“Tell Him I’m Comin’”: Jessi Colter’s Heartbreaking Goodbye to Tommy Jennings
In a rare and deeply emotional moment, country music legend Jessi Colter — widow of Waylon Jennings — opened her heart to share the story of the night she said farewell to a man she loved like family: Tommy Jennings, Waylon’s younger brother.
A Brother’s Legacy
Tommy Jennings, who passed peacefully at the age of 81, was more than just Waylon’s brother. For Jessi, he was the steady hand in the storm, the quiet strength that carried the family through some of its most difficult times. “He was more than Waylon’s brother,” Jessi said softly. “He was part of our soul. And when he left, it was like losing a piece of Waylon all over again.”
Though not as widely known as his legendary brother, Tommy left his own mark — through family, through faith, and through a life defined not by fame but by loyalty and love.
A Final Whisper
As his final moments approached, Jessi recalled sitting by his side, holding his hand as he looked at her with what she described as “those Jennings eyes — steady, honest, and tired.” Then, in a whisper that sent chills through her, Tommy spoke his last words:
“Tell him I’m comin’.”
For Jessi, there was no doubt who “him” was. “I knew exactly who he meant,” she said, her voice trembling. “Waylon. He meant Waylon.”
A Reunion Beyond Goodbye
For Jessi, Tommy’s words were not just a farewell, but a promise — a declaration of reunion. She described the atmosphere in the room as peaceful, almost sacred. “There was a quiet peace in the room,” she remembered. “Like he already had one foot in Heaven. Like Waylon was waiting at the gate with a guitar and that crooked grin of his.”
It was a moment that blended grief with hope, sorrow with the comfort of knowing Tommy’s journey wasn’t ending but continuing — back to the brother he had followed his entire life.
The Anchor of the Jennings Family
Tommy may not have lived in the spotlight, but his influence ran deep. Jessi described him as the anchor of the Jennings family, the one who brought balance and calm during the whirlwind of Waylon’s career on the road. “He was our anchor,” she said. “In the storm of life with Waylon on the road and the music moving fast, Tommy was the calm.”
Among his treasures were letters, photographs, and old song notebooks — not material wealth, but memories and love that remain priceless to those he left behind.
Sacred Closure
For fans and family alike, Jessi’s words offer more than mourning — they offer closure. Her story paints a picture of love that transcends life itself, a reminder that bonds of family and brotherhood remain unbroken even in death.
“He’s home now,” she said quietly. “With his brother. And I believe, with all my heart, that somewhere up there, they’re singing together again.”
A Legacy of Love and Faith
As the world remembers Tommy Jennings, Jessi Colter’s tribute reminds us that while legends like Waylon Jennings may pass, their stories continue through the ones who loved them most. Tommy’s final words — “Tell him I’m comin’” — stand as a haunting yet beautiful promise, a symbol of the unbreakable bond between two brothers and the family that loved them both.
In Jessi’s reflections, grief and love intertwine, leaving us with one simple truth: Legends may fade from the stage, but family never truly says goodbye.
