High-Resolution Cover Art HERE I Photo Credit: Henry Diltz
Featured by No Depression, Ultimate Classic Rock and More
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (October 10, 2025) – Bernie Leadon is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member, a GRAMMY Award winner, a multi-platinum seller as a founding member of the Eagles, and has his fingerprints on record-setting and genre-forming music. Not one to rest on his laurels, he returns today with his first new album in over two decades, Too Late To Be Cool, available now at bernieleadon.ai.
With lyrics written by Leadon and production/engineering by mentor, friend, and longtime collaborator Glyn Johns, the project highlights lessons learned and memories made in his life and musical journey thus far. Tracked live to analog tape with studio musicians Tony Harrell on keys, Greg Morrow on drums, and Glenn Worf on bass, the album has already received praise from early listeners.
“Too Late to Be Cool showcases Bernie Leadon’s wide-ranging instrumental talents and his canny lyrical insights into human nature in his songwriting. It’s good to have Leadon back.” – Henry Carrigan, No Depression
“Too Late to Be Cool works in the now-timeless musical palettes that have defined Leadon – and, in no small way, the wider Americana movement…”
– Nick DeRiso, Ultimate Classic Rock
The country-rock originator announced his comeback album this summer, the first following his 2004 LP, Mirror. Since the announcement, Leadon has taken the stage, headlining AMERICANAFEST last month and appearing at the Country Music Hall of Fame. He recently signed a long-term, worldwide publishing agreement with Warner Chappell Music, reinforcing his connection and commitment to the industry at large.
The music pioneer’s early career began with the Flying Burrito Brothers and Dillard & Clark before co-founding the Eagles alongside Don Henley, Glenn Frey, and Randy Meisner. Together, the band would become one of the world’s most prominent bands in music history, creating influential anthems that continue to impact generations of fans. His legacy continues to live on as a solo artist and decorated musician, proving that he will never go out of style.
Too Late To Be Cool Track List:
1. “Zero Sum Game”
2. “Telescope”
3. “Just A Little”
4. “Take It As It Comes”
5. “Everyone’s Quirky”
6. “Go On Down to Mobile”
7. “Mama Didn’t Raise No Fool”
8. “Too Late To Be Cool”
9. “Fathom”
10. “Coast Highway”
11. “Too Many Memories”
About Bernie Leadon
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Bernie Leadon is a musician’s musician—revered not only for his instrumental mastery but for his foundational role in shaping the sound of modern American music. A founding member of the Eagles and a pioneer of country-rock, Leadon’s six-decade career has left an indelible mark across bluegrass, folk, rock, and Americana. Born in Minneapolis and raised in Gainesville, Florida, Leadon was steeped in acoustic and bluegrass traditions from an early age. His early work with genre-defining groups like Dillard & Clark and The Flying Burrito Brothers helped set the stage for the Americana movement, fusing traditional instrumentation with a new, forward-thinking songwriting style. These formative years placed him at the heart of a cultural shift that bridged Nashville and roots and rock. In 1971, Leadon co-founded the Eagles alongside Glenn Frey, Don Henley, and Randy Meisner. His signature contributions—on guitar, banjo, mandolin, and harmony vocals—were central to the band’s early sound, most notably on Eagles, Desperado, and One of These Nights. He co-wrote “Witchy Woman” with Henley and helped shape a sound that blended country nuance with rock appeal. His arrangements and performances remain immortalized on Eagles: Greatest Hits 1971–1975, the best-selling album in U.S. history. After stepping away from the Eagles in 1975 to pursue more organic music-making, Leadon built a reputation as one of the most versatile and respected collaborators in the business. His work with artists such as Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Stephen Stills, and Alabama showcased his rare musical fluency—equally at home flatpicking an acoustic solo or arranging intricate vocal harmonies. In 1998, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with The Eagles, further solidifying his legacy. Now, with his first music in over 20 years, Leadon returns to the studio with the same commitment to authenticity that has defined his career. Tracked live to analog tape with no overdubs or digital corrections, the music embraces feel over formula with the new album, Too Late To Be Cool, set to release on October 10. For Bernie Leadon, music has never been about trends or flash – it’s about truth, craftsmanship, and soul. As both a trailblazer and a torchbearer, he remains a vital link between the roots of American music and its enduring future.
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