Why Waylon Jennings Called Out Johnny Cash: "He's Never Been the Rebel" 

Waylon would probably know because him and Cash were best friends for 35 years. Even shared an apartment together. I’m sure he didn’t mean anything by it, just telling it like he saw it. They had a great friendship until the end.

Waylon Jennings has the best Outlaw Music in the land.

I think it really depends on who you're asking. Kris Kristofersson once wrote "Sunday Mornin Coming Down". Johnny had a show in the 70's called 'The Johnny Cash show' and was explicity told by the producers that a certain line in the song had to be sung differently, namely "wishing Lord that I was stoned", into "wishing Lord that I was home". When John was about to perform it for the first time on the show in front of an audidence, he asked Kris what he felt about it. Kris answered that he wrote the song with Johnny in mind, and that the song would loose it's meaning if sung differently. So once the song was performed live on the show, Johnny looked up on Kris that was sitting at the balcony in the audience, and when that line came, he sung whole-heartedly; "wishing Lord that I was STONED", just as it was ment to be sung. I can imagine the producers were not to keen about his decision, but that's Johnny for you. I personally would have to disagree that he wasn't a rebel in his own way.

Cash was the first true country music outlaw, he literally performed at prisons when advised not to by his record label and always sticked with his boom chicka boom sound throughout the 60’s while other artist including Waylon were doing that Nashville pop sound

Hank Sr, the original outlaw!

My top 3 Hank Williams jr Johnny cash Waylon jennings

My favorite county singer Johnny Cash and Johnny paycheck

Waylon was on Letterman one night.Letterman asked him " How do you describe your music?"...Waylon responsed..."Waylon's Music."You my friend broke Nashvilles hold they had on musicans. A lot of good music came forward afterwards. Waylon th best of all of em' imo.

We know Johnny wasn't a rebel he was more down to earth then his friend's but he was a rebel for Jesus and that's all that matters.

I think they are all great musicians and bands, I wish them all the best😊😊😊😊😊😊😊!

Johnny Cash is a legend mmkay

WHO WERE THE REAL OUTLAWS OF COUNTRY MUSIC? SAY AGIN!! In the world of country music, Nashville, Tennessee has long been considered the epicenter of the industry. It's a city known for its honky-tonks, country bars, and famous recording studios. However, amidst the glitz and glamour of the Nashville music scene, there was a group of artists who were often labeled as "outlaws" by the industry. These artists, including Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Merle Haggard, were seen as rebellious and non-conformist in their approach to country music as was just mentioned. They rejected the mainstream sound and image that Nashville was known for and instead created a new style of country music that blended traditional sounds with rock and roll influences. But why were these artists considered outlaws in the first place? The answer lies in the way Nashville recording and label companies were treating them. These companies often controlled every aspect of an artist's career, from their image to their music. They would dictate what songs an artist could record, how they should dress, and how they should present themselves to the public. This strict control over the artists led to many feeling trapped and unable to express their true selves through their music. But the "outlaws" of country music refused to conform to these expectations. They wanted to make music on their own terms, without the interference of record labels. In a way, these artists were the real outlaws of Nashville. They were willing to go against the norm and risk their careers to create music that was authentic to them. They were also vocal about the unfair treatment they received from record labels, shining a light on the corrupt and exploitative practices of the industry. Despite being labeled as outlaws, these artists wore the title with pride. They were proud to challenge the status quo and pave the way for future generations of country musicians to have more creative freedom. They were also proud to stand up against the injustices of the industry and fight for fair treatment of artists. In conclusion, the real outlaws of Nashville were not the artists who were given this label by the industry, but rather the ones who dared to defy the expectations and create music that was true to themselves. Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and many others were the true rebels of country music, and their legacy continues to inspire and influence artists today. God wears a cowboy hat and boots!! ❤

Cash actually was a rebel of sorts. He did concert in prisons. Made records out of some. He was told not to, but did it anyways.

Waylon was 100% right

Monument Records was recording Kristofferson with his road band while Willie and Waylon were still fighting RCA and Chet Atkins for creative control. Fred Foster loved artists and nurtured them. It was a great thing that they put Fred in the CMA Hall of Fame.

