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Lukas Nelson’s Journey: From Legacy to Stardom in Country Music

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Even if you can’t name one song by Lukas Nelson, chances are you’ve already heard his music. 

As a passionate film and music aficionado, I’ve been captivated by the journey of Lukas Nelson, a 36-year-old artist who carries the musical legacy of his iconic country music father, Willie Nelson. Since 2010, Lukas and his band, the Promise of the Real, have been consistently putting out country-roots albums. But what truly sets them apart is their collaboration with Neil Young since 2016, touring and recording together.

In addition to his music, Lukas has ventured into screenwriting. In 2020, he made a significant mark by winning a Grammy for his work on the film “A Star Is Born”. His contributions ranged from writing and co-producing several songs to acting as a band member in Bradley Cooper’s troupe.

Despite his numerous achievements and recognition, Nelson harbors an even more ambitious aspiration. He dreams of moving beyond being the favorite’s favorite, transitioning from behind-the-scenes player to becoming a main act – essentially, achieving stardom on his own merit.

It’s unlikely that he will fail when the moment calls for it. Nelson’s first solo album, titled “American Romance” (produced by Shooter Jennings, Waylon’s son), is filled with universal insights about love, loss, family, determination, and the recurring themes of life and death. The album paints a classic American picture with scenes from diner counters and truck stops, East Coast highway exits, and snow-capped Montana mountains. The album is led by Nelson’s fingerpicked acoustic guitar and melancholic, husky vocals, making “American Romance” as comfortably familiar as an aged Townes Van Zandt record while still managing to carve out its own unique niche in the contemporary country music scene.

Prior to the launch of his album “American Romance” on June 20th, Nelson shared insights about its journey, delving into how he authentically represents his heritage, and his political stance that aligns him with Dolly Parton, in an interview with TIME magazine.

TIME: American Romance is being positioned as your debut album, but you’ve released quite a few albums already with your band Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real. Can you walk me through that transition?

I founded The Promise of the Real when I was 19. I wrote most of our songs, and we stayed together through all kinds of challenges. For five years, we backed Neil Young. It was tough trying to balance playing our own songs with his, but many fans we gained were actually Neil’s or my father’s fans. Eventually, I understood that if I didn’t start establishing myself as an artist at that moment, I never would.

I recently chose to step out and perform for my supporters and for my own era, in order to discover my true identity. Essentially, I needed to embrace being Luke Nelson. I gave up smoking marijuana, got sober. I tackled my fear of flying by learning to be a pilot. Additionally, I released myself from many traditional expectations and the pressure that came with them.

On the album, there’s a track that stands out – it was my very first composition, penned at the tender age of 11, titled “You Were It.” Composing this piece preceded my internal narrative about my intended identity. This melody unexpectedly struck me on a school bus. My father appreciated it so much that he decided to record it. Later, Kris Kristofferson expressed his admiration for the song and inquired if I had aspirations of becoming a songwriter. At the time, I wasn’t sure about my future path. However, his words resonated deeply within me: “You don’t have a choice.” This encouragement fueled my journey into music. Now, I find myself contemplating: What is the essence of my musical expression?

How do you feel American Romance might begin to answer that question?

Among the musicians I currently collaborate with are Stephen Wilson Jr., Sierra Ferrell, and Anderson East. Recently, I co-wrote a song titled “God Ain’t Done” with Aaron Raitiere, who recently had a hit single called “You Look Like You Love Me” featuring Ella Langley and Riley Green. I’m spending quite a bit of time writing songs with Ernest [Keith Smith], whose compositions made up all the number one hits on Morgan Wallen’s latest album. Throughout my career, I’ve always felt confident in my songwriting abilities, viewing myself as primarily a songwriter. While I can play guitar and sing well, and deliver strong performances, it’s the songs themselves that truly define me – they are what attracted me to A Star is Born and ultimately caught Neil [Young]’s attention.

I admire artists such as Kacey Musgraves, Zach Bryan, Chris Stapleton, Tyler Childers, and I aspire to join their influential circle within the music industry. My aim is to establish a career that mirrors the enduring success of my father’s, who continues to captivate audiences well into his nineties. To achieve this level of longevity, I understand the importance of being shrewd and catering to my unique audience.

Speaking of your contemporaries, Shooter Jennings produced American Romance. You two have a lot in common, starting with the fact that you were both born to families with huge musical legacies. I’d love to learn more about your friendship and what Shooter brought to the recording process.

For a long time, I’ve admired and valued [Shooter] for his exceptional musical talent. Working with him has been a dream of mine. I believe now is the ideal opportunity, as he’s successfully carved out a distinct identity as an outstanding producer, moving beyond his well-known legacy. At this point, the focus isn’t primarily on the fact that we were friends’ sons, though some may still perceive it that way. This is something I’ve encountered throughout my life. However, we’ve managed to move past the notion that we are solely defined by our fathers being Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. We’ve established our own careers independently.

I admire [Shooter’s] dedication to his work. When I first joined the band, we performed approximately 250 shows annually for nearly a decade, primarily as a personal challenge. I understood that I needed to exert twice the effort. There will always be people questioning whether I received any special favors, but I am well aware of the hard work I put in, and it is this knowledge that will stand out at the moment of my demise. It’s evident that Shooter shares this same commitment.

