Superlatives
A Vulture series in which artists judge the best and worst of their own careers.
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Sheryl Crows tweenage sons like to joke that their moms fame dates back to the Jurassic period.
But Im like, Wow, you dont have to be so truthful.
Hammonds T. rexunexpectedly played hero.
Nearly 30 years later, both thisformer backup singer from Missourianddinos born from amberare still very much rare gems.
Crow is not usually one for nostalgia, but the pandemic became a catalyst for revisiting her back catalogue.
There were a lot of revelations in going back and listening to her 11 studio albums, she says.
And isnt that the human experience?
Were all works in progress.
After almost three decades in the music business, Crow sounds as if she has reached a higher plane.
Unfortunately, she hasnt changed her mind about recording a follow-up to her self-declaredfinal studio album, 2019sThreads.
For Crow, things have come full circle.
Without those legends, I certainly wouldnt be doing what Im doing.
I would actually just be a soccer mom, she jokes.
That passing of the torch has led her to think of getting older a bit differently.
I used to cringe at the termlegacy artist, she says.
But I feel like the gift of my age is embracing how long Ive been around.
Theres something really beautiful about having had this lengthy career and still doing what you love.
But I understood [I Shall Believe] more later, and thats what you hope.
You hope you get out of your own way and allow inspiration to take over.
Sheryl Crow song you wont skip on the radio
I cant listen to myself.
I mean, its terrible.
I still really enjoy it.
Other songs Ive written dont do that for me.
It was really fun.
A lot of it, too, felt like he was celebrating us women.
Redemption Day is one of those songs that I feel is career-defining on a number of levels.
The Johnny Cash moment on [theThreadsversion of] Redemption Day was also really a turning point for me.
That song was not only special to sing but also an epiphanic moment.
Well pay you that.
Girl power, you know?
And I loved that.
Im like, Well, Aunt Sheryl isnt going to be a completely conventional role model for you.
And Im sorry, but the song was perfect for the moment.
It was reported that I was being paid $3 million to have his baby.
That was just straight-up bizarre.
At that time, I wasnt aware of how the promotional balloon works.
Its a very vulnerable record.
I think at that point, I was also really meeting myself.
Who am I becoming?
Where am I going in my life?Theres a lot of introspection on that record.
I dont look that gift horse in the mouth.
Every time I play it, I feel an immense amount of gratitude.
That song allowed me to write the songs that no one will ever hear.
That was the last bit of correspondence I had with this person.
Your favorite mistake
Oh man, thats a hard one.
In the past, Ive joked that I made two records before my first one came out.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