He's right about Garth Brooks though

That’s a great story❤

Johnny Cash did release an ad in Billboard magazine flipping off Country Radio, and the Country Music establishment. There is a Documentary of Cash Vs. Music Row here on RU-vid. Cash stayed true to his roots kept his style, and Sound. His acoustic record was him playing the same way he played. It was a come back record for him. During the late 70’s he released an album called John R. Cash a hit off of that was The Lady From Baltimore. Cash didn’t like the record nor the way it was recorded. Columbia bosses pre recorded the tracks and had Cash in a booth singing over it. That record was Cash’s most Nashville record. Cash did love Nashville the culture, and introduced his show every night from Nashville. Cash also went against Columbia and ABC tv net work. They want him to change lines in Sunday Morning Coming Down. He didn’t say nothing. That night on his tv show he sung it the way it was written. Listening to San Quintin the uncut version with the 2 disk you hear a lot of his outlaw personality. He was an Outlaw on the inside of the music industry. Waylon was an Outlaw, outside the music industry. Cash I think had the control that Waylon wanted over his music. Waylon and Willie knew what was best for their music. The company’s didn’t see or respect that. That’s why the Outlaw movement was born. Still today the companies don’t pay artists well. They will be singing in the studio get offered a coke and get charged $5.00 for it. It sounds ridiculous, but stuff like that is what they were doing to artist. It’s nice now thought. You have the control, and can upload online

God Love the Highway men❤❤❤

I seen a interview by someone and Waylon, it was in the 1980's or 1990's. I have never been able to find it on the internet all these years later. It was Waylon saying basically what this video has said. It was in no way putting Cash down, it was talking about the outlaw movement in County Music. It was basically like saying yes Cash was a Outlaw but not in terms of Country Music and dealing with the Nashville Music Industry. I have to say that interview has been in my head all these years and I have never found it, so props to whoever produced this because it is the truth as to what Waylon said !

Johnny Cash was performing with his own band in the studio without all the strings and orchestra, he was making concept albums before anyone thought of them he was more famous than either Waylon or Willie who only came into prominence in the '70s , he never conform to the Nashville sound , and who but Cash has performed for prisoners and Native Americans, he may have calmed down in later years but his music was still his own style, that's why he was sacked by Colombia cos they didn't think it was relevant to the Nashville hierarchy who were promoted the urban cowboy, even Waylon said that 😎

Clearly, the interviewer has no idea who Johnny was, he was Nashville Grand Ol Opere's royalty married into it, clearly inside not rebelling.

John R Cash is the only full-grown man who is allowed to call himself Johnny.

I followed Cash's career from his early years and he never tried to take credit or claim to be a member of the developing "outlaw" movement. Others in the music industry and especially many in his fan base put the label on him, but his wide public appeal, dominance in multi-media, and work in multiple approaches and genres of music precluded him from being successfully restricted to the confining identity of "outlaw." Jennings and Nelson and many others indeed were correctly identified as being of an outlaw class and country music has been all the richer for that.

I disagree! It was Johnny fighting the Country Music establishment. He was fighting the system and with some friends he came up with the idea of the Group coming together and having a million copies sold under the title of the song it was Johnny Cash that came up with the group we all loved The Highway Men, after the song Highway Man. It did have some push from the Media giving into the Group Name. There was one problem though. There was a get together group that already had the media group name in existence. The lawsuit was settled by the legendary star’s allowing the unknown star’s open the show’s to help them spread their exposure.

Hi l,am a musician as well l play and l love old country music thanks for the ensurperation l probably won't mack to Nashville read in another comment John Cash sang for Jesus an l,am sure you all did thanks for al t music you gave us all you,ve been blessed

These legends are dead let them rest. Why hash out old disagreements?

Some lies we need to keep lol 🤠

Waylon was right,Roy Acuff was the first Mafia Music Agent😉

Go watch the clip from Johnny Carson, interview. Johnny and. Waylon. U just might die laughing. But they come clean bout a lot from there past. It was awesome

Johnny Cash was country music's John Wayne.

The eagle over the stage is from the lost outlaw performance... It stayed locked in a vault for 25 years while waylon sued for rights .. He eventually won ...😊

Johnny cash had family close to Nashville. He was a sacrificial lamb due to that

Think you'd have to first get an agreement, among country music fans as to the exact definition of the term "rebel movement". I'm sure at least some might say, We believe Hank Williams Sr was among the first....

Asserting your rights makes you an outlaw.

They are all legends and made a unique path that will live on around the world forever, Buck Owens did the same so who cares!!