I can imagine you having so many different internal conversations with yourself. Like on one hand, when Kris Kristofferson tells you that you were born to be a songwriter, that’s amazing. At the same time, like with any family business, did you feel like there was ever even a choice? 

I’m incredibly thankful for the inspiration he shared with me, as it sparked a passion within me. With newfound confidence, I responded, “Alright, I’ll focus, disregard external opinions, and solely concentrate on my work.” It seems there’s an inherent knack for songwriting inside of me that I can cultivate further. I owe a debt of gratitude to that young boy who recognized the value of his time invested then, as it’s reaping benefits now. And indeed, it has.

Instead of tuning out high school social scenes, I dedicated eight hours each day and night to practicing guitar, songwriting, and honing my craft. This disregard for parties and lack of alcohol consumption until college made my mother somewhat frustrated. However, the inspiration and support from both my father and especially my mother [Annie D’Angelo] were invaluable. Just as Colonel Tom Parker recognized Elvis Presley’s potential and dedicated his efforts to making him a star, someone needed to champion me, which I was fortunate to have during my upbringing.

Yeah, it’s a double-edged sword. Say you have no industry connections and want to make it as an artist, you’re going to need someone to take a chance on you. Meanwhile, as you’ve described, say you do come from a family with every connection—someone will still have to personally vouch for you, because people will make assumptions.

Now, I’ve reached a point where I feel mentally prepared to discuss the topic. Previously, I was struggling to articulate my emotions. At the time, I was engrossed in a phase similar to my Beatles Hamburg days, constantly playing one show after another. When people would inquire about my father, I’d respond, “I’m too busy to address that right now. Ask me about my music instead.” Does that make sense?

I have a wonderful family – my dad is an outstanding individual who is compassionate and caring, the same goes for my mom. My brother and sisters are equally precious to me. Our family bond makes us special. I consider myself fortunate not just because of their accomplishments, but because of their kind-heartedness and empathy. This quality is what I appreciate the most about them.

How did you end up settling on the album name American Romance?

The title originated from a song that resembles a painting. This entire album is essentially a collection of distinct chapters, similar to John Steinbeck’s Travels With Charley, chronicling various life experiences that significantly influenced me as I was raised in this country. These include the joys and sorrows, the pain, and then the triumph. There were times when I celebrated Thanksgiving at a truck stop with the turkey special, or felt empathy from the kind waitress despite her own workload. It’s about the Walmart parking lots. It’s about the nighttime sirens, the clandestine meetings in the dark. There are thousands of tales hidden within hundreds of travel hours, but I attempted to condense them into a 13-track album.

Simultaneously, this album explores the concept of the future. There’s a track titled “Pretty Much” where I express my thoughts on the moment of my demise, imagining scenarios for love and relationships that await me. Ideally, I’d be with my loved ones, inundated with their curiosity about how I met the person who stands beside me, the embodiment of my life’s love. They would eagerly seek tales of my romantic encounters, stories that span both the past and present.

You split your time between Nashville and Hawaii now, and between Hawaii and Texas when you were growing up. When people ask, where do you say you’re from?

I was largely shaped and nurtured by the vast landscapes and diverse cultures of America, specifically the United States. More accurately, I could say that the highways and byways of this country served as my formative influences. While I was born in Texas and spent time there, as well as Hawaii, a significant part of my upbringing took place on the move – from Walmart parking lots to motels, hotels, diners, and stages across the country. As such, it feels more appropriate to refer to the broader American landscape as my childhood home rather than any specific location.

Country music has such a legacy of storytelling about America, encapsulating the good, the bad, the mundane. But 2025 is such a unique time to release a body of work about the country, seeing as the country itself has rarely been more divided. As someone who has traveled it so extensively, what are some commonalities that you think everybody living in the U.S. still shares?

You’ve asked an insightful question! I firmly believe that deep down, we all possess a compassionate spirit. To illustrate this idea, there’s a song I adore titled “Turn Off the News (Build a Garden).” The first line goes, “I believe that every heart is inherently kind, though some might be dormant.” When we tap into our hearts, it helps us cultivate empathy within ourselves. However, I must clarify that there are cases where individuals exhibit sociopathic tendencies, so my statement applies with the exception of such instances. In general, I strongly feel that music has a unique ability to bypass the rational mind and touch the heart directly. We can all resonate with themes like love, relationships, and heartache, which transcend cultural boundaries.

In my opinion, it’s more effective for me to influence others through actions rather than just words. I express this conviction in my music, and I truly believe in its power, having witnessed its success. There’s a remarkable individual named Daryl Davis, who is a Black musician, and he has persuaded over 200 Klansmen to renounce their beliefs, going so far as to receive their hoods from them. This man certainly shows courage and has a unique ability to touch people’s hearts.

As a film enthusiast, I firmly believe that the key to transforming negative emotions lies not in labeling others as monsters, but rather by reaching deep into their hearts. Change might be elusive for some, and I fully acknowledge this reality. Yet, I’ve witnessed the extraordinary power of music to unlock even the most closed-off hearts. In my own small way, I strive to embody kindness and compassion in all that I do. When I encounter someone in distress, my instinct is always to extend a helping hand. I see myself as a disciple of Dolly Parton – her message of love and acceptance resonates deeply with me.

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2025-06-20 15:06

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