Luke Grimes Trades the Saddle for the Stage: The Yellowstone Star Rediscovers His True Voice
While most of Hollywood’s elite chase the next blockbuster role or franchise deal, Yellowstone star Luke Grimes is choosing an entirely different path — one that leads straight back to his roots. The actor best known for playing Kayce Dutton, the morally conflicted son of Kevin Costner’s John Dutton, has officially traded the rugged landscapes of Montana for the soulful sounds of Nashville.
With the release of his debut country EP, Pain Pills or Pews, Grimes has done what few television stars dare to attempt — step away from the spotlight that made him famous to pursue a passion that’s been quietly calling him since childhood. The result? A deeply personal, soul-baring collection of songs that reveal the man behind the cowboy — one who’s finally ready to tell his own story.
The Actor Who Became a Musician — Again
For fans of Yellowstone, the news of Grimes’ musical venture may seem sudden, but for the actor himself, this shift has been years in the making. Born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, the youngest of four children in a devout pastor’s family, Grimes’ life was always steeped in music long before Hollywood fame entered the picture.
“Music came first,” he’s said in interviews — and he means it. Before the cameras and scripts, Grimes found his rhythm behind a drum set in his father’s church worship band. Those early performances weren’t about fame or money — they were about connection, faith, and self-expression. As he grew older, that love for music evolved into something deeper, leading him to join local bands in New York and Los Angeles. But as the reality of turning passion into profession loomed, Grimes made a fateful decision: he kept music sacred and pursued acting instead.
It was a choice that led him to one of television’s biggest hits, the sprawling neo-western epic Yellowstone, where his performance as Kayce Dutton earned him a devoted global fanbase. Yet even amid the show’s staggering success, Grimes never forgot where he came from — or who he was before the fame.
“Pain Pills or Pews”: A Title That Tells the Truth
Grimes’ debut EP, Pain Pills or Pews, is not a typical celebrity vanity project. It’s raw, introspective, and unflinchingly honest — a love letter to his past and a reckoning with the choices that defined him. The title itself speaks volumes.
The phrase refers to the harsh realities of his hometown, a city once devastated by opioid addiction and economic collapse. “In Dayton, you either found faith or you found an escape,” Grimes explained. “For a lot of people, that choice was pain pills or pews.”
Across eight tracks, Grimes unpacks his upbringing with the lyrical sensitivity of someone who has lived every word. The songs carry a bittersweet duality — one part nostalgia, one part ache — reflecting the beauty and the brokenness of his Ohio roots.
In “Oh Ohio,” perhaps the EP’s most haunting song, Grimes captures the conflicting emotions of leaving home behind: the guilt of escape, the gratitude of survival, and the enduring love for the place that shaped him. Critics have called it “achingly sincere” and “a modern Americana ballad that could stand beside anything from Chris Stapleton or Jason Isbell.”
A Sound Born of Authenticity
Unlike many actors-turned-musicians, Grimes isn’t chasing chart success or radio play. His sound — a blend of rootsy Americana, classic country storytelling, and folk introspection — feels organic, lived-in, and free from commercial gloss.
Tracks like “Hold On,” a tender duet recorded with his wife Bianca, reveal an artist unafraid to be vulnerable. Meanwhile, “No Horse to Ride,” the EP’s breakout single, has been hailed as the defining track of the collection — a dusty, contemplative ballad that mirrors the emotional complexity Grimes brought to Kayce Dutton.
Critics have noted that what makes Pain Pills or Pews so compelling is its sense of restraint. The production, helmed by Nashville heavyweights, never overshadows the intimacy of the songwriting. “Grimes isn’t trying to be a country star,” one reviewer wrote. “He’s trying to be honest — and that honesty is what hits hardest.”
Inspiration from the Yellowstone Family
Grimes’ musical journey has not been a solo endeavor. The Yellowstone set itself — with its rugged scenery, campfire camaraderie, and shared creative energy — played a significant role in rekindling his love for country music.
He cites Ryan Bingham, who plays Walker on the show, as a major influence. Bingham, a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter in his own right, encouraged Grimes to take his music seriously. “Ryan reminded me that country music isn’t about twang or fame,” Grimes said. “It’s about storytelling — and I’ve got plenty of stories left to tell.”
While his on-screen chemistry with co-star Lainey Wilson (Abby) sparked fan excitement, Grimes clarified that his real musical partnership remains rooted in his personal life, with wife Bianca being both muse and collaborator. Their shared creative process brings warmth and intimacy to the record — a reflection of his growth as both artist and husband.
Choosing Music Over Yellowstone
Perhaps the most startling revelation for fans came when Grimes admitted, in a recent interview, that he now prefers singing to acting — even over his acclaimed role on Yellowstone. “Music feels like the truest version of me,” he confessed. “Acting gave me a voice, but singing gives me a soul.”
That statement sent ripples through the Yellowstone fandom, many of whom feared this meant Grimes might not return to the upcoming spinoffs and final episodes of the series. While no official confirmation has been made, insiders hint that his focus is “firmly fixed on music for the foreseeable future.”
If that’s true, Grimes’ departure would mark the end of an era for the Dutton family saga — but also the beginning of a new artistic chapter for the man who helped define it.
A New Frontier for Luke Grimes
In many ways, Luke Grimes’ career pivot mirrors the themes of Yellowstone itself: identity, purpose, and the struggle to reconcile where you came from with where you’re going. Just as Kayce Dutton has spent years wrestling with his past, Grimes now stands at his own crossroads — between Hollywood success and the simple, soulful truth of his music.
The success of Pain Pills or Pews has proved that his instincts were right. The EP has received glowing reviews from both country and mainstream critics, and streaming numbers continue to climb. Fans who first fell in love with him as a conflicted cowboy are now discovering a man stripped of character and pretense — just a voice, a guitar, and a lifetime’s worth of stories to tell.
“I didn’t leave acting,” Grimes told Rolling Stone. “I just finally came home.”
From the dusty trails of Montana to the neon glow of Nashville, Luke Grimes has found a new kind of frontier — one defined not by fame, but by freedom. And this time, it’s his own story he’s singing.