The Career-Changing Advice Waylon Jennings Gave Travis Tritt
The Career-Changing Advice Waylon Jennings Gave Travis Tritt
ravis Tritt built a legendary career by staying true to his roots—but that path wasn’t always easy. Early success with hits like “Country Club” and “I’m Gonna Be Somebody” helped Tritt gain recognition, but when he pushed genre boundaries with 1990’s “Put Some Drive In Your Country,” the Nashville establishment pushed back.
“All of a sudden they hated me, man,” Tritt said in a recent Marty & McGee CMA Fest Special. “They were just trashing me left and right… ‘He’s a renegade… a rebel… an outlaw.’ And man, that was really starting to weigh on me.”
Amid the criticism, Tritt was still selling records and selling out shows. But the pressure from record labels and radio stations left him doubting himself—until a conversation with Waylon Jennings changed everything.
Jennings asked Tritt, “You’re still selling records?” When Tritt said yes, Jennings replied, “Well, there you go. That’s all that matters… So to hell with all those people, ignore ’em.”
“Man, that just lifted a burden off my shoulders that I don’t even think he realized at the time,” Tritt shared.
Jennings reminded him who really matters: “The people that should matter to you are those people that go out there and work… and they’re willing to spend a certain amount of that money to buy your music… That’s who you play for.”
Since taking Jennings’ advice to heart, Tritt has charted more than 40 singles, earned two Grammy Awards, and became a Grand Ole Opry member in 1992.
This moment of encouragement helped Travis Tritt embrace authenticity—ultimately defining his legacy in country music.
