Country Music Legend's New Album Announced 24 Years After His Death
Country music legend Waylon Jennings is set to release a new album more than two decades after his death, giving fans another chance to hear previously unheard recordings from one of the genre's most influential voices.
The upcoming album, Diamonds, was announced by Waylon's son, Shooter Jennings, during an appearance on CBS Sunday Morning on Father's Day. The project continues Shooter's effort to bring unreleased material from his father's archives to the public.
Physical editions and digital downloads of Diamonds will be available on Nov. 13, while the album will arrive on streaming platforms on Dec. 11. Fans have already received a first preview with the release of the title track, "Diamonds."
The newly released song carries added historical significance because it features guitar work from the late Glen Campbell, creating a rare collaboration between two Country Music Hall of Fame artists.
According to Shooter Jennings, the recording was discovered while he was reviewing multiple archival sessions from his father's collection.
"This track eluded me," Jennings said in a statement. "I kept finding it across three different sessions while I was going through my father‘s work. At first, I was very confused because of the sound of the guitar as to what it was."
The song was originally recorded on Dec. 28, 1978, during one of the most successful periods of Waylon Jennings' career. It was written by Jennings and Campbell and remained unreleased for decades.
Diamonds follows the 2025 release of Songbird, the first album in a planned series of archival projects produced by Shooter Jennings. The Grammy-winning producer has dedicated years to organizing and restoring recordings left behind by his father.
During his CBSSunday Morning interview, Shooter explained that the project is about preserving the true story of Waylon Jennings beyond the public image often associated with the outlaw country movement.
"When somebody is gone, there tends to be…the public remembrance of them can be distorted. People can remember the outlaw part of this or fantasize what he was like, but he's not here to represent himself," Jennings said. "But what I felt was so important was you saw how much he loved music… He connected with those songs. All he cared about was music - it wasn't about image, it wasn't about money, or anything beyond wanting to be great at music and play music."
Waylon Jennings remains one of country music's most celebrated artists. A pioneer of the outlaw country movement, he scored 16 No. 1 hits and helped reshape Nashville by fighting for greater creative freedom for artists. His career included classics such as "I'm a Rambling Man," "Luckenbach, Texas" and "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" with Willie Nelson.
Jennings died on Feb. 13, 2002, at age 64 due to complications from diabetes. Despite his passing, interest in his music has remained strong, leading to continued demand for archival releases.
The album will contain 12 tracks, including "Saturday Night Special," "Wild & Blue," "Lost Love Song" and "Words." It also includes "I'm Tired," featuring Waylon's wife and fellow country star Jessi Colter.
As anticipation builds for Diamonds, country music fans will soon have the opportunity to hear another chapter from Waylon Jennings' remarkable catalog, 24 years after his death.
Related: Country Star Reimagines Classic Album After 10 Years
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This story was originally published June 21, 2026 at 6:49 PM.