How Yellowstone Became Country Music's Biggest Night

Yellowstone is THE biggest show on cable television right now, and it's become an integral part of the country music landscape, giving a huge promotional boost to artists like Whiskey Myers, Shane Smith and the Saints, and Zach Bryan - not to mention stars like Ryan Bingham and now Lainey Wilson. It's time to make a video on the phenomenon!
Notable Yellowstone Songs:
"Stone" - Whiskey Myers
• Whiskey Myers - Stone ...
"All I See Is You" - Shane Smith and the Saints
• Shane Smith & The Sain...
"Condemned" - Zach Bryan
• Zach Bryan - Condemned
"Smell Like Smoke" - Lainey Wilson
• Lainey Wilson - Smell ...
"West Texas In My Eye" - The Panhandlers
• The Panhandlers - West...
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Spotify: open.spotify.com/playlist/5SB...

[@GradySmith]

Shoutout to my shirt. It's from WalMart, but it felt kinda Yellowstonish.

[@manko559]

Damn that’s fire

[@haydeneblount]

Walmart clothes are fire

[@danielswane8252]

Have you considered making a video about Australian country music?

[@roddammit5510]

"the good I'll do"moment last episode brought tears to my eyes. They played the whole damn song and brought out the heart of what ZB is all about. Love that shit. Thanks for the hard work bud.

[@beruangsinar1033]

Sturgill Simpson was name checked on Yellowstone. Sturgill Simpson played a character named 'Walmart' in "One Dollar".

[@danielwolski873]

It's crazy that real country music is not played on country radio. I'm glad that Yellowstone is giving these artists the exposure they deserve.

[@trayatkins2623]

I stopped listening to country radio stations. All they play are the same songs from the same artists over and over. There’s a lot better music out there if you look for it.

[@nicksilver_music]

Same in ever genre, Radio music has never been the best music, just the most Popular

[@spurbroke]

What I've seen with Yellowstone is a return, not to country, but to western. We're getting cowboy hats instead of trucker hats, horse-back instead of back roads, and sun ups instead of sun downs. Lately, country music has been missing that cowboy influence. Glad to see it back

[@proof_oflife]

This comment hit the nail on the head

[@Bornagain7202]

i mean we still wear trucker and ball caps but I get what your saying

[@GGGboi]

Most definitely…used to be a mix of western and southern influence in country music…seems the western was getting lost till now.

[@dillonkimbrell1441]

@@Bornagain7202 yeah that part was off. i was about to say. trucker hats with the ropes have made a huge comeback in the south and more and more folks are wearing them. its what my grandpa wore in the 80s, but nascar

[@ankurakashady]

I’ve been spamming Shazam while watching Yellowstone from Season 1 to Season 4 and I am from India 🇮🇳 Always loved country music ,but some of these songs are impeccable

[@barefootbreezy6983]

And seeing zach bryan get the recognition he deserves. Was howling when I first heard condemned

[@iamthearmul]

Yep, Yellowstone has huge impact. Even my wife who does not like country music, listened to the Yellowstone soundtrack on her own after watching the show.

[@pamelaparker7032]

The music is awesome on Yellowstone.

[@hooddowntime2143]

People never realized there is a huge culture outside of Nashville. Red dirt, Texas, dark country, folk, urban cowboy and outlaw.

[@davidoverstreet4656]

It's simple. Taylor Sheridan is from Texas and is highlighting Texas country which has been overlooked for years by corporate radio (who desperately want to, but can't control it). And country music fans are discovering that more traditional country music is still being made.... And they are LOVING IT!

[@barefootbreezy6983]

paradigm shift coming in country music. I can feel it

[@dillonkimbrell1441]

the rich make the rich richer is what it is. mainstream wise

[@joncerda351]

The Good I'll Do Zach Bryan montage gave me goosebumps

[@Cdyoung15]

I agree 100%. That song being played along to the backdrop of the hills, valleys, mountains and all of Montana’s natural beauty was just 🤌🤌

[@DJCashEel]

I used to run a red dirt radio show when I lived in Texas and I played all these red dirt guys before the show did and it really really makes me happy to see them have so much success because they're so much of the reason I fell in love with country music

[@stevebasarab3587]

Absolutely love that bands like Whiskey Myers and the Panhandlers are finally getting the recognition they deserve. Really wis country radio would take a hint and play some real country music!

