"The Highwomen" is made up of Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris, Amanda Shires and Natalie Hemby, and they just released the title track from the record.
This is their take on “Highwayman,” the 1985 theme song of the all-star band made up of Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Kris Kristofferson.
According to Brandi and Amanda they got permission to rewrite the song from its songwriter, Jimmy Webb, who helped out with the new female-oriented lyrics.
“[The Highwaymen’s characters] all died doing things that men do. Willie was a bandit. Johnny Cash drove a f**king starship, nobody knows why,” Brandi previously told “Rolling Stone.”
“We rewrote it with fates that befell women: a doctor convicted of witchcraft; an immigrant who died trying to get over the border but got the kids over safe and sound; a preacher; and a freedom rider who gets shot.”