It was all devastating. I'd never dealt with losing anyone close to me, and I didn't know where to put it in my life. I was very young then. Buddy taught me so much in such a short time.

The Jennings family approved the release in spite of the launch of a new business focused on his state. In 2008 the first posthumous album by Jennings Waylon Forever was released.

During the "Winter Dance Party Tour" in Clear Lake Iowa Holly chartered a plane to arrive at the next venue. He recorded for independent label Trend Records A&M Records before succeeding with RCA Victor after achieving creative control of his records. The flight that carried Holly Richardson and Ritchie Valens craWaylon Jenningsd on the day later known as The Day the Music Died.