Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Lukas Nelson has released American Romance, too, a new two-song collection featuring “A Certain Someone” and “The Last Wild River.” The tracks arrive as an expansion of the creative world he introduced on his acclaimed 2024 album American Romance, which continues to draw praise and recently earned a nomination for Best Traditional Country Album at the upcoming Grammy Awards.
Watch “A Certain Someone” by Lukas Nelson
Nelson describes the new songs as an extension of the album’s sonic landscape. “‘Certain Someone’ is a hopeful song that came assisted by Anderson East and Foy Vance, recorded at Anderson’s studio. The concept was born as I was walking along the river in Boston, MA,” Nelson shares. “’The Last Wild River’ I wrote along the Yampa River in Colorado with a good friend, who explained to me that the Yampa was one of the last rivers in America that wasn’t dammed up. We recorded it at Shooter Jennings’ studio in LA. I’m grateful to have these other songs to complement what was an incredibly inspiring moment musically. I hope you enjoy.”
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Watch “The Last Wild River” by Lukas Nelson
The release caps off a year of significant momentum for Nelson, who has recently appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Howard Stern Show, The Joe Rogan Experience, and Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast. Listen and share the new tracks here, and stream or purchase the full album here.
Lukas Nelson’s artistic range is shaped in part by his background. Born in 1988, he is the son of legendary country musician Willie Nelson and Annie D’Angelo. Raised between Texas and Hawaii, Nelson spent his childhood surfing and skateboarding before turning more seriously toward music. He wrote his first song at age 11, which later appeared on Willie Nelson’s 2004 album It Always Will Be, signaling an early start to what would become a formidable career.
After a brief stint at Loyola Marymount University, Nelson turned fully toward music, forming Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real in 2008 after meeting drummer Anthony LoGerfo at a Neil Young concert. The band quickly became known for its high-energy performances and served as Neil Young’s touring and studio band for several years. In June 2024, Promise of the Real announced an indefinite hiatus, opening the door for Nelson to deepen his solo work—a path that culminated in American Romance.
Nelson’s national profile expanded dramatically following his work on the 2018 film A Star Is Born. After Bradley Cooper saw Nelson perform at the Desert Trip Festival, he approached him to help craft the film’s musical authenticity. Nelson co-wrote eight songs for the project with Cooper and Lady Gaga, contributed significantly to the arrangements, and appeared in the film alongside his band.
His contributions earned him both a BAFTA Award for Best Original Music and a Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media, solidifying him not only as a performer but as a respected creative force across media.
Produced by Grammy Award-winner Shooter Jennings, American Romance marks Nelson’s debut solo album following the hiatus of Promise of the Real. Released on June 20, 2025, the twelve-track record blends elements of country, folk, and Americana, featuring collaborations with Sierra Ferrell and Stephen Wilson Jr.
The album also includes contributions from an accomplished roster of musicians such as Anderson East (producer, “Disappearing Light”), SistaStrings (cello/viola), Matt Chamberlain, Corey McCormick, Marty Muse, Russ Pahl, Chris Powell, Brian Whelan, and Eleanor Whitmore. Across the project, Nelson explores themes born from years on the road—love, loss, beauty, and the humbling wanderlust that defines much of his storytelling.
Over more than a decade, Nelson has released eight studio albums, including the widely acclaimed Sticks and Stones (2023), which spent 18 weeks in the Top 10 of the Americana Albums chart and reached #1 on the Alt Country chart. A sought-after collaborator, he has worked with artists such as Lainey Wilson, Ernest, Miranda Lambert, and The Pistol Annies.
In early 2025, Nelson honored the Grateful Dead at the MusiCares Person of the Year Gala, performing “It Must Have Been the Roses” with Sierra Ferrell. He has also sold out headline tours and appeared at major festivals including Stagecoach, Ohana Festival, Bourbon & Beyond, and Farm Aid, while making multiple late-night TV appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
With the release of American Romance, too, Lukas Nelson continues building on a defining moment in his career—drawing from his roots, his travels, his collaborations, and a lifelong connection to music. The new songs offer a deeper look into the creative wellspring behind American Romance, reaffirming Nelson’s place as one of the most compelling voices in modern country and Americana.
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