw.’ And man, that was really starting to weigh on me.”

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Tritt started to receive major pushback from radio, record labels, etc., despite behind adamant about the fact that he wasn’t trying to make a statement, he was simply trying to show fans all the different musical influences that he grew up on. Waylon Jennings saw Tritt struggling to stay afloat and made sure to call attention to his resilience one night when they were both performing in Atlanta.

Jennings pulled him aside and asked, “you’re still selling records?” to which Tritt responded, “Yes, sir. Every album I’ve done so far has gone platinum or better, still drawing concert tickets. Every show we’re doing sold out.”

The Weight Of Waylon Jennings’ Words

It was what the country icon said next that made all the difference for Travis Tritt.

“He said, ‘well, there you go. That’s all that matters. You must be doing something right if those people are coming in. So to hell with all those people, ignore ’em.’ And man, that just lifted a burden off my shoulders that I don’t even think he realized at the time.”

In another previous interview with Marty Smith, Tritt went on to recall more of that life-changing conversation. He noted how Jennings pointed out that just as Nashville was quick to turn on him, it did the same to legendary acts like himself as well as Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams Jr., and Kris Kristofferson.

“He said, ‘these people in Nashville, people at radio stations and these people at the record labels and these people that write for these country music magazines,’ he said, ‘they get their music for free.’ He said, ‘the people that should matter to you are those people that go out there and work 40 and 50 and 60 hours a week hard to earn that living, to put food on the table for their families, and they’re willing to spend a certain amount of that money to go out and buy your music and occasionally go out and buy a concert ticket if you come to town.’ He said, ‘that’s who you play for.’ He said, ‘those other people pay no attention to them. That’s not who you’re playing for…And it was like mind-blowing.”

Finding Success In Authenticity

Hearing this completely changed Travis Tritt’s perspective on the business. From that moment on, he has continued to live by Jennings’ advice and it’s safe to say it’s proved to be successful for him.

Throughout his career, the “Foolish Pride” singer has charted more than 40 times on the Hot Country Songs charts, including five number ones and an additional 15 top ten singles. Plus, he has scored two Grammy Awards, received four awards from the Country Music Association and has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1992.

For Tritt, that conversation marked a turning point that helped him build a legacy on his own terms.