Alice Cooper recently opened up about guitarist Nita Strauss’s pregnancy and her temporary replacement, Anna Cara, in a conversation shared on Trunk Nation with Eddie Trunk.
Cooper explained that Strauss was determined to continue touring despite her pregnancy. He ultimately convinced her to step back and rest until after the baby arrives.
“She’s from England and she plays in Tommy’s band,” Cooper said. “When Nita got pregnant, she said, ‘Oh, I can play the whole time.’ And I said, ‘Nita, you are gonna get to a point where you’re gonna be very uncomfortable.'”
Cooper then shifted to speaking about how close Strauss is to giving birth and how Anna Cara stepped in to fill her role on tour.
“So now, she’s pretty close to having the baby. But she said, ‘Anna is the girl to take my place,’ you know, until she comes back,” he continued. “I said, ‘You’re coming back.’ And she can’t wait. She misses this so much, you know, being on tour.”
Cooper also praised Cara’s performance, noting that she quickly won over the entire team.
“But Anna is great. She learned every bit of it and she tears it every night,” he said. “When I first her playing, everyone went, ‘She’s the one.’ And I respect them.”
Strauss is expected to return to the band following the birth of her child, with Cara holding her spot in the meantime.
The situation speaks to just how deeply embedded Strauss has become in Alice Cooper’s world — and how seriously both she and the band take her eventual return. Her absence, even if temporary, is a notable moment for a guitarist who has built one of the most recognizable profiles in modern rock.
Strauss has long been one of the most visible figures in the genre. As WWE reported, Strauss has performed at multiple WWE events and was featured on the cover of Guitar World magazine — a testament to her reach well beyond the rock concert circuit.
Her influence has also extended to younger artists in the metal scene. A recent YouTube Short featuring Deadlands singer Kasey revealed that Strauss reached out to the artist directly via DM. Kasey described it as a moment that changed her career forever — a reminder that Strauss’s impact goes far beyond her work on stage with Cooper.
With Strauss stepping back, Anna Cara has stepped into one of the most demanding roles in rock. Cooper made clear that Cara earned her place on merit alone. The entire team immediately recognized her ability the first time they saw her play.
That kind of seamless transition is no small feat. Strauss has spent years developing a signature style that has made her one of the most respected guitarists in the business. The fact that Cara has been able to hold that standard night after night speaks to both her talent and the strength of Cooper’s touring operation.
Strauss’s return remains the plan, and by all accounts, she is eager to get back. For now, Cara continues to carry the torch — and by Cooper’s own admission, she is doing it with full force.
