RELEASED: Sept. 8, 2005

DANVILLE, KY—Rising country music star Shooter Jennings appeared at Centre College's first-ever Welcome Back Concert on Saturday, Sept. 10. Jennings, the only son of the late country outlaw star Waylon Jennings and singer Jessi Colter, performed for an enthusiastic open-air crowd on West Walnut Street, opposite the Combs Student Center (Warehouse).

"The Student Activities Council decided to bring Shooter Jennings because it's a terrific opportunity to welcome back all of the students to Centre," says Megan O'Brien, Centre's director of student activities. "We've never done a welcome back concert in the past, so it was a chance to introduce a new activity. Many students mentioned that they'd like to see a country artist at Centre in the student activities survey last year, and Shooter was one of the top performers mentioned. "

Shooter Jennings is well on his way to fame. He has been touring with country stars Toby Keith and Lee Ann Womack, and his duet with Hank Williams Jr. was a highlight of Country Music Television's 2004 "Outlaws" special. Between performances, Jennings is working on his acting career: he plays the role of his father opposite Joaquin Phoenix' Johnny Cash in Walk the Line.

Although originally the leader of a rock band out of Los Angeles, the younger Jennings has recently returned to the outlaw country roots on which he was raised. In his debut album, Put the 'O' Back in Country, the artist creates a country music sound that carries on a deep family tradition.

"My whole statement is about the music," he says. "It's about not being afraid to cross any boundaries. It's about freedom. And I know that the people in that little place between New York and L.A. called America will come, as long as the music is real."

"It's great that Centre is bringing a great new up-and-coming act like Shooter Jennings right to our backyard," says Taylor Holland, a senior from McKenzie, Tenn. Holland, a cornerback on the Centre football team, who rushed home from an away game at Kenyon to attend the Jennings show. "I also want to give Centre props for having the concert outside. It's hard to beat the atmosphere of an open air concert."

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

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