Acclaimed singer, songwriter, and musician Lukas Nelson’s new song, “Born Runnin’ Outta Time,” is out today. Written by Nelson, Jon Decious, and Nate Ferraro, the track finds Nelson searching for balance between his own ambitions and the present moment. Listen/share HERE.
Of the song, Nelson shares, “I’ve always wrestled with that impulse—the ambition versus the ability to appreciate what I have. Nothing you ever get will be good enough, and nothing you ever achieve will fill that hole, so you must be able to find peace now. Whatever comes is just icing on the cake.”
“Born Runnin’ Outta Time” is the latest single from Nelson’s highly anticipated new album, American Romance, out June 20—his first solo project and his first in partnership with Sony Music Nashville (pre-order/pre-save here). Produced by Grammy Award-winner Shooter Jennings (Brandi Carlile, Tanya Tucker), American Romance cements Nelson as a singular artist, showcasing his songwriting dexterity and country-blended sound in a way that feels both familiar and new. Across these twelve tracks—including collaborations with Sierra Ferrell and Stephen Wilson Jr.—Nelson tells stories of life on the road, detailing the joys, complexities, beauty, and heartbreak he has encountered while traveling the country.
In advance of the release, Nelson has shared two additional album tracks: “Pretty Much” and “Ain’t Done.” Billboard praises the latter, noting that “it brims with the insightful songwriting and grizzled voice he’s known for,” while Relix declares, “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,” and Whiskey Riff proclaims that it is “a beautiful song full of hope… showcas[ing] his incredible, very honest talent for songwriting that is unlike anyone else in country—or music in general.”
Reflecting on the project, Nelson adds, “This album is the first chapter in a whole new era of my life as an artist. 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.”
In addition to Nelson and Jennings, the record features special contributions from Anderson East (“Disappearing Light,” producer) and SistaStrings (“Montana,” cello and viola), as well as Matt Chamberlain (drums), Corey McCormick (bass), Marty Muse (dobro), Russ Pahl (pedal steel), Chris Powell (drums), Brian Whelan (acoustic guitar), and Eleanor Whitmore (fiddle).
Known for his captivating live performances, Nelson will play select headline shows this summer and appear at several major festivals, including CMA Fest, Newport Folk Festival, and Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion. See below for the current tour itinerary.
Since his debut over a decade ago, Nelson has become one of the most respected voices in music, releasing eight studio albums, including 2023’s Sticks and Stones, which spent 18 weeks in the top 10 of the Americana Albums chart and reached #1 on the Alt Country chart. A highly sought-after collaborator both in the studio and on stage, Nelson recently teamed with The Travelin’ McCourys and Sierra Ferrell for a bluegrass-inspired rendition of Adele’s “Someone Like You,” and has also worked with artists such as Lainey Wilson, ERNEST, Miranda Lambert, The Pistol Annies, and more. Most recently, he performed at the MusiCares 2025 Person of the Year Gala, honoring the Grateful Dead with “It Must Have Been the Roses,” again alongside Ferrell.
Nelson has sold out countless headline shows, appeared at renowned festivals such as Stagecoach, Ohana Festival, Bourbon & Beyond, and Farm Aid, and made multiple appearances on late-night television, including Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Additionally, he co-produced and co-wrote much of the music for the acclaimed 2018 film A Star is Born, in which he also appeared. The soundtrack won a Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media and a BAFTA Award for Best Original Music.
American Romance – Track List
Ain’t Done
Pretty Much
Make You Happy
Outsmarted
Disappearing Light (feat. Stephen Wilson Jr.)
Born Runnin’ Outta Time
All God Did
Montana
Friend in the End (feat. Sierra Ferrell)
The Lie
American Romance
You Were It
Lukas Nelson – Confirmed Tour Dates
June 4—Nashville, TN—Chief’s on Broadway
June 6—Nashville, TN—Ascend Amphitheater – CMA Fest
June 18—Nashville, TN—Gibson Garage
June 26—Milwaukee, WI—Summerfest 2025+
July 17—Charlottesville, VA—Jefferson Theater
July 18—Allentown, PA—Archer Music Hall
July 19—Trumansburg, NY—Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival 2025
July 23—Kingston, NY—Ulster Performing Arts Center
July 25—Rutland, VT—Paramount Theatre
July 26—Newport, RI—Newport Folk Festival
July 28—Deerfield, MA—Tree House Brewing Company
August 1—Big Sky, MT—Wildlands Festival#
August 2—Big Sky, MT—Wildlands Festival#
August 3—Rexford, MT—Abayance Bay Marina
August 6—Billings, MT—Pub Station
August 8—Park City, UT—Canyons Village at Park City
August 10—Alya, WY—Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival
September 13—Telluride, CO—Telluride Blues and Brews 2025
September 19-21—Bristol, TN—Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion
September 26—Dana Point, CA—Ohana Festival
October 3-4—Memphis, TN—Mempho Music Festival
October 10—North Charleston, NC—Riverfront Revival Music Festival
+with Lainey Wilson
#with Dave Matthews
