Nita Strauss Welcomes First Child, Son Maxwell James Villalta

Nita Strauss, guitarist for Alice Cooper, has become a parent for the first time. Strauss and her musician-manager husband, Josh Villalta, welcomed their son, Maxwell James Villalta, on May 28. The couple shared the happy news with People through an exclusive interview, as well as on social media.

In the interview, Nita expressed the challenges and joys of new parenthood. She said, “We’re in the full-on newborn trenches: exhausted, running on fumes and figuring new parenthood out as we go, and it’s still been the most fulfilling and incredible time of our lives.” Despite the exhaustion, she states that motherhood is already the best experience she has ever had.

Maxwell’s name holds special significance. Josh explained that they chose the name Maxwell with the hope that “whatever he does in his life, we hope he does it to the max!” The middle name, James, honors Nita’s father, musician James Strauss.

“I’ve always heard people say ‘You don’t know true love until they put your baby on your chest for the first time,’ but I never fully understood it until it happened to me,” Nita shared. “It was as if the rest of the world melted away.”

Nita is eager to embrace all aspects of motherhood, from her current experience of caring for a newborn to eventually bringing her son on tour. “I’m excited for every phase of this new chapter,” she stated. “It’s going to be amazing and chaotic, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Currently on maternity leave, Nita’s role in Alice Cooper’s tour is being temporarily filled by 22-year-old guitarist Anna Cara.