Kevin Costner Has A Lesser-Known Music Career (& Can Be Heard In Yellowstone)

Aside from carrying out iconic acting performances, over the years Kevin Costner has shown a talent and passion for music. "I grew up singing and playing music in the church, so that was my first love," Costner said to AARP in 2020. The "Dances with Wolves" actor has revisited music by playing with his band, Kevin Costner & Modern West, since founding the group back in 2007. On their website, Costner shared that the band emerged after his wife, Christine Baumgartner, suggested that he should "reconnect musically" with his friend, songwriter John Coinman. 

Previously, Costner, Coinman, and another musician, Blair Forward, founded a band called Roving Boy early on in Costner's acting career. The three joined forces again to create Kevin Costner & Modern West along with Teddy Morgan, Larry Cobb, Park Chisolm, and part-time fiddlers. Costner has stated how he has hoped for "genuine exchange[s]" through creating music. "I always thought that music could build a stronger, more personal moment for me," Costner said on the site. "It would create the opportunity for a genuine exchange much greater than the movie, TV interview or magazine." Kevin Costner & Modern West has gone on to make music that's been featured in a popular acting project of Costner's.

Kevin Costner & Modern West have had a prolific career as a band thus far. Since they were formed nearly two decades ago, the act has put out a total of five albums as of this writing. In addition, the musicians have recorded numerous singles and EPs. One particular release from Kevin Costner & Modern West is a 2020 music collection called "Tales from Yellowstone." This 16-track album is one that helped tell the story of the hit series "Yellowstone." A few of these songs like "Heaven's Gate," "We Don't Run", and "The Killer" were included in episodes of the show.

Costner chatted with American Songwriter that same year about how the album relates to the plot of "Yellowstone." "It's really a concept record," Costner said. "Sometimes there are songs that aren't really necessarily about [Costner's character] John Dutton. I have my own muse when I'm away from home, for when I'm making a movie, and there are songs that kind of blend in and also complement what's happening." Moreover, music has been a longtime source of inspiration for Costner as he takes on roles beyond "Yellowstone."

Music is a storytelling medium that Kevin Costner has connected with on a deep level. The "Bodyguard" star has spoken publicly about how his music and acting go hand in hand. "It's always about my feelings, about the characters I'm going to be interacting with," Costner said while discussing the "Tales from Yellowstone" album in a 2020 "Today" show interview. He added, "That's exactly how I prepare for a part, and it starts with music."

In a past chat with Stacy Newman of More than the Music, Costner detailed that the songs of Kevin Costner & Modern West have also allowed him to collaborate with family on occasion. "One of the fun things for me when we do 'Let Me Be The One' is, sometimes my daughter [Lily] can meet up with me on the road, and we can sing a duet together," Costner said. Additionally, in 2015 Costner opened up to ABC 10 about the positive experience of fronting the band. "There's a lot of joy," Costner said of performing with his group as they got ready to put on a show in Folsom, California. He went on to state, "I'm a storyteller. I guess that's what I've done ... I like telling stories, and music is probably the richest way to actually communicate with people for me because it's so personal, it's so immediate."