I've always looked the same. Since I was a child, I hated having to deal with my hair. I hated having to change my clothes. As a kid, I had a sailor shirt and the same old corduroy pants, and that's what I wanted to wear everyday.

Smith has recorded a cover of Buddy Holly's classic "Words of Love" for the CD Rave On Buddy Holly a tribute album tied to Holly's seventy-fifth birthday year which was released June 28 2011. A box set of her work up to that time The Patti Smith Masters came out in 1996 and 2002 saw the release of Land (1975–2002) a two-CD compilation that includes a memorable cover of Prince's "When Doves Cry". In the winter of 2004/2005 Smith toured again with Nader in a series of rallies against the Iraq War and called for the impeachment of George W.

On November 17 2010 Patti Smith won the National Book Award for her memoir Just Kids. Called the "Godmother of Punk" her work was a fusion of rock and poetry.