[@katieprouty5914]

I'm so glad Lainey Wilson is getting this exposure! I saw her and Hailey Whitters open for Jon Pardi back in Sept and it was hands down the best concert I have ever been too!

[@Cdyoung15]

I tweeted when Zach Bryan‘s “American heartbreak“ album came out in May how it was virtually a slam dunk that a track off of it would make it onto this season of Yellowstone. It turns out I was right for once after the latest episode aired on Sunday featuring Zach’s song, “The good I’ll do”

[@drewdavidson2386]

Episode one had “Whiskey Fever” in the background of the bunk house.

[@Cdyoung15]

@@drewdavidson2386 I’ll have to go back and watch it again since I didn’t catch it the first time. Either way, I guess the tweet still holds true about songs off of his album making it on the Yellowstone

[@decoteau89]

It's funny this video popped up in my feed, my wife is obsessed with Lainey Wilson, and we had a whole conversation about how I really like that Yellowstone gives a platform to a lot of the artist I listen to daily. And since Yellowstone, she has really embraced my taste in music.

[@msudoc]

Yellowstone and the music that comes from it are bright lights in the otherwise cesspool of current year popular culture. Thanks, Grady.

[@dustythenoodle]

That is THE best shirt I've seen in like... forever!

[@scrantonrager]

As a jersey guy, it’s undoubtedly changed the landscape for country in my area on the shore. I was at Dublin House in Red Bank a couple weekends ago and Whiskey Myers came on… was at a brewery recently and Zach Bryan was on… I need to give Yellowstone full credit. And yes - Monica needs to go

[@joshuamistry9057]

Am absolutely head over heels in love with that shirt

[@GradySmith]

Wal Mart!

[@nicholasi3535]

I love that Yellowstone has gone out of its way to connect itself to the country music scene and a place to showcase new artists. Artists receiving exposure from having a song featured on tv is nothing new though. It happens all the time in other genres. The difference is that Yellowstone is the first show that wants to feature real western music and it’s so cool it’s moving the needle for country artists

[@aintnoisepollution99]

Never heard of Whiskey myers before Yellowstone, now I absolutely love them

[@michaelmonthey5974]

I actually never tuned into “Yellowstone” and I probably feel guilty of missing out, but I love the fact that it’s adding old school country and western songs from artists that are criminally underrated onto their soundtrack, and that its viewers are adding those songs to their playlists. I hope they include songs by Flatland Calvary, Aaron Watson, Cody Johnson, Turnpike Troubadours, Colter Wall, and other rootsy western artists onto the show in the future.

[@BIGMIKE54ify]

Yellowstones person that chooses the music for the show has great taste

[@Myrtlecrack]

Yellowstone was my first exposure to Tyler Childers(Nose To The Grindstone, Lady May), Jason Isbell(Last Of My Kind), Sturgill Simpson(White Line), as well as Whiskey Meyers. It was funny because when I was watching all of this on Yellowstone, my teen daughter was separately discovering all these same artists through social media. When our interests met, it led to me going to my first major concert in decades(Zach Bryan), and a newfound love for indie-country.

[@FinnMckentyPRMBA]

Always excited for a new video from Grady!

[@niicopanda]

Holy crap, didn't expect to see you here. I always appreciate listening "past" whatever you and Grady are specifically talking about. It's like every video has a fantastic business/marketing lecture floating just past the veil; and that's what really excites me. Thank you!

[@BenKellyMusic92]

Right, I'm officially sold. Season 1 episode 1 of Yellowstone, let's go! 🤠

[@anthonybielobockie4991]

I'm doing this backward. I've discovered Yellowstone because I found out my fav bands are featured in the music.

[@morrigansraven61]

They play tunes rightoff of my playlist every season. Great tunes on here

[@savionsouthern1768]

Yellowstone has introduced me to western music and I can say that it is changing my life

[@0rtu_Solis]

Loving the new ventures in your recent videos Grady!

[@GradySmith]

Glad to hear it!

