The guitar that Greg pawns is really owned by Rick Springfield. This was the same guitar he wrote "Jessie's Girl" on.
The story is loosely based on Diablo Cody's real life mother-in-law who has been singing rock and roll for many years.
Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline previously starred in Sophie's Choice (1982), for which Streep won her second Oscar while pregnant with daughter Mamie Gummer, who played Streep and Kline's daughter in this film.
Cameo (Diablo Cody): Appears as a patron dancing on the floor when Ricki and the Flash are playing "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For."