Lucinda Williams doesn’t need much of an introduction. With a career spanning decades, the gravel-voiced poet laureate of Americana has a knack for pulling back the curtain on the human condition. This year, though, she’s pulled back the curtain on herself. Her latest album, Stories from a Rock and Roll Heart, and her memoir, Don’t Tell Anybody the Secrets I Told You, give fans a closer look at the highs, lows, and everything in between.
“I’ve been doing a lot of press lately,” she admits, laughing over Zoom. “With the album and the book, it’s all kind of happening at once.”
And what a story she has to tell. If rock and roll is about resilience, Williams has lived it—surviving a stroke, a pandemic, and even a tornado in Nashville, all while writing songs that embody what it means to come out the other side stronger. “You’ve gotta be a warrior,” she says. “And I’ve been through a lot, but you just keep going.”
Stories from a Rock and Roll Heart is not only a celebration of survival but also a tribute to the music and people who’ve shaped her. “It’s about what rock and roll has meant to me, but it’s also about being an outsider,” she says. “Rock and roll is about being misunderstood, misrepresented, and finding salvation in music.”
The album features an all-star lineup, from Angel Olsen’s haunting background vocals to Bruce Springsteen and Patty Scialfa’s cameos. “I still get excited every time I hear Bruce’s voice on those tracks,” she gushes. “It’s like being a little kid again.” But Williams is quick to point out that this isn’t just about big names—it’s about capturing the spirit of collaboration and camaraderie that has always fueled her artistry.
Tracks like “Last Call for the Truth” and “Jukebox” explore the loneliness and solace of the musician’s life, while “This Is Not My City” taps into a more political and personal disillusionment. And then there’s “Let’s Get the Band Back Together,” a song that’s both literal and metaphorical, calling back to the joy of reconnection. “It’s about the people you’ve been out of touch with, life getting in the way, and just wanting to bring everyone back together,” she explains.
Of course, the album wouldn’t be complete without a nod to her heroes. “Still in Love” is an ode to Tom Petty, a mentor and friend. “I think about him a lot,” she says, her voice softening. “He was so sweet, so down to earth. He even came out on stage once to tell his fans to listen to me—it’s just the kind of person he was.”
For Williams, the stories don’t stop with the album. The memoir gives readers a backstage pass to her life, from growing up in the South to finding her voice in a male-dominated industry. It’s no surprise that it hit the New York Times bestseller list. “Top five!” she exclaims, clearly still riding the high. “Now let’s see if we can make it to number one.”
As for what’s next? “I don’t know,” she says, grinning. “Maybe part two? I mean, Bob Dylan still hasn’t given us Chronicles: Volume Two, so I’ve got time.”
For now, Stories from a Rock and Roll Heart is all the proof we need that Lucinda Williams is far from done. “Music has always been my salvation,” she says. “And I think it always will be.”
Lucinda’s story—both on the page and in her songs—is a reminder of why we turn to music in the first place: to feel less alone, to find connection, and to keep going.
Watch the interview above and then check out the video below.
