‘Landman’ star Billy Bob Thornton helped write songs for season 1 soundtrack
While mostly known as an actor, Billy Bob Thornton has been playing in a band for nearly 20 years and used that musical expertise on “Landman.”
The Fort Worth-filmed show spent much of the spring and summer filming season 2 in and around North Texas. Sam Elliott joins the cast for the second season, which returns to Paramount+ on Nov. 16.
Ahead of the series’ return, Paramount and MCA released a new album of curated music inspired by the show’s first season: “Landman — Songs From and Inspired by the Paramount+ Original Series (Volume I).”
The album features songs from many famous names in the country music world, including George Strait, Chris Stapleton, Dwight Yoakum and Ronnie Dunn. This is where Thornton comes in, as Entertainment Weekly revealed that he and Mark Collie, who plays Sheriff Walt Joeberg on the show, contributed to the soundtrack.
Here’s what to know.
Billy Bob Thornton writes songs for ‘Landman’ soundtrack
In total, Thornton and Collie worked on five of the album’s 15 songs.
The duo co-wrote “Livin’ It Up in Texas” with Billy Gibbons, “She’ll Dance for Whiskey” with Parker McCollum, “That’s What Lonely People Do” with Yoakum and “Blood for Black Gold” with Dunn, according to Entertainment Weekly. Thornton also plays the drums on the Dunn track.
Thornton and Collie are also credited as the only songwriters on “Midland After Midnight,” from Lubbock band Flatland Cavalry. Here’s a look at the full soundtrack:
- “Do Ya” by Belle Frantz
- “Livin’ It Up Down in Texas” by Billy Gibbons
- “Snakebite” by Brent Cobb
- “Bad Medicine” by Whiskey Myers
- “Devil’s Den” by Clint Black
- “Blue Collar” by Drayton Farley
- “That’s What Lonely People Do” by Dwight Yoakam
- “I Blame the Bar” by Ella Langley
- “Midland After Midnight” by Flatland Cavalry
- “Honky Tonk Hall of Fame” by George Strait ft. Chris Stapleton
- “She’ll Dance for Whiskey” by Parker McCollum
- “I Found Blue” by Reverend Horton Heat
- “Blood For Black Gold” by Ronnie Dunn
- “Wondering Why” by The Red Clay Strays
- “Mean Old Sun” by Turnpike Troy
More on ‘Landman’
“Landman” is described as a “modern-day tale of fortune seeking in the world of West Texas oil rigs.”
The Thornton-led series premiered on Paramount+ in November 2024 and wrapped its 10-episode first season on Jan. 12. The drama is co-created by Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace, who created the “Boomtown” Texas Monthly podcast that the show is based on.
“Landman” season 1 starred Thornton, Collie, Demi Moore, Jon Hamm, Paulina Chávez, Jacob Lofland, Ali Larter, Michelle Randolph, Kayla Wallace, James Jordan and Colm Feore. Michael Peña, Andy Garcia and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones appeared in guest roles.
All episodes of “Landman” season 1 are streaming on Paramount+.
