Photo Credit: Shervin Lainez

In June 2024, Lukas Nelson announced that his longtime band Promise of the Real would imminently part ways. Today, the country torchbearer has returned to announce American Romance, the first chapter of his career’s second act. Due to release on June 20 via Sony Music Nashville, Nelson’s debut solo album is preceded by “Ain’t Done,” a stirring meditation on new horizons and summoning the will to move forward.

“I went through this period of self-reflection and George Harrison’s song, ‘All Things Must Pass,’ was part of what got me through that moment,” Nelson reflected on the origins of his preview single. “It gave me that understanding that it’s not for us to know what comes next. Everything changes and nothing stays the same.”

American Romance centers this sort of thoughtful storytelling that’s made Nelson a fixture of the country world for 15 years. Now removed from his longtime backing quartet, the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter’s new project brings more masterfully crafted Americana, but with a newly intimate focus on the soloist’s words and voice. The twelve-track project is produced by the country kingmaker–and fellow second-generation Highwayman–Shooter Jennings and includes collaborations with Sierra Ferrell, Stephen Wilson Jr., Anderson East and SistaStrings.

Nelson’s tales of his life on the road so far are supported by a stacked instrumental ensemble of percussionist Matt Chamberlain and Chris Powell, bassist Corey McCormick, dobroist Marty Muse, guitarist Brian Whelan, fiddler Eleanor Whitmore and pedal steel from Russ Pahl.

“This album is the first chapter in a whole new era of my life as an artist,” Nelson shared. “It’s a love story to the country that raised me. Diners and highways that carried me through the joy and pain that led to the music you hear now.” 

American Romance is available to pre-order now. Listen to “Ain’t Done” below, and find more information on Nelson and his tour itinerary at lukasnelson.com.

Read on for the album’s full tracklist.

American Romance – Lukas Nelson:
1. Ain’t Done
2. Pretty Much
3. Make You Happy
4. Outsmarted
5. Disappearing Light (feat. Stephen Wilson Jr.)
6. Born Runnin’ Outta Time
7. All God Did
8. Montana
9. Friend in the End (feat. Sierra Ferrell)
10. The Lie
11. American Romance 
12. You Were It