For decades, Jessi Colter has been known as the fiery, soulful voice behind “I’m Not Lisa”, the fierce woman who stood her ground among the outlaws of country music, and the one person who could match Waylon Jennings in both passion and spirit. But now, in a rare and deeply personal interview, Jessi is opening up — not just about her legendary marriage, but about the upbringing and heritage that shaped her before the world ever knew her name.
“I didn’t come from fame,” Jessi said softly. “I came from faith.”
Born Miriam Johnson in Phoenix, Arizona, Jessi grew up in a deeply religious home. Her mother was a Pentecostal preacher, and church wasn’t just a part of life — it was life. Gospel music, prayer meetings, and a powerful connection to the Holy Spirit laid the foundation for everything Jessi would later become.
“My mama taught me how to stand firm, how to raise my voice, and how to trust something greater than myself,” she recalled. “I didn’t always follow the straight path, but I never lost what she gave me.”
That grounding in faith would become essential later when she fell in love with Waylon Jennings, the iconic outlaw who lived life on the edge of brilliance and self-destruction. Their relationship, while passionate and enduring, was often stormy — marked by addiction, fame, and years spent fighting demons both personal and public.
“Being married to Waylon was never easy,” Jessi admitted. “But it was always real. We loved hard. We fought hard. And we stood by each other even when we didn’t know what tomorrow would bring.”
Their bond survived more than most — from Waylon’s darkest years of drug use to his spiritual awakening in the later years of his life, when he credited Jessi and their faith as the anchors that saved him.
“He told me once, ‘You’re my home.’ And I knew exactly what he meant.”
Jessi’s love for music never faded. Even while supporting Waylon, raising their son Shooter Jennings, and weathering the ups and downs of outlaw fame, she continued to write, record, and perform — blending country, rock, and gospel into a sound uniquely her own.
But now, Jessi is using her platform to shine light not just on music history, but on her spiritual heritage — the values of strength, loyalty, and unwavering belief that carried her through it all.
“Waylon was part of my life story. But I was somebody before I met him,” she said. “And I still am.”
As she shares more about her life in her memoirs and appearances, fans are beginning to see Jessi Colter not just as the woman behind the outlaw, but as a national treasure in her own right — a woman of faith, grit, and enduring soul.
“My heritage isn’t just about where I came from,” Jessi said. “It’s about what I carry — and what I’m still here to share.”