Jessi Colter Signs $13.5 Million Netflix Deal for 7-Part Docuseries Showcasing Her Iconic Life and Love with Waylon Jennings
In a stunning announcement that has sent waves of excitement through both the music industry and the streaming world, Netflix has partnered with country music legend Jessi Colter in a $13.5 million deal to produce a seven-part docuseries. The project promises to deliver a sweeping, intimate portrait of Colter’s extraordinary journey — her music, her enduring role in the Outlaw Country movement, and her timeless love story with the late Waylon Jennings.
A Queen of Outlaw Country
For decades, Jessi Colter has stood as one of the defining voices of country music’s most rebellious era. Known for her spellbinding vocals and unforgettable songs such as “I’m Not Lisa” and “What’s Happened to Blue Eyes,” Colter was more than a singer — she was a trailblazer.
While male icons like Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, and her husband Waylon Jennings dominated headlines, Jessi carved out her own place in history. She was the only female voice featured on the legendary 1976 Wanted! The Outlaws album, a project that went on to become the first platinum-certified country record.
Love, Legacy, and Waylon Jennings
At the heart of the docuseries will be the love story that defined an era: Jessi Colter and Waylon Jennings. Their marriage was one of country music’s most enduring and complex romances, marked by devotion, creative partnership, and the struggles of life lived on the road.
Together, they weathered storms — from Waylon’s battles with addiction to the pressures of fame — but their bond became a cornerstone of the Outlaw Country movement. Their duets, including “Suspicious Minds” and “Storms Never Last,” remain among the most cherished collaborations in country music history.
The Netflix series is set to explore their relationship not as myth, but as lived reality: the sacrifices, the tenderness, the music, and the legacy they built side by side.
What the Docuseries Will Deliver
According to early production details, the seven-part docuseries will feature:
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Rare archival footage from the 1960s through the 2000s, much of it never before seen by the public.
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Personal interviews with Jessi Colter, her family, and artists influenced by her music and legacy.
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Behind-the-scenes stories from tours, studio sessions, and the couple’s life in Nashville and Arizona.
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Exclusive music performances, blending Colter’s classic hits with intimate, stripped-down renditions recorded especially for the series.
Producers describe the project as a “love letter to country music, and to the woman who helped redefine it.”
A Story for a New Generation
While older fans know Jessi Colter as an icon of the Outlaw era, the Netflix series aims to introduce her story to a new generation. Younger audiences familiar with streaming platforms will discover not only her music but also her role in shaping one of the most pivotal cultural movements of the 20th century.
As one executive put it: “This is more than a biography. It’s about how one woman’s voice — both in music and in life — helped rewrite the rules of an entire genre.”
Carrying the Torch
In recent years, Colter has continued to perform, record, and share her story. Her 2017 album, The Psalms, showed a reflective, spiritual side of her artistry, proving that her voice remains as resonant and relevant as ever.
Now, with Netflix’s global reach, her story will stretch even further, carrying the outlaw flame across continents. Fans around the world will have the chance to see the life of Jessi Colter in full — not just as Waylon Jennings’ partner, but as an artist and survivor who stood tall in her own right.
A Historic Celebration
With a budget of $13.5 million, the series stands as one of the most ambitious projects Netflix has ever dedicated to country music. It promises not only to honor Jessi Colter’s life and legacy but also to preserve the spirit of the outlaw movement for decades to come.