Who Is Struggle Jennings’ Dad?

Who is Struggle Jennings’ dad? Who are Struggle Jennings’ parents?

Introduction

Struggle Jennings has been making up for lost time these past few years.

Since his release from prison in 2016, the American singer-songwriter and entertainer has released several major hip-hop albums, rebuilt a connection to his family, and found a new path that is miles away from where he used to be.

From sitting in a prison cell as his kids went into state care, watching the struggle his baby mama went through before her untimely death, and having time to reflect on his failure to be “the best father, man, and artist that I could be,” Struggle Jennings was well and truly living up to his name.

Now he’s out, and nothing can stop him.

He’s collaborated with old-time buddies like the iconic international success Yelawolf, and the entertaining and reformed Jelly Roll.

He’s also become something of an inspiration for struggling artists everywhere, especially with the release of 2020’s Waylon & Willie IV collaboration album.

While Struggle Jennings adjusts to being a more positive role model, fans are coming at him with all sorts of questions about his past.

And one of the most popular is: who is Struggle Jennings’ dad?

Here’s everything you need to know about the Nashville rapper and his life so far.

The Origin Story

Struggle Jennings—whose real name is William Harness—was born on May 31, 1980, in Nashville, Tennessee.

While he references the iconic Country music legacy of Jennings in his stage name, he is actually descended from another stellar musical line-up.

His grandfather is rock guitarist Duane Eddy, and his grandmother is country singer and instrumentalist Jessi Colter.

In 1968, not long after the birth of Struggle’s mom, Jennifer, Duane and Jessi divorced.

She remarried the following year—this time to the legendary father of country music, Waylon Jennings.

Struggle’s grandma and step-grandfather had a baby the year before Struggle was born—a baby named Waylon Albright Jennings.

Decades later, that baby would be the recording artist and hit-maker known as Shooter Jennings.

Despite the common misconception that Harness took his stage surname from the iconic country crooner Waylon, he has in the past said that it was his uncle Shooter that Struggle hoped to emulate.

Does Struggle Jennings have kids?

Yes, Struggle Jennings has five children.

He has three daughters—musician and singer Brianna, Innocence, and Curtisee—and two sons—Will Junior and Sincere.

In April of 2018, the rapper married his long-time girlfriend, Tabitha, in Nashville, Tennessee. She is not the mother of Struggle’s children.

Who is Struggle Jennings’s dad?

Struggle Jennings’ dad is Curtis Harness. In 1990, when Harness was 10, his father—who had split with his mother many years before—died. In 2018, Harness said that while his father “wasn’t around much,” he was a good man.

Harness’s mom was adamant that she wouldn’t live off her stepfather’s name or money.

Sadly, Jennifer was also attracted to the bad-boy type and liked her men a little “rough around the edges.”

According to Harness, his father and “a series of guys after that” were prime examples.

Jen Eddy welcomed her only son into the world when she was just 16.

She was a backup singer for Waylon Jennings at the time, but was determined to get out from under his shadow and make a name for herself.

She and Harness moved into a one-bedroom apartment, and Jen worked two jobs and performed on the side. “She took the living room so I could have a bedroom-type environment,” said Harness of that time.

Harness, who went by Will Jennings half the time, spent a lot of time with Waylon and his uncle Shooter, who he saw more as a brother figure.

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Did Struggle go to prison?

Yes, he did.

Jennings had a raft of convictions by the time he landed in prison in 2011 for felony conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

From methamphetamine possession to petty theft to reckless endangerment, the rapper with star potential was making one bad decision after another.

In a 2020 interview, Struggle Jennings noted that he was fascinated with living the good life—but he was “blinded” by the drugs, the women, the jewelry, and the cars. It wasn’t until police “kicked the door off its hinges and took everything I had” that Struggle realized he was going in the wrong direction.

Now, he points out, he has a beautiful wife and family, “a home that nobody can take” and a “nice car with rims”—but nobody can take it away from him this time.

Upon his release from prison in 2016, Struggle Jennings was pledging to get his life back on track.

The passing of Struggle’s dad when he was a kid, and his absence from Jennings’ life, was clearly still playing on his mind when he posted on Facebook about breaking the cycle of absence and drama in his own children’s lives.

FAQs

Is Shooter Jennings Struggle Jennings’ dad?

Shooter Jennings is not Struggle’s dad.  Struggle Jennings is the nephew of Shooter Jennings and the grandson of country musician Jessi Colter and rock guitarist Duane Eddy.

He has been making music since he was a child, and has released several albums that have received critical acclaim.

His album, “Return of the Outlaw,” features collaborations with his uncle Shooter and Yelawolf.

Struggle’s music often touches on his family legacy, including his late mother, who died from an overdose. He speaks candidly about her in interviews and through his music to bring awareness to addiction issues. 

Who are Struggle Jennings’ dad and mom?

His father is Curtis Harness. His mother is Jennifer Eddy, the daughter of Jessi Colter and Duane Eddy. Growing up in Nashville, Struggle was surrounded by music and has continued to honor his family’s legacy with his career as a rapper.

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