"I’m too selfish": Sheryl Crow opens up about plans after her kids leave home

Sheryl Crow, now 63, has chosen to put her full-time music career on hold to spend more time with her sons, Wyatt (18) and Levi (15), both adopted in 2007 and 2010, respectively.

In a Variety cover story published April 30, 2025, she explained that she feels

“I'm too selfish to want to miss any time with them,”

and plans to resume full-time work only after Levi also leaves home.

Crow’s decision reflects her wish to be present for milestones like Wyatt’s transition to college and Levi’s high school years.

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Sheryl Crow has consciously delayed returning to full-time work

Sheryl Crow said she delayed large-scale tours and festival appearances so she could attend her sons’ events, like baseball games, before dark.

“I feel like my 18-year-old was just born, and he's gonna be leaving for college in a year,”

she told Variety. She added,

“Once Levi is out of the house, I’ll go back to work full time, because I have an acute connection to joy when I’m playing”.

This choice means she will only join select dates of the Outlaw Music Festival alongside Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan in September, rather than a full tour.

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Her sons’ preferences have shaped her touring schedule

Both Wyatt and Levi have said they do not want to travel on the road with her, and Sheryl Crow respects their wishes. She noted that they sometimes tease her for her social media posts, calling her TikTok videos “cringey,” yet they remain supportive.

“I actually played ‘Alarm Clock’ for them because that’s the first song that came out on the record.”

She said, describing how Wyatt reacts differently to mornings compared to his brother. Despite missing fewer shows, Crow keeps performing when possible to maintain her connection to music.

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Crow encourages her sons’ individual dreams

While both boys are musically inclined, Sheryl Crow appreciates that Levi wants to become a marine biologist.

“He’s got a great ear and can play really well, but he wants to go save the reefs, so I’m happy for him”.

She also shared how she insisted they take piano lessons, describing herself as “one of those obnoxious parents” about music education. Crow's support for diverse interests indicates her hope that her children find their own paths, whether in music or science.

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Becoming a mother reshaped her priorities

Adopting Wyatt and Levi transformed Crow’s view of her life and career. She credited her family’s support during the adoption process and said motherhood has become her most important role. Reflecting on her journey, Sheryl Crow noted that she once taught school and did not release her first album until age 29, illustrating how life stages can shift priorities. Her diagnosis of breast cancer in 2006 and subsequent move to Nashville in 2007 also influenced her choice to focus on family life over fame.

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As Wyatt prepares for college and Levi nears the end of high school, Crow looks ahead to a time when she can balance her artistic passions with her role as an empty nester. Until then, Sheryl Crow remains committed to being “too selfish” to miss any moments with her sons, showing that even celebrated artists may pause their careers to embrace parenthood fully.

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