“SHE WAS THE ONLY WOMAN IN WAYLON’S BAND” — Carter Robertson Finally Shared The Untold Stories Behind The Outlaw Years
During the height of the Outlaw Country era, standing beside Waylon Jennings was not easy.
His band was tough.
The road life was brutal.
And country music in the 1970s was still overwhelmingly dominated by men.
But somehow, one woman carved out her place inside one of the most legendary bands in country music history.
Her name was Carter Robertson.
In June 2016, the Franklin Theatre hosted a deeply emotional musical memoir event titled Playin’ on the Tracks, based on Robertson’s autobiographical book of the same name.
The evening allowed Carter Robertson to finally tell her story publicly — not only as a musician, but as the only female member ever to perform in Waylon Jennings’ band during the peak Outlaw years.
The performance blended storytelling, live music, memories, and personal reflections from life on the road with Waylon Jennings and the legendary musicians surrounding him.
Robertson was joined by members of Waylon’s former band, the group Carter’s Chord, and even special guest Jessi Colter, Waylon’s wife and musical soulmate.
According to organizers, the event was designed to transport audiences back into the raw, magical atmosphere of the Outlaw Country movement — a time filled with rebellion, creativity, endless touring, and larger-than-life personalities.
But Carter Robertson’s story stood out because it revealed a side of Waylon’s world many fans rarely heard about:
What it felt like to survive inside it as a woman.
At the time, being accepted into Waylon Jennings’ inner musical circle reportedly required toughness, resilience, talent, and the ability to handle the unpredictable chaos of outlaw country life.
And according to people who knew the band, Waylon respected authenticity above everything else.
If you earned his trust, you became family.
The event also carried a deeper emotional purpose.
The performance benefited the Nikki Mitchell Foundation, created in memory of Nikki Mitchell — a major figure in country music management who worked closely with Waylon Jennings for over two decades before passing away following a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
Nikki was widely respected throughout Nashville and remained deeply connected to the Jennings family and business operations for years.
That connection made the evening feel even more personal for many longtime Waylon fans.
Because Playin’ on the Tracks was not simply a concert.
It was a living memory of the Outlaw era itself.
A reminder of the people behind the music.
The friendships.
The struggles.
The touring life.
And the untold stories hidden behind one of country music’s most legendary movements.
For many fans, Carter Robertson’s memoir became especially meaningful because it preserved a rare female perspective from inside Waylon Jennings’ world — something country music history had rarely documented before.
And perhaps that is what made the night at the Franklin Theatre so emotional.
It wasn’t just about remembering Waylon Jennings.
It was about finally hearing the voices and stories that helped build the Outlaw legacy beside him.