Country-Rock Pioneer Set to Release First Solo Album in Two Decades, Too Late to Be Cool, on October 10
(L-R): Greg Sowders (WCM), Guy Moot (WCM), Bernie Leadon, Carianne Marshall (WCM), Trevian Kutti
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Chappell Music
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LOS ANGELES, Calif. (September 29, 2025) – Warner Chappell Music (WCM), the music publishing arm of Warner Music Group (NASDAQ: WMG), today announced the signing of Eagles founding member and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Bernie Leadon to a long-term, worldwide publishing agreement. A pioneer in the melding of rock with country, folk, and bluegrass, the singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist is slated to release his first solo album in more than two decades, Too Late to Be Cool, on October 10. Most recently, Leadon was a headliner at the AMERICANAFEST in Nashville, Tennessee.
Leadon said: “I have been associated with Warner Chappell and the rest of Warner Music since 1971. I am delighted to renew my connections with them now at this point in the 21st Century. Warner Chappell and Warner Music have always been at the pinnacle of support for songwriters and other music creators, and that reality is still very evident in the current leadership and staff. My sincere thanks go to all of them.”
WCM’s Guy Moot, Co-Chair and CEO, and Carianne Marshall, Co-Chair and COO, said: “It’s no exaggeration to say that much of the music we call Americana today owes a deep debt to Bernie’s boundary-crossing inspiration. He has helped shape a canon of iconic music, from his early years with genre-defying groups like The Flying Burrito Brothers and Dillard & Clark to his generation-defining work with the Eagles to his countless collaborations with other artists. His creativity, musical brilliance, and pure devotion to his craft have made him a true American treasure, with six decades of extraordinary songs and sounds to his credit. We’re honored and excited to welcome him into the Warner Chappell family.”
Greg Sowders, SVP, A&R and Catalog, WCM added: “As a master musician, songwriter and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Bernie inspired me to start my first real band. And now as his music publisher, I continue to be inspired by his writing and playing, particularly by his new album Too Late Too Be Cool. His legend continues.”
Leadon penned all the songs on his upcoming album, including the recently released tracks “Too Many Memories,” “Just a Little,” and “Go On Down to Mobile.” It also marks Leadon’s reunion with esteemed producer/engineer and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Glyn Johns (Rolling Stones, The Who, Eric Clapton, and dozens more). Too Late to Be Cool was recorded live to analog tape with all the musicians performing together in the studio, with no overdubs.
His early work with groundbreaking 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, roots music, 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. His arrangements and performances remain immortalized on the Eagles collection, Their 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 & Roll Hall of Fame with The Eagles, further solidifying his legacy.
About Warner Chappell Music
Warner Chappell Music, the global music publishing company of Warner Music Group, is home to a wide array of legendary songwriters and a rich catalog of contemporary hits and influential standards. With offices in more than 20 countries, Warner Chappell provides deep expertise across a range of creative services and the most innovative opportunities for songwriters and copyright holders. Warner Chappell, which has a history dating back more than 200 years, currently publishes and administers music from A-Lin, Angèle, Anderson .Paak, Aya Nakamura, Bruno Mars, Capital Bra, Celeste, Cole Porter, Coco Jones, Dave, David Bowie, David Tao, Dua Lipa, Duran Duran, Fraser T. Smith, Gamble and Huff, Gene Autry Music Group catalog, George Gershwin, George Michael, Grateful Dead, Juanes, Justin Tranter, Kacey Musgraves, Katy Perry, Kool & the Gang, Laufey, Led Zeppelin, Lin Xi, Lizzo, Madonna, Marco Antonio Solís, Maria Becerra, Mitski, MNEK, Morgan Wallen, Oscar Holter, Pablo Alborán, Quevedo, Quincy Jones, RAYE, ROSÉ, Saweetie, Stormzy, Summer Walker, Teddy Swims, Tom Petty Catalog, Tones and I, WeiBird, Wyman Wong, Zach Bryan, and 831, among many others. Follow Warner Chappell Music on Instagram, X, Facebook, and TikTok.
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