By Quinn Eaton
Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Luke Bryan all deserve a spot on country music’s Mount Rushmore.
Just kidding! Three of those artists do have a legitimate argument, while the other artist is lucky to still be considered country. I don’t think I have to clarify on who I’m talking about there, right? We’re all on the same page? Good, let’s move right along.
https://cd30a2c38b9cea449be87425306648e3.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html Anyone who knows real country music knows that Jennings, Nelson, and Haggard are basically the forefathers of the genre. Their outlaw movement in the 1970s and early 1980s could arguably be one of the most important periods in all of music, especially when it comes to the influence and impact it had and still has today on country.
That style of country music is what a lot of people prefer… if your name isn’t Luke Bryan, that is. This story is somewhat of a blast from the past, but it’s definitely worth revisiting.
Everything is squared away as of now and there aren’t any hard feelings stemming from the incident, but some feathers were without a doubt ruffled back when Bryan seemed to condemn outlaw country.
https://cd30a2c38b9cea449be87425306648e3.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html Back in 2015, Luke Bryan gave an interview to Hits Daily Double, and when asked about the party atmosphere of country music at the time, and the hip hop and rock influences of the genre, Bryan seemingly took a shot at country legends Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings:
“I think that people who want Merle, Willie and Waylon just need to buy Merle, Willie and Waylon. I’ve never been a ‘Those were the good old days’ kind of guy. I’m not big on looking back on the past.
I’m not an outlaw country singer. I don’t do cocaine and run around. So I’m not going to sing outlaw country. I like to hunt, fish, ride around on my farm, build a big bonfire and drink some beers, and that’s what I sing about. It’s what I know. I don’t know about laying in the gutter, strung out on drugs. I don’t really want to do that.”
But as a 47-year-old, Bryan still sings about partying on Spring Break? So it does seem as though he could sing about things that he has never done, or at the very least no longer does.
As you might imagine, that quote landed Bryan in the hottest of hot water. He went into full save-face mode, calling and apologizing to anyone and everyone that was offended by the quote that he claimed was misconstrued. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt, but that quote sure seems like he was putting down some of country music’s greats.
Anyways, Luke’s comments made their way back to the Jennings family, who were none too pleased with the cheap shot at the legend. Waylon’s daughter-in-law, Kathy Pinkerman Jennings, took to social media to call Luke out:
“I hope your family members are proud of you for using your worldwide platform to take the time to disrespect my father-in-law.
You have managed to prove to the world your true self. Albeit that Waylon’s drug use is well documented and something he overcame, I assure you, he was never ‘laying in a gutter.’”
Waylon’s son Shooter Jennings addressed the controversy and said that Luke even reached out to his mom, Jessi Colter, to clear the air. The gesture was something that Shooter said won him over:
“Luke Bryan called my mom today to clarify that he would never disrespect my dad or me or any of us.
He also asked for Buddy’s number to call Kathy. Whether or not he does, that takes a lot of guts.
I misfired and said some things in the past about people, namely John Mayer. And I didn’t have the guts to apologize. So, that being said, that kinda won me over.”
Shooter also said that he understands where Luke was coming from, and defended the changing landscape in country music:
“I love Kathy for her defense of the family and caring so much for the legacy.
But as my mom says, [some] people out there want things the way it WAS and nothing else. I’m not defending pop music but I am defending new music. My dad never liked labels and neither do I.”
And he said that Luke’s comments weren’t really a big deal to him, because he understands how the media works when it comes to chopping up interviews to get a headline-worthy quote,
For his part, Luke also took to social media to address the controversy, saying that he wasn’t trying to disrespect the legends who came before him:
“It’s so frustrating that something negative has spun out of the story. I would never speak against any artist. It’s not my style. I consider Willie, Waylon and Merle musical heroes.
I was trying to state what I was about and where I come from with my music. It’s as simple as that.”
Well, it sounds like any beef that was there between the Jennings family and Luke Bryan has been squashed – at least as far as Waylon’s son Shooter is concerned.
But does that mean Shooter’s out there bumping “Country Girl Shake It For Me?” Well, not hardly…
“His music isn’t something I find myself listening to, but that’s not personal, I don’t listen to any new country besides a few underground acts that are a pretty far reach to even call them straight country.
My point is it’s all flush in my book. He said some [stuff] and because of the Internet it came back on him. But he went above and beyond and manned up and apologized. In the long run I believe his image has improved.”
And as it turns out, Ben Haggard, the son of Merle Haggard, also received an apology phone call.
He posted the details on Instagram:
“Got a call from Nashville yesterday, picked up the phone and it was Luke Bryan. He called to personally apologize to me and the Haggard family for his comments in a recent interview.
I have never spoken to Luke in my life, but one thing was for sure, the sincerity in his voice.
Let’s all remember (including myself) we’re all humans, we make mistakes and say things we wish we hadn’t.”
Not only did he call the families of Jennings and Haggard, Bryan put out this statement on social media as he tried to fix all of the bad blood with a clarification:
“Hey guys. I’ve been thinking about this all day. Every now and then, I feel the need to defend myself in this business. I did a great interview with many topics discussed. It’s so frustrating that something negative has spun out of the story. I would never speak against any artist.
It’s not my style. I consider Willie, Waylon, and Merle musical heroes. I was trying to state what I was about and where I come from with my music. It’s simple as that.”
And Luke Bryan later spoke about the “misunderstanding” with the Associated Press: