Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Julie Rae Jennings |
| Also Known As | Julie Rae Jennings-Burdette |
| Birth Date | 12 August 1958 |
| Birthplace | Levelland, Hockley County, Texas, USA |
| Death Date | 3 October 2014 |
| Age at Death | 56 |
| Parents | Waylon Jennings (father); Maxine Carroll Lawrence (mother) |
| Siblings | Terry Vance (1957–2019); Buddy Dean (b. 1960); Deana Carol (1964–2015); Tomi Lynne (adopted); Jenni (raised by Waylon); Shooter Jennings (b. 1979) |
| Spouse | Reported: Larry Burdette |
| Children | Reported: Taylor Ray Jennings (1980–2003) |
| Occupations | Music business assistant; disc jockey (WHOG, Fernandina Beach, FL); small-scale farmer and produce seller |
| Known Locations | Texas; Fernandina Beach, Florida |
| Cause of Death | Cancer |
Early Life and Roots
Julie Rae Jennings was born on a hot Texas August in 1958, a year when country radio hummed and the oilfield skies over Hockley County glowed at dusk. As the daughter of Waylon Jennings and his first wife, Maxine Carroll Lawrence, she grew up in the slipstream of American country music—close enough to feel its rhythms, far enough to carve her own path. Her childhood and adolescence bridged long drives, backstage hallways, and family rooms where guitars leaned against walls like trusted friends.
Those early years taught Julie both the sparkle and the grind: the bright lights, certainly, but also the paperwork, the schedules, the phone calls that make any music career possible. It was a practical education in a glamorous world, and she carried that work ethic forward.
Career: Mic On, Boots Dirty
Julie stepped into the family business during her younger years, supporting the operations that kept her father’s music on the road and on the air. She later took the microphone herself, becoming a disc jockey at WHOG in Fernandina Beach, Florida. Radio demands a steady voice and a quick ear—qualities that suited Julie well. She became one of those unseen pilots guiding listeners through morning commutes and late-night drives, cuing records, shaping playlists, bringing stories and songs together in a smooth, steady arc.
In later years, she swapped the studio for open skies. Julie farmed and sold produce—work rooted in soil, weather, and patience. Where radio requires timing, farming demands endurance; both ask for daily care. She managed that transition with a plainspoken confidence, the kind of quiet persistence that keeps tables full and routines steady. It was a life without fanfare, stitched from honest work.
The Jennings Family Constellation
Julie’s story lives within a larger constellation shaped by one of country music’s defining voices. Her siblings and extended family span decades, professions, and stages. Together, they form a lineage as textured as a well-worn vinyl sleeve.
| Name | Relationship to Julie | Birth–Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terry Vance Jennings | Brother | 1957–2019 | Eldest child of Waylon and Maxine; worked in music and toured with his father. |
| Buddy Dean Jennings | Brother | b. 1960 | Musician and public figure; has spoken about family and health. |
| Deana Carol Jennings | Sister | 1964–2015 | Youngest child of Waylon and Maxine; lived a largely private life. |
| Tomi Lynne | Adopted Sister | — | Adopted during Waylon’s marriage to Lynne Jones; keeps a private profile. |
| Jenni | Raised by Waylon | — | Jessi Colter’s daughter from a previous relationship; part of the household Waylon helped nurture. |
| Shooter Jennings | Half-Brother | b. 1979 | Son of Waylon and Jessi Colter; acclaimed musician and producer. |
Family for Julie was both heritage and daily presence. She moved between siblings and half-siblings, across homes where songs were currency and stories were kept like heirlooms. Her path wasn’t forged in the spotlight. It moved alongside it—steady, personal, and essential to the fabric of the Jennings name.
Marriage, Motherhood, and Private Strength
Public records identify Julie’s married name as Jennings-Burdette, and family notices report her spouse as Larry Burdette. She is also connected in memorial records to a son, Taylor Ray Jennings (1980–2003), who predeceased her. These pieces suggest a private life touched by joy and loss, threaded through with love and resilience. Julie faced life’s toughest chapters with a steady heart: a mother’s grief, a patient’s fight, and a family’s embrace.
Places and Rhythms
Julie’s personal geography maps neatly onto her life’s cadence: Texas and Florida, two states defined by open horizons and work shaped by weather. Texas gave her roots—family, first steps, the early hum of music. Florida gave her a microphone and a radio audience. Both placed her close to community, whether listeners tuning in at lunch or neighbors arriving at a produce stand at dawn.
Extended Timeline
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Aug 1958 | Birth of Julie Rae Jennings | Levelland, Hockley County, Texas |
| Late 1960s–1970s | Early involvement in her father’s music business | Texas and on the road |
| By 1980 | Reported birth of son, Taylor Ray Jennings | — |
| 1980s–1990s | Worked as a disc jockey at WHOG | Fernandina Beach, Florida |
| 2003 | Death of Taylor Ray Jennings | — |
| 3 Oct 2014 | Death of Julie Rae Jennings (age 56) | — |
Each entry marks a beat in the song of her life—brief notes that, taken together, trace a human melody: family, work, love, loss, and legacy.
Legacy: A Quiet Anchor
Julie’s legacy sits beyond record charts, in the spaces where families actually live—phone calls, rides to work, shared meals, and practical help. She mattered in the ways that outlast applause: showing up, doing the work, keeping the rhythm. For those who catalog the Jennings lineage, she is a bridge between eras—a daughter who bolstered a father’s journey, a sister who stood alongside a sprawling family, a mother whose story carries both light and shadow.
In the broader history of country music, the spotlight tends to find the stage. But the stage itself stands on foundations like Julie’s: skill, steadiness, and care. She was the kind of person who keeps the lights on, even when the crowd has gone home.
FAQ
Who were Julie Rae Jennings’ parents?
She was the daughter of country musician Waylon Jennings and his first wife, Maxine Carroll Lawrence.
Did Julie have children?
Public memorials connect her to a son, Taylor Ray Jennings (1980–2003), who predeceased her.
Where did Julie work in radio?
She worked as a disc jockey at WHOG in Fernandina Beach, Florida.
What other jobs did Julie hold?
She assisted in her father’s music business and later farmed and sold produce.
When and where was Julie born?
She was born on 12 August 1958 in Levelland, Hockley County, Texas.
How is Julie related to Shooter Jennings?
Shooter Jennings is her half-brother, the son of Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter.
What was her married name?
Her married name is publicly listed as Julie Rae Jennings-Burdette.
What was the cause of her death?
She died in 2014 after a battle with cancer.
