Famous Rockstar Ditches California For Red State: We Did It For Our Daughter

In a move that has resonated with many Americans seeking a respite from urban chaos and societal concerns, Mötley Crüe’s Nikki Sixx has chosen Wyoming as his family’s primary residence, leaving behind Southern California after more than four decades.

Sixx, at 65, along with his wife Courtney, 38, and their daughter Ruby, 4, have found solace in the least populous U.S. state, known for its breathtaking landscapes and outdoor activities. Speaking to People magazine, Sixx expressed his contentment, “It just really clears our head and allows us to reset. We spend a lot of time outside… I wake up and I’m like, ‘I can’t think of a place I’d rather be.'”

The decision to move was spurred by concerns for their daughter’s safety amid growing unease about school shootings, natural disasters, and other societal issues in California. “Moving up to Wyoming was something really great for me and my wife and also for how we wanted to raise our daughter,” Sixx shared in an interview with the “Lipps Service With Scott Lipps” podcast.

Sixx is best known as the bassist and primary songwriter for the American heavy metal band Mötley Crüe, which was formed in 1981. Mötley Crüe became famous for their hard-hitting music as well as their wild lifestyle, heavily marked by substance abuse and run-ins with the law, which was a hallmark of many rock bands in the 1980s. Sixx himself struggled with heroin addiction, an experience that significantly influenced his music and writing.

His life’s influence has extended beyond music into the realms of advocacy for recovery from addiction and mental health awareness, using his own experiences to help others facing similar challenges.

“And there’s no entertainment business here [Wyoming], so you’re not dealing with any of that kind of stuff — you’re just dealing with blue-collar people. I relate to it ’cause I came from Idaho in the ’70s, which it’s 40 minutes to Idaho from where we live.”

The rockstar also noted the positive impact of Wyoming on his creativity. “It’s great for the creativity. I feel like all kinds of ideas are just floating around the air,” he said in an interview with SiriusXM. The sentiment echoes the desire of many artists to find inspiration and peace away from the urban grind. Not too long ago Sylvester Stallone and his wife made headlines with their decision to relocate from California to Florida.

The move was not just a change of scenery but also a creative boost for Stallone. In his Netflix documentary “Sly,” he mentioned that changing his environment was beneficial for reigniting his creative process. “I wasn’t moving because ‘Oh, wow, I wanted another beautiful view.’ Any time changing that paradigm which you become used to, it’s literally to jump-start that process again,” Stallone said.

A few weeks ago, comedian Bill Engvall announced his decision to leave California for Utah. Engvall, who spent 30 years in California, revealed his fondness for the state but also noted the rising taxes and economic factors as reasons for his move.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, renowned actress Angelina Jolie recently shared her disenchantment with Hollywood as well. “I wouldn’t be an actress today,” she said. “When I was starting out, it wasn’t as much of an expectation to be as public, to share so much.”

Jolie remarked, “I grew up in quite a shallow place. Of all the places in the world, Hollywood is not a healthy place. So you seek authenticity.”