Even after decades in music, Lucinda Williams still finds herself surprised by who listens to her records.
Reflecting on her career, the singer-songwriter says some of the artists who have expressed admiration for her music over the years caught her completely off guard — including punk icon Joey Ramone, David Byrne and Robert Plant.
“I’ve met so many fantastic, legendary artists over the years who like my music,” she tells The Bluegrass Situation in a new interview. “And some might be a surprise.
Article continues below“I was surprised, actually.”
Williams says discovering that artists she admired were listening to her work has been among the most rewarding experiences of her career.
“Like, Joey Ramone was a fan. David Byrne is a fan,” she says. “Robert Plant is a big fan, and I’ve done quite a few shows with him. Those kinds of things have been a big boost for me.”
Over the years, Williams has had opportunities to meet and even collaborate with some of those artists. She and Ramone once shared the stage for a songwriter’s night in New York City. Williams and Byrne performed the Jimmie Dale Gilmore–John Reed song “Tonight I Think I'm Gonna Go Downtown” at South by Southwest in 1999. (Byrne also covered Williams’ hit “Sweet Old World” in 1993 at New York City’s Bottom Line.)
And Plant, alongside Alison Krauss, recorded a version of Williams’ song “Can’t Let Go,” in addition to sharing festival bills with her.
“Those probably have been the highlights of my career — being able to connect with those kinds of artists,” Williams says. “The people I listened to when I was starting out and looked up to.”
Williams says she was equally surprised to learn that Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson of Heart are fans, a discovery that led to her joining select dates of the band’s 2026 Royal Flush Tour.
“It seemed like with their fans and my fans there was kind of an overlap,” Williams says. “It seemed to work musically as a bill.”
The experience also deepened her appreciation for Nancy Wilson’s guitar playing.
“I don’t think enough has been said about Nancy’s playing,” Williams says. “I hadn’t realized how proficient Nancy was on the electric guitar. I was just sitting there watching it like, ‘Oh my God!’”
I hadn’t realized how proficient Nancy was on the electric guitar. I was just sitting there watching it like, ‘Oh my God!’”
— Lucinda Williams
Williams is currently celebrating the release of her latest album, World’s Gone Wrong, whose songs draw heavily on the tradition of protest music. It’s her first release since she suffered a stroke in November 2020.
While she continues to recover and has yet to return to the guitar, Williams says she remains focused on the part of music she can still do.
“I still struggle when I walk,” she told NPR’s Morning Edition. “But I can sing.”
The guitar, she says, “will have to come later.”
