Heart’s Nancy Wilson: It’s ’embarrassing’ to be American now
Mar 26, 2025
(KRON) -- It's embarrassing to be an American right now, according to legendary rock guitarist Nancy Wilson. Wilson, who with her sister Ann formed groundbreaking female-fronted rock group, Heart, was speaking to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel when she weighed in on today's political climate.
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ing to the paper about Heart's 1976 hit, "Crazy on You," which was written in response to the Vietnam War, Wilson said the song was even more relevant today.
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 08: Nancy Wilson performs during Women's Only Rock n' Roll Fantasy Camp Final Performance with Nancy Wilson, Sheila E., Lita Ford, And more at The Viper Room on December 08, 2024 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Unique Nicole/Getty Images)
"We were kind of embarrassed at that time to call ourselves American because of the dirty politics of the Vietnam War," said Wilson, who was born in San Francisco. "To be as subtle as possible, it's more embarrassing now."
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Wilson also name-checked another of the band's big 1970s hits as having renewed relevance today.
1977's "Barracuda," was written about "a real sleazeball with a satin jacket," who she said in the 1970s, "wanted to make more money out of the sexy chicks in Heart."
Barracuda, Wilson said, "is even more relevant in the salacious billionaire culture with the grab-them-by-the-(expletive) mentality."
However, Wilson also struck an optimistic tone for the future, and particularly for women in the arts.
"I think for women in the culture the pendulum will come back again, and there'll be another renaissance in the arts to push back against the oppression of the crank old rich white guys," Wilson said. "I hope I am alive to see that next revolution."
Heart, who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013, are currently on the road touring for the first time since 2019 with lead singer Ann Wilson having successfully undergone treatment for cancer. ...read more read less