PAYNE TO PLAY WITH WILLIE NELSON ON THE 2026 OUTLAW MUSIC FESTIVAL TOUR AND BEYOND
NASHVILLE, TENN. / AUSTIN, TEXAS – Today GRAMMY®-nominated artist-writer and guitarist in Willie Nelson’s band, Waylon Payne, releases “Holding On To Lonely.” Listen here.
“Honestly, I was a bit reluctant to record this song; maybe it just seemed too personal,” shares Payne. “My producer Frank Liddell really stood up for this song and encouraged me to push through. It’s really special, very personal and I deeply relate to it. I wrote it with Charlie Worsham and I can say it’s one of my favorite things about the upcoming album.”
The new song is his second release via Big Loud Texas and follows his timeless debut The Drifter (2003) and acclaimed Blue Eyes, The Harlot, The Queer, The Pusher & Me (2020). Last month Payne returned to the spotlight with “Looking For A Feeling,” a brilliant showcase of his razor-sharp lyrical prowess. Penned alongside Pam Tillis, Holler called it one of the “Best New Country Songs.”
Today’s “Holding On To Lonely” explores the fear of letting love back in and was penned alongside beloved storyteller and musician Charlie Worsham. For Payne, the chain is on the door because “lonely seems to be the safest place.” He sings:
I’m holding on to lonely
I’m just wrestling
With my needs
It’s feast or famine
It’s lust or greed
I’ve gotta feel something
To be alive
I’ve got a habit
Of always pushing things away
Yeah, lonely seems to be the safest place
An outlaw poet, Payne comes by it honestly with a storied musical pedigree. The son of GRAMMY® Award-winning country singer Sammi Smith and Jody Payne of Willie Nelson’s band, he even dons the name of his godfather Waylon Jennings. Writing for and playing with other musicians throughout his career, Payne has penned award-winning songs for Lee Ann Womack, Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe and more. Between his standout projects, Payne focused on acting. He appeared in the award-winning Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line (2005) as Jerry Lee Lewis and was cast in the starring role of Hank Garland in the biopic Crazy (2006).
With his two latest releases, the acclaimed artist-writer sets his sights on a new masterful body of work. To stay up to date, connect with Waylon on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
ABOUT WAYLON PAYNE
A poetic outlaw, Waylon Payne made an indelible mark with his timeless debut album The Drifter (2003). Building on the legacy of that album and the widespread acclaim of Blue Eyes, The Harlot, The Queer, The Pusher & Me (2020), Waylon sets his sights on a new masterful body of work. “Looking For A Feeling” and “Holding On To Lonely” are the first glimpse of his triumphant re-emergence, showcasing his signature razor-sharp lyrical prowess. Waylon’s musical pedigree is storied. The son of GRAMMY® Award-winning country singer Sammi Smith and Jody Payne of Willie Nelson’s band, he dons the name of his godfather Waylon Jennings. He began his prolific career writing for and playing with other musicians. Multi-talented with the charm of a seasoned entertainer, Waylon has pursued acting in earnest; he appeared in the award-winning Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line (2005). After, he was cast in the starring role of Hank Garland in the biopic Crazy (2006).
CONNECT WITH WAYLON PAYNE
WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE
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Media Contacts
Corey Brewer + Rachel Heatherly | Big Loud
corey@bigloud.com, rachel@bigloud.com
