Never-Before-Heard Music By Waylon Jennings Released In New Posthumous Album, ‘Diamonds’
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A new album bringing together several previously unheard songs recorded by the late outlaw country music icon Waylon Jennings was released on Friday, Nov. 13.
Titled Diamonds, this highly anticipated album is the fourth posthumously released collection of music Waylon recorded before his death, and the second to be made specifically from recently rediscovered material curated by his son, Shooter Jennings.
“Back in 2024 when I opened my dad’s personal recording archives, I found a treasure trove of unheard recordings,” Shooter wrote. “It was a life-altering event and immediately ignited a feeling of urgency to get these recordings out there to our family of fans who had so loyally kept him alive by listening to and singing his music.”
Among the music found in Waylon’s personal recording archives are the songs that now make up Diamonds, including the title track featuring Glen Campbell on guitar.
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How To Listen To The New Waylon Jennings Album, ‘Diamonds’
Friday, Nov. 13, is proving to be a fortunate day for fans of classic country music.
Among the new music releases that day are the final song Dolly Parton recorded before her death; the first album in 18 years of original Randy Travis music; and the new posthumously released album of music recorded by Waylon Jennings, Diamonds.
Waylon’s Diamonds album has been given a special release format, speaking to the quality of the music and harkening back to a time that valued physical media.
Released on vinyl, CD, and cassette on Nov. 13, the album will be available to stream — in full — nearly a month later, on Dec. 11.
Like a country music time machine, Diamonds takes listeners to the familiar sound of the 1970s and ’80s, but with music that has never been heard before.
Right now, fans and curious listeners can enjoy three songs from Diamonds on Spotify and other streaming platforms, including the invigorating title track, “Diamonds,” which was recorded in Waylon’s prime in 1978 and features Glen Campbell on guitar.
Another song from Diamonds that is available to stream is a cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Same Old Blues,” which is one of two tracks featuring never-before-heard collaborations with country artist Jessi Colter, who was Waylon’s second wife and is the mother of Shooter.
Fans of Waylon will recall that he and Jessi — whom he was married to from 1969 until his death in 2002 — recorded the 1981 duet album Leather and Lace together.
Speaking on CBS Sunday Morning back in June, Shooter said of the music that makes up Diamonds, “It’s, like, emotional, beautiful material about love and life, and that’s what he connected with was the music and the lyrics and the dream.”
Coming one year after the 2025 release of Waylon’s Songbird, Shooter described in a special prefatory note for Diamonds that this new collection of previously unheard music is of a “higher energy,” adding that it’s a “‘younger man’s’ album, if you will.”
Expounding on how Diamonds came to be, Shooter wrote:
“In the process of combing through and cataloging all of [Waylon’s] recordings, I started to get a grasp on all of the music that had never been heard before, and a story started to emerge in my mind. The way I wanted to reveal all of this music to the world was part of my job … A set of songs almost immediately presented itself to me as ‘Songbird.’ But there was a second set forming, anchored by the mysterious song ‘Diamonds.'”
Now, as of Nov. 13, the album is available to hold in your hands and play on a record or CD player.
Shooter recommends that listeners of Diamonds should pour “a cup of something” and “turn down the lights,” adding, “Let’s take a ride together!”
Order a physical copy of Waylon Jennings’ Diamonds, or pre-save the album on your preferred streaming platform, here.
Listen to the new album’s title track, “Diamonds,” featuring Glen Campbell on guitar, here:
Listen to Waylon Jennings’ “Same Old Blues,” featuring vocals by Jessi Colter, here:
Watch Shooter Jennings discuss working through his father’s personal recording archive on CBS Sunday Morning, here:
