Lukas Nelson’s star is on the rise. After fronting his country-rock band Promise of the Real for 16 years, the prodigal son of the legendary Willie Nelson is striking out on his own. The 36-year-old singer-songwriter just released his solo debut, American Romance, in June 2025. However, Nelson’s recent surge in popularity hasn’t been all roses. During an appearance this week on The Joe Rogan Experience, the Grammy winner recounted a bizarre experience with a fan at a show in Nashville.
Videos by American Songwriter
Why Lukas Nelson Has Almost Abandoned The Internet “Many Times”
If Lukas Nelson has learned anything during his time following in his dad’s footsteps, it’s that “fame is not inherently a good thing.”
“I think it’s actually probably a net negative, although it’s a necessary thing if you want your art to get out to as many people as possible or if you want to create a living,” he told Rogan. “Like, I don’t depend on my parents. So, I want to my music to get out there so that I’ll have a career when I’m 90… and so, you have to be a little famous.”
The conversation then segued into online scammers, whom Nelson called “the lowest form on the planet.”
“These are people that have dementia issues… You know, they’re elderly, and they prey on that demographic specifically because they know that they’re more gullible and don’t understand technology,” he said. “And they think that I’m talking to them and they’ll give, in some cases, thousands and thousands of dollars of their own savings in my name. And that has almost made me get off the internet many times.”
This issue hits particularly close to home for the “Ain’t Done” singer after he experienced it personally.
“I played a show with Eric Church at Chief’s, and I had a bunch of friends there and everything,” Nelson recalled. “And we had someone show up at the door saying that they had been put on the list by me, that I was in a relationship with that person.”
Featured image by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.