I love Waylon. Its too bad that record companies are such money hungry corporations looking for cash cows to make them their millions. Not sure if you've heard of Tom MacDonald but he went rogue making his own music & videos and he has done well. Check him out hes awesome! 👍

so how does anyone reconcile the chris Kristofferson story as a country outlaw and rebel? if were gonna call out 1 of the old dogs shouldn't we call them all out?

❤ Waylon was the best singer, but everyone thinks Johnny Cash was WRONG.❤❤❤❤

Enjoy the music of your choice and the rest is WGARA for me. 🙂

Look I loved 'em all, y'all. Why try to start division now ???

❤ not to mention a hell of a lot better looking ❤❤❤❤❤

Waylon Jennings referred to social media in 1998?

where do u think waylon got the outlaw attitude, was from buddy holly, cause buddy wouldnt go along with what they wanted him to do, he was doing his own thing

I've heard a lot of things about Johnny Cash but how much is true or not!!

I thought he was called daring for albums such as Bitter Tears and Everybody Loves a Nut. Then later he took out that add flipping the bird at the music industry.

Cash wasn't a follower. Waylon started the Outlaw movement. Cash didn't need it. Waylon was too worried about what Hank Williams would have thought. When a new wave of artists came in the late '80s; Waylon and others got phased out. He had nothing new to say. Think what the Beatles did for rock and roll. Rock was dead. Each generation takes it to the next level.

Waylon wishes he was as good as Johnny Cash.

Look at all these Beans!

Johnny Cash was a rebel.

Cash had an album that was boycoted , about indians , the ballad of ira h, was on it , incorrect.

Outlaw = write, produce and sing your own shit ... Cash wasn't an outlaw.. Only waylon and tompall were.. They put the first country platinum out .. Today swift and Toby Keith come to mind ...

I can see how he (Johnny Cash) was tied to Nashville, but also because he was such an established artist I think (IMO) Nashville stayed out of his way in some cases. Also when he first started recording; Sun Records was in Memphis. As far as Nashville goes this is my take on it so here come a rant: Yea in today’s world it is much different as it was back 5 decades ago where it’s Nashville and Nashville only, other than that it was either Texas or Bakersfield. Anyway, even today if you want to be someone in country music, Nashville is still the way to go in some cases. Just from my experience though with playing the fiddle, mandolin, and lap steel here in the STL area for the last ten years; the country scene here is very “clickish” kinda like it is in high school. You’re either in, or out. There is no outlaw music here in STL. But again totally different city with a very broad crowd of genres and musicians constantly gigging. For me, the blue grass scene in MO is the one I enjoy best around here. I always have fun with the blue grass musicians I play with in various bands. Point is, at least here in the STL area, it can be “Nashville” in some ways and it sucks. So Waylon does hold a point. Ok rant done.

Outlaw. It's a moniker. A marketing barcode.

Kris Kristopherson is the most interesting man in the world

Bullcrap. They didn’t want him to play at Folsom. He did it anyway. Is that not a rebel. He had all types of music on his country show is that not a rebel? He was a better man than Waylon that doesn’t make him less a rebel but more of one. He was a rebel before Waylon and Willie Love them both but Waylon wouldn’t have been a rebel if Willie hadn’t pulled him to it

Why are you pretending to quote Waylon Jennings to say thank God for social media? He died in 2001... 🤦

These singers will nevva be out done!!! Today's so called country singers are a damn Joke 😂!!! It's getting really bad when they start calling Jelly Roll a country singer??? Jelly Roll has some beautiful songs but they aren't Country!!!

Johnny upset someone or some entity. He owned a small island not too far out. When he died, several small boats landed at his island and burned down everything. The house and real estate as well as personal property would have been worth $millions. His wife's passing tore him up. She was his life. His last hit hints at an apology for some unknown act.

Cash and o'l hoss were the real rabels drugs,woman, fights and drug bust. Waylon is taking about the music business. Not the life styles. O'l hoss wrote about him and jr raiseing all kinds of hell in his book.

Neither of these gentlemen are alive to respond. Cobbling this crap together for Monetary purposes gets OLD.

Waylon was the real deal. Cash was nothing but a poser.

The whole “outlaw “movement was stupid anyways. That’s when country went downhill if you ask me

Dang right Waylon!! Why are people making comments like these guys Cash Waylon Willie ...weren't like brothers