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Taylor Sheridan brought anyone with an experience on the ranch into his showYellowstone. This included the acclaimed country musician Ryan Bingham. Bingham plays the guest role of a ranch hand, Walker, in the series. Interestingly, Sheridan is a big fan of the singer’s music and listened to one of his songs on a loop while writing the script for his pre-Yellowstonefilm,Wind River.
Ryan Bingham’s most recent album,American Love Song, featured a ballad calledWolves, which was inspired by the student organization March For Our Lives. The song was featured in the Taylor Sheridan series, where Bingham’s character sings the song in a scene.
Taylor Sheridan Listened To TheYellowstoneActor’s Song On Loop While WritingWind River
Before hisYellowstonefame,Taylor Sheridanwas known for his neo-Western crime film,Wind River, which had Marvel starsJeremy Rennerand Elizabeth Olsen playing the lead roles. The film, set in the Wind River Indian Reservation, explored the investigation of the death of a Northern Arapaho tribe girl, Natalie Hanson.
“The opposite of what Yellowstone was”: Taylor Sheridan Claimed Making Kevin Costner Led Drama Was a Breeze When Compared to His $43M Jeremy Renner Project
Sheridan played the perfect song in the background to inspire him to work on his crime film.YellowstoneactorRyan Bingham‘s murder balladHallelujahkept playing on loop as Sheridan worked on the script ofWind River. During his interview withThe Los Angeles Times, the1923creator shared:
“I wrote [the movie] Wind River listening to his song Hallelujah on a loop.”
Hallelujahwas featured in Bingham’s third studio albumJunky Star. The Americana song was released through the label Lost Highway Records in 2010. The song’s theme about hard-lived lives catching up to wounded souls was poetic for what Sheridan had written for the film’s central character played byYellowstoneactressKelsey Asbille.
Asbille’s Natalie Hanson was a representation of the numerous indigenous women who were victims of atrocities committed on and off reservations. Bingham’s song certainly helped, as the film received critical acclaim and gained widespread attention to Sheridan’s neo-noir Western projects. Sheridan soon reached out to Bingham to write songs forYellowstonebut ended up casting him as an actor.
Taylor Sheridan Cast Ryan Bingham In A Cowboy Role InYellowstone
Not justHallelujah, but Sheridan was hooked on the country singer’s works in general.Wide Open Countryreported in 2019 that he eventually got in touch with Bingham to write songs for his Western dramaYellowstone. While talking to the musician, he learned that Bingham grew up riding horses and working in ranches. He immediately cast him in a cowboy role, Walker, in the series.
“You have to respect the lineage”: Taylor Sheridan’s One Yellowstone Spin-Off Won’t Be Releasing Anytime Soon That’s Directly Linked to Kevin Costner Led Series
During his LA Times interview, Sheridan shared that getting Bingham onboard theKevin Costnerseries was a gift. He had some great words of praise for the singer:
“To have him on Yellowstone is a gift. He is the graveled voice of this generation’s cowboys and poets.”
Besides Ryan Bingham, there are also othercountry singers like Lainey Wilsonwho landed significant roles in the series. Bingham and Wilson also wrote and performed several songs in the latest fifth season ofYellowstone(via Holler.).
Yellowstoneis now available for streaming on Peacock, whileWind Riveris available for rent on AppleTV+.
Hashim Asraff
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3019
Hashim Asraff is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,800 articles published on celebrity culture, comic book movies, and major TV franchises. With a background in Sociology and a keen interest in pop culture, Hashim brings a unique lens to breaking news stories, character deep-dives, film rankings, and fan-driven perspectives.His coverage often includes the MCU, DCU, hit network shows, and celebrity profiles, giving readers a rich blend of entertainment and analysis. A longtime fan of crime and investigative series, Hashim has watched thousands of episodes of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Blue Bloods, and The RookieA passionate storyteller and wordsmith, Hashim has also worked as a ghostwriter and managed multiple social media handles. He brought his writing expertise to FandomWire to also pursue his lifelong love for cinema and television.
