Takin’ A Walk Nashville: Whey Jennings Discusses His Journey and New Album Baptized by Fire in Music City

This is an I Heart podcast. Guaranteed human. Taking a walk Nashville. Hey everyone, it's Sarah Harrelson, your host of Taking a Walk Nashville. And today here with me is country artist and songwriter, Wade Jennings. Wade was born into one of country music's most iconic family names and fans. Can instantly hear the resemblance of his music to his grandfather, Waylon Jennings. In the summer of 2024, Wade released his critically acclaimed highly anticipated first full length album, Jacqueline Hyde, which premiered at number 10 on Apple iTunes top 40 country albums chart. His sophomore album, baptized by fire, it's out now. And I'm here with him at Cooters for his album release party in Nashville. So for those who don't know, Cooters is Nashville's one and only Dukes of Hazard Museum and shop. It's operated by none other than old Cooter himself from Dukes of Hazard, Ben Jones. This expanded museum features pictures, props, costumes, memorabilia from the beloved hit television show. And it's located right near. The Grand Ole Opry. So definitely check it out. I'm here with Wade Jennings at his album release party at Cooters today. Join me in my conversation with him. Welcome to take and a walk Nashville with your host, singer, songwriter, Sarah Harrelson. I'm sitting here at Cooters and Nashville and their museum near the Grand Ole Opry with Wade Jennings. He's celebrating his album release. So your new album is coming out this Friday, baptized by fire. Tell me about this new album. You've had a lot of collaborations. You wrote the track title with Jim Moose Brown and David Wade. What songs are you most looking forward for people to hearing? Well, I'm looking forward to everybody hearing the whole thing. I didn't really know it before I put the album together. After we did all the songs, we got them recorded, but you start from track one and run all the way down to track 12. There's like one big human condition. So it turned out pretty good. It's kind of a story of the human condition, you know, from the point where I started my life to where I'm at today. And, you know, when you live your life according to the way God's plan wants you, it gets a lot better for you. Yeah. Yeah. And between your album, Jacqueline Hyde and this new record, how do you feel, how your sound and these particular songs have evolved and the different kind of message you're telling in this album? Well, these are a little less routed than those on Jacqueline Hyde. I wanted to put out a rocking album with Jacqueline Hyde, you know, with some meaningful nuggets on the inside of it, like sleaze is a really deep song on that one. But this one right here, I wanted to go kind of deep into my heart and put out music that I was truly feeling inside here, you know, because I've been sober now seven years and I've really got to gain clarity through the time I've spent on stage in them seven years, you know. And I realized I had something I wanted to say. So I put this album together with a bunch of good friends of mine and, you know, it's been a blessing. Yeah. I'm really excited to hear the new music. You also co-wrote some songs on it with Tyler Booth, who is running with Josh Turner. You also have collaborated with artist Karen Waldrop. And with this album, you're currently on the baptized by fire tour, touring in more than 45 cities and 18 states. How are you balancing your family and the tour at the same time right now? Well, it ain't easy. My wife just gave birth to our seventh child. Oh, well, congrats. He's about five weeks old now, and I named her Jessie Ray. So I've spent a lot of time at the beginning of this year at home with her. And I've got a little bit of time coming off, coming up pretty soon to be off. But I try to keep a good balance between career and family. But, you know, it ain't always the easiest thing to do. So we've got to go out there and do this and do shows and make it back home in time. Do you ever bring your kids on the road? I do. I do. Right now they're not able to because, like I said, we have a baby at the house. But yeah, we are. And I brought my kids right there with me. We like to call them up and do how to lead together and all that stuff. And it's really a fun time. It's kind of family oriented show these days. Wonderful. You have people can find tickets to your upcoming show on your website. You have so many this year. You know, your outlaw brand, it's essentially been your family's DNA. But your music today does focus on redemption and faith. So how do you balance honoring the, you know, sort of rebellious legacy while staying true to the man of faith you are now? Honestly, if you look around, you'll see that being staying true to the man of faith I am today is kind of rebellious. And so, you know, I just try to be myself. I mean, my family got branded a bunch of outlaws a bunch of years ago, but even my grandfather didn't like it because, you know, he wasn't not that Robin Banks or nothing. Right. It was just, you know, trying to do some rowdy music and have a good time. You know, I like to have a good time too. If you come to my show, we have a kind of a rowdy time. Plus, you know, there's some things you can learn on the inside of my show too. So. Absolutely. Very excited for your upcoming shows and new album, Wade Jennings. My last question for you. We're on taking a walk in Nashville, and I know you spend a lot of your time outside of Nashville now, but do you have a favorite place that you have just loved taking a walk in Nashville? Oh, man, there's so many places you can take a walk in Nashville. We just I'm trying to think what the name of that park was. We just shot all the videos that it was a beautiful place to walk. We went for a little hike over there. Probably Percy Warner parks. Maybe it might have been. Yeah, but that was a beautiful walk there. But I like walking around this area, honestly, having a meeting music in the valley, you know, I like to hang out over there near the scoreboard and down there at the music city bar and grill. Matter of fact, I shot one of my last videos in the music city bar and grill with West Ship, a buddy of mine. It's called Old Country Song. Very cool. And speaking of this area, I'll be doing a show down there May 31st at the Troubadoury. If anybody wants to come out there, we're going to be doing an album celebration there. So yeah, this area right here is a good place to walk. Just about anywhere in Nashville, honestly. Wonderful. Yeah, we're looking forward to your upcoming show at the Troubadour and your new album, Baptized by Fire. Wait Jennings, thank you so much for being on Taken a Walk Nashville today. You're welcome. Thanks for doing it in front of me. Both things, this truck over there. Yeah, perfect setting to do it. And along with the Waila Jennings exhibit in here too at the museum, I think it's a perfect setting. It is. It's good to meet you. Nice to meet you too. Thank you. Thanks for listening to Taken a Walk Nashville with Sarah Harrelson. Please check out our other shows produced by Buzz Night Media Productions. Comedy Saved Me and Music Saved Me, hosted by Lynn Hoffman and Taken a Walk, hosted by yours truly, Buzz Night. All shows are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and are part of the I Heart Podcast Network.