Biomolecular applications of NMR spectroscopy are often merely associated with soluble molecules or magnetic resonance imaging. However, since the late 1970s, solid-state NMR (ssNMR) spectroscopy has demonstrated its ability to provide atomic-level insight into complex biomolecular systems ranging from lipid bilayers to complex biomaterials. In the last decade, progress in the areas of NMR spectroscopy, biophysics, and molecular biology have significantly expanded the repertoire of ssNMR spectroscopy for biomolecular studies. This Review discusses current approaches and methodological challenges, and highlights recent progress in using ssNMR spectroscopy at the interface of structural and cellular biology.