[@benallen2196]

Another one of my favorite underrated bands that was featured on Yellowstone although briefly and just in the background is 49 Winchester. They were also touring with Shane Smith and the Saints and Whiskey Myers this year and I got to go see them all and that was one of the best shows if not the best I have been to all three of those bands are incredible!

[@_iron_patriot7018]

thank you for making this vid Grady, this clears things up. Glad to hear that every little dot of info we've heard of or searched for from Yellowstone is coming together.

[@tatumkennedy1213]

My parents won’t allow me to watch Yellowstone yet, but it looks amazing! And the work they’re doing the country music is just fantastic!!! It’s bringing so many lesser known stars into the spot light, and just putting the light on non pop country music!! I also wanna say how much I love your videos and how much they have taught me about this industry!!💜

[@michaeltinsley7022]

🤘🤘🤘 Whiskey Myers is the best live show out there! I actually found Yellowstone by hearing that WM was on it! Love them both now

[@MrBlondie607]

Zach Bryan is industry country that facts he’s mention or played makes this whole point ridiculous high hats and a pop beat will still top country charts 💀💀

[@nicksilver_music]

Nice beard first off... How many people like me only watched this cus we're huge Zach Bryan fans? Never watched Yellowstone but did watch 1883 and was blown away, the young lead actress was amazing, Sam Elliot was outstanding, it's was so raw well written...

[@Strike0_]

Blackberry Smoke and Whiskey Myers in Yellowstone gets my attention every time.

[@tticusFinch]

I appreciate you linking the songs in the description

[@Breana6111]

Since the season 5 premier I've all of sudden heard sprinklings of Yellowstone era country being played on the radio and I hope it continues

[@pattymillz8342]

Saw Whisky Meyers and Shane Smith and the Saints in concert in July. They are both incredibly good.

[@RonJOlsonJr]

I agree Laney Wilson is having a moment and I am here for it. have not watched Yellowstone but I did just sign up for a 99 cent Peacock black friday deal to check it out. Keep up the great work.

[@wyatto1069]

I have the same feeling for the show Heartland, great music used in it throughout all the seasons.

[@isaacstocks8207]

I’ve been thinking this! Yellowstone brings to light some awesome artists, love it!

[@dadio5128]

I Shazam something from Yellowstone just about every week. Discovered John Moreland’s “Break My Heart Sweetly” from last season along with Zach Bryan and Tyler Childers. Seen Ryan Bingham a few times down here near Austin.

[@braedenpelton7674]

Let's not forget about Colter Wall's music on the show. That was huge for me.

[@K.Angelina]

I’ve never watch Yellowstone but I like knowing they are giving a space to country artist who aren’t being played on country radio. Also I like your shirt ❤

[@texangolf17]

One of my favorite things about Yellowstone. Was unbelievably excited when they featured Kolton Moore at the end of season 4

[@aleishal.7668]

Grady, great video - one of your best! And your shirt is awesome and definitely fits the vibe.

[@alarks1]

Definitely discovered mountain song by FlatLand Calvary watching the show what a song that is

[@HSLSENG]

Can’t wait to finally be able to stream Yellowstone next month here in my country, in the meantime I’ll be looking out for the soundtrack.

[@michaeldurazo7342]

Yes thank you for this video it would be awesome if u did a video on Shane smith and the saints I found them from the show and now they’re my favorite band

[@dillonlankford7594]

Hearing John Moreland in season 4 was awesome

[@Tonkaman13]

I think it is great that because of the popularity of the show, Shane Smith and the Saints re-released more of their albums on vinyl!

[@gunnarthejinx]

I saw Shane Smith and the Saints in June. They were super freakin cool. Had no idea that All I See is You was on Yellowstone. But damn it was super awesome.

[@smithsmith2403]

Thanks Grady great job as always! Not a huge fan of Yellowstone but I am all in on anything that can help rebrand Country music. I am ready for Country Music to be Country Music again. Tired of the Pop music rebranded as Country. Great shirt!

[@DadVibe]

9:28 hits the nail on the head! Country just needs to be-- Country, again.

