Though Waylon Jennings passed away in 2002, his influence on country music has never faded. As one of the founding fathers of the outlaw movement, Waylon reshaped the genre by rejecting Nashville polish in favor of grit, independence, and truth. Now, more than two decades later, his music is entering a powerful new chapter — guided by his son.
Shooter Jennings has announced the release of a new album built entirely from previously unheard recordings left behind by his father. Titled Songbird, the project is scheduled for release on October 3, with two additional albums planned to follow.
According to reports, Shooter compiled the material after diving deep into his father’s personal archives — a process that revealed far more than he ever expected.
A Locked Room Full of History
Shooter has spoken openly about discovering the recordings in a mysterious “storage room” from his childhood home — a room that was always locked.
“When I was young… there was a room that was always locked,” Shooter shared on social media.
“I have vivid memories of dozens of grey boxes in cubby holes with notes jotted in marker on the outside. I knew what was in those boxes was my dad’s work.”
Inside those boxes were tapes, demos, and recordings spanning multiple eras of Waylon’s career — some featuring his original band members, others capturing moments that never made it to official releases.
What He Found Changed Everything
What began as archival curiosity quickly turned into revelation.
“What I found was massive historical documentation of a man and a band with an incredible friendship, work ethic, and deep passion for playing and recording music,” Shooter said.
“What I found was way beyond my wildest fantasies.”
Shooter has described the experience as discovering his father all over again — not just as a legend, but as a working musician obsessed with sound, collaboration, and honesty.
Inside Songbird
The album’s first single, the title track “Songbird,” is itself unexpected — a cover of a Christine McVie song, recorded by Waylon with members of his original band. The second single, “The Cowboy (Small Texas Town),” is being released next, offering fans a more familiar outlaw-country lens.
While several posthumous Waylon Jennings albums have already been released over the years, Shooter insists this material is different — more intimate, more revealing, and more complete.
A Gift to the Fans — and to Himself
For Shooter, Songbird is more than an album. It’s personal.
“Songbird is the beginning of Waylon’s return to the modern world,” he said.
“This is the first of three gifts from me to you — the fans that have kept my father’s voice, songs, and legacy alive all these years.”
He added that working on the project has given him a deeper understanding of his father than ever before.
“This project has given me an entirely new chapter in my relationship with my father…
The hard work is there on the tapes, and the passion and the soul within is as alive today as it was the day it was recorded.”
In an era when posthumous releases are often questioned, Songbird stands apart. It isn’t a label-driven resurrection — it’s a son opening a door that had been closed for decades.
Waylon Jennings once said he wanted his music to be honest above all else.
If Shooter Jennings’ words are any indication, the songs waiting inside that locked room still are.