In a surprise announcement that has shaken both the music and entertainment industries, Jessi Colter, legendary country artist and one-half of one of music’s most iconic duos, has signed a $13.5 million deal with Netflix for a 7-part limited series chronicling her life, legacy, and the unforgettable partnership she shared with outlaw country pioneer Waylon Jennings.

The series, tentatively titled “Wanted: The Colter & Jennings Story,” promises to delve deep into the passion, pain, rebellion, and raw talent that made Colter and Jennings not only music legends — but cultural rebels who rewrote the rules of country.

“This is not just a story about music,” Colter said in a brief statement. “It’s about love, faith, struggle — and the price of being true to yourself.”

A Story Decades in the Making

At 81, Jessi Colter remains a towering figure in the country music world. Her soulful voice, spiritual grace, and fierce independence shaped an era of outlaw country that refused to bow to Nashville’s polished formulas. But behind the gold records and chart-topping hits was a journey marked by heartbreak, resilience, and a love story that captivated the world.

Her marriage to Waylon Jennings, the gravel-voiced rebel whose defiance helped birth the outlaw movement, was the stuff of country folklore — passionate, tumultuous, and unforgettable.

Now, for the first time, Colter is ready to pull back the curtain.

Inside the Deal

According to sources close to the production, Netflix secured the rights after a multi-month bidding war with Amazon Prime Video and Hulu. Executives reportedly flew to Colter’s Arizona home to personally pitch their vision — a prestige drama that would blend documentary-style interviews with cinematic reenactments.

Netflix is sparing no expense. Acclaimed director Debra Granik (known for Winter’s Bone) is attached to direct multiple episodes, and early casting rumors suggest that Jessica Chastain is in talks to play Colter in her younger years. For Jennings, insiders hint at a rising country star stepping into the role — someone with both the voice and the edge to do him justice.

A Love Story Forged in Fire

The series will reportedly trace Colter’s early life as Miriam Johnson, her time as a pianist in church, and her first forays into country music. From her solo breakout with the hit “I’m Not Lisa” to the chaotic beauty of life on the road with Jennings, viewers will witness the highs and lows of a musical marriage that defied the odds.

“It’s a miracle they survived each other — and a bigger miracle that their love survived the fame,” said longtime friend and producer Tom Willis. “This series is about that miracle.”

Waylon Jennings, who passed away in 2002, famously battled addiction and the pressures of fame. The series will not shy away from those struggles, Colter confirmed, but will also highlight Jennings’ transformation later in life — his sobriety, spirituality, and enduring devotion to their family.

“I want people to see the man behind the myth,” Colter said. “He was broken, but he was beautiful.”

Country Music Reacts

The announcement has sent shockwaves through Nashville.

Country stars — young and old — took to social media to share their excitement:

• Kacey Musgraves: “About damn time Jessi Colter got her flowers. A queen.”

• Chris Stapleton: “Their story changed everything. Can’t wait for this.”

• Lainey Wilson: “If I’m not in this somehow, I’ll riot 😂 #TeamJessi”

Country Music Hall of Fame curator Rachel Dillard praised the project as “an essential chronicle of how two artists reshaped American music by being exactly who they were — raw, loud, and deeply human.”

A Visual Time Capsule

Filming is set to begin in fall 2025, with locations including Nashville, Arizona, Austin, and Los Angeles. Archival footage from private family collections, unreleased demo tapes, and Colter’s personal journals are expected to be featured throughout the series.

Episode titles currently in development include:

1. Desert Child

2. Nashville Ain’t Home

3. I’m Not Lisa

4. Outlaws & Angels

5. Storms Never Last

6. The Last Highway

7. Still Standing

   
   

Each installment will explore a defining era, weaving together past and present, heartbreak and healing, fame and faith.

More Than Nostalgia

While music biopics are becoming more common, Colter’s series promises something deeper. This is not just a look backward — it’s a statement of endurance. Of legacy.

“So many women in this business were told to be quiet,” Colter said in a teaser clip. “I was never loud — but I never disappeared either.”

Netflix reportedly sees the project as their answer to Daisy Jones & The Six — but with the weight of truth and the soul of real music history.

An Unexpected Revival

Since the announcement, sales of Colter and Jennings’ discography have surged on streaming platforms. “I’m Not Lisa” re-entered the iTunes Country Top 50, and Jennings’ “Luckenbach, Texas” saw a 600% spike in streams overnight.

Colter’s 2017 gospel album The Psalms is also experiencing a revival, with many new fans discovering her rich spiritual catalog for the first time.

Music historians believe this series could ignite a full-blown outlaw country revival, similar to what happened with Johnny Cash after Walk the Line.

Looking Ahead

“Wanted: The Colter & Jennings Story” is expected to debut on Netflix worldwide in early 2026, and will be accompanied by a companion soundtrack featuring modern artists covering classic Colter/Jennings hits — curated personally by Colter and her son, Shooter Jennings.

As filming begins, the world waits. And perhaps, for the first time in decades, Jessi Colter — always the quiet force behind the legend — is finally stepping into the center of the stage.

“I’ve lived a wild, beautiful life,” she said. “And it’s time I tell it my way.”