Nita Strauss, guitarist for Alice Cooper, has welcomed her first child. Strauss and her husband, Josh Villalta, a musician-manager, announced the birth of their son, Maxwell James Villalta, who was born on May 28. They shared the joyous news recently with the world.
The couple spoke to People in an interview and shared photos of their newborn on social media. “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,” Nita said. She expressed that only a few days into motherhood, it felt like the best experience ever.
“Even after only a few days of motherhood, it’s already the best thing I’ve ever done,” she shared.
Josh explained the choice of name, saying Maxwell was inspired by 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.
Nita described childbirth as the “hardest thing I’ve ever done,” which ended beautifully. “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!” she remarked. The experience was transformative, feeling as if “the rest of the world melted away” when they welcomed new life.
Excitement is in the air as Nita looks forward to every part of motherhood, from caring for a newborn to eventually having their son join them on tour. “It’s going to be amazing, chaotic, and exciting, and we wouldn’t have it any other way,” she said.
Currently, while Strauss is on maternity leave, guitarist Anna Cara, who is 22 years old, is filling in for her during Cooper’s tour.