Remember When: Willie Nelson’s Braids, Once Gifted to Waylon Jennings, Sold for $37,000

During a party thrown by Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash in 1983 celebrating Waylon Jennings‘ sobriety, Willie Nelson gave his friend the hair from his head. Nelson cut off his famous braids, which were in his natural red hair, and his then-wife, Connie Nelson, gave them to Jennings as a gesture of support for his sobriety.

“When Waylon became sober, made the choice to come off drugs, June Carter Cash wanted to have a little party,” recalled Jennings’ wife Jessi Colter of the party. “She [Connie Nelson] brought the braids from Willie, who was on tour. It just tickled Waylon.”

More than 30 years later, Nelson’s iconic plaits sold at auction for nearly $40,000. Staged by Guernsey’s at the Museum of Musical Instruments in Phoenix, Arizona on October 5, 2014, the braids sold for $37,000. The buyer of Nelson’s hair pieces was undisclosed.

“Waylon and Willie, great friends, were forever egging each other on,” read the original Guernsey’s listing. “Both giants in the world of American popular music, they also took every opportunity they could to share lighter moments with each other. Among the excesses of life on the road, drugs, and alcohol were a part of Waylon’s life until 1983, when he saw the light and gave up his cocaine habit.”

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The statement continued, “Johnny and June Cash held a sobriety party for Waylon in honor of the occasion. To cheer on his friend, Willie Nelson cut off his trademark braids and gave them to his wife, Connie, who then presented them to Waylon as a gift.”

Proceeds from the auction supported the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation and featured nearly 2,000 items that belonged to Jennings, who died at age 64 on February 13, 2002, including his copy of the signed Highwaymen contract between Nelson, Cash, and Kris Kristofferson from when they formed the country supergroup.

Additional items in Jennings’ collection included handwritten lyrics, a pair of Hank Williams‘ Nudie cowboy boots, a letter written by John Lennon, Muhammad Ali boxing gloves and robe, and Buddy Holly‘s Ariel Cyclone motorcycle, which fetched $450,000.

Originally purchased by Holly in 1958, the motorcycle was given to Jennings years after Holly’s death in 1959 by members of his band the Crickets. The bike had 4,000 miles and hadn’t been ridden in 20 years. “It represented to him, great love for a friend,” said Colter, “and possibly part of his healing.”

Jennings played bass for Holly’s band and was originally scheduled to fly with him on the plane on February 3, 1959, but gave up his seat for J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson, who was sick. Jennings took the tour bus instead, and the plane crashed shortly after taking off, killing Holly, Richardson, Ritchie Valens, and pilot Roger Peterson, The Day Music Died.

Photo: Willie Nelson (left) and Waylon Jennings, circa 1983. (Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images)