You can’t write a song like Whey Jennings’ “Sleeves” unless you’ve lived it.

You can’t star in the music video unless you’ve lived long enough to talk about the other side. The personal new guitar ballad relies on two songwriters who’ve been through a self-inflicted hell. Yep, one of them is Waylon Jennings‘ grandson, but that’s probably the least important part of this interview.

“I’m not gonna blame my drug addictions on my grandfather,” Jennings tells Taste of Country Nights, referring to the Outlaw Era of country music and the late country hero’s afflictions. “He went through his demons, too … for me to blame my decisions on my family tree would be selfish and foolish of me.”

Some background: Whey Jennings is one of Waylon’s many talented grandchildren (Shooter Jennings, Struggle Jennings, Alabama Gypsy Rose Jennings), but he grew up in Texas, away from any demons that haunted the “Good Ol’ Boys” singer.

“I went down that path because I was a kid going through high school and everybody I hung out with was going down that path,” he says. “I was like, ‘This seems fun!'”

It was fun, until 2020 when his wife and manager begged him to go to rehab for the final time. It stuck. Looking back, the married father recognizes he was not a good human being. He made selfish decisions. He made immoral decisions.

“I could blame 90 percent of that on my drug addiction, because it makes you think different.”

“Sleeves” represents the turning point. A difficult-to-watch music video follows two drug addicts through life, until one doesn’t wake up. Jennings’ role is to try to get them help.

Co-writer Wes Shipp’s role is to not listen. Like Jennings, Shipp is a recovering drug addict.

“I realized I wouldn’t have found any kind of light if I didn’t have a strong support system,” Jennings says when asked what inspired the song. “Through a strong support, I seen the glory of God.”

Jennings and Shipp wrote the meat of his new Jekyll + Hyde album in one day, and he released it late last month. The music video for “Sleeves” will be the final video for the project. It’s a nice period on a dark, but hopeful time.

In 2024, Jennings is focused less on personal fame than being that support system for anyone in trouble. He won’t mention his famous grandfather, but will politely answer any questions you’ve got for him about famous family. Jelly Roll is the format leader for public discussions of addiction, and for that, Jennings is grateful.

“You can’t solve a problem by putting a Band-Aid on it. You’ve got to really own it,” he says. That takes honesty and good people in your life to hold you accountable.”