[@LucaInsanguine]

This is your best video Grady, well done. Speaking of actors and country music Mark Wystrach, Midland lead singer, is also an actor 😉

[@jennifersigler3472]

Hey, what about Jackson Dean and Don't Come Lookin'? Youngest solo male to take a debut single to #1, highest debut for a new artist in 7 years, and has almost 100 million streams. He deserves a mention!

[@walkerroadrevivalrevelatio565]

Love the music and the show I hear my favs it’s awesome

[@Coachrupertwilson]

This is great video have you got a playlist you can share on Spotify? But I’ll link all these bands. Just finished season 5 and there better be more ! Thanks for a great video and amazing editing and your VO is perfect and your a great presenter 🎉

[@pamelaparker7032]

The acting, storyline, and music on Monach is atrocious. I could not watch it unlike Yellowstone which is in a league of it's own.

[@TXSuburbanHomestead]

I was so surprised when I heard West Texas in My Eye in an episode! Love the Panhandlers and so glad they're getting some bigger opportunities.

[@ktthethrifty9425]

yall remember when grady used to say "I talk about country music and whatever else I want to"

[@anthonydevito4450]

With the gritty tone of the show and the Montana/Western setting I feel like a Colter Wall song would fit in perfectly. Hopefully he’s featured on there at some point

[@annmarie3573]

I'm pretty sure Sleeping on the Blacktop was in one of the earlier seasons.

[@dirtpofarmboyful]

Cowpoke and sleeping on blacktop have both been on

[@zacharyhardin426]

Great video! As a country fan, I really want to like Yellowstone, but I’ve never felt the same enthusiasm as the rest of the world. I love the aesthetics, but it’s not quite for me.

[@jacobsmith745]

One of the local country stations in Topeka Kansas played Zac Bryan at like 2:26 everyday for like 3 months now he's sprinkled in throughout Christmas music and other stuff cuz it's Christmas time but I got my truck and turn on the radio and something in the Orange is playing I had the biggest smile on my face cuz it's a relatively popular radio station where I live and I heard people talking about it when I was in the store and I never hear anybody talk about Zac Bryan other than my close friends around here

[@marvinwaehler2519]

@grady smith I really love what Taylor Sheridan is currently doing show wise. His newest show Tulsa King with Sylvester Stallone is also featuring a lot of country music, I just love how he's unapologetically country as hell and just kinda shows that in his productions. So excited for all of his upcoming shows as well. I'm still waiting for the moment German tv channels jump on the yellowstone train and dub it in German, because I have my entire family hooked on yellowstone, but it's super difficult for my parents because their english is not so great, so everytime we watch I have to explain every joke and translate. But they still love it :D

[@nickbount]

Kolton Moore and the Clever Few got a feature on Yellowstone with "Peace in the Pines." Can't believe you've never covered Kolton on the channel Grady. Really cool story and huge part of the red dirt scene!

[@bazzes2200]

It felt great to hear some Zach when it was first played

[@supernorry3847]

We recently got Skyshowtime here in The Netherlands it has been airing on our Fox for a couple years now but i never seen it because it was always late at night, around 10pm and i usually dont watch tv around that time. So i have only seen the first episode, it was 1 and a half hour (freaking long) but i did really enjoy it and i really wanne watch more of it.

[@LucasTheNuisance]

Anything to give the public more exposure to Isbell’s beautiful writing and lyricism

[@r.t.8367]

That scene this week where they were helping brand cattle with Zach Bryan's song was gorgeous!

[@ryancaughill5662]

Add 49 Winchester to this! Heard them on the Spotify playlist and have been streaming them non-stop!!!

[@kkuljis]

That shirt is lit, Grady!

[@kyledurand8528]

Ryan won an Oscar, great guy

[@thomaswilkinson4163]

A lot of these "unknown" artist have been great. I also enjoyed the opening scene where where they're working at the 6666 ranch and over it Tim McGraws acoustic version of Cowboy in Me is playing. One of my favorites in the entire show.

[@emersonoberle9780]

My favorite songs from the show are wolves by Ryan Bingham and sleeping on the blacktop by Colter Wall

[@toml5697]

Funny, I had this exact same conversation with some buddies a few days ago. The show itself does a frustratingly bad job building up to stuff and then some drama will just materialize randomly, the show just seems to aimlessly ramble, but my favorite part of the show is hearing songs I’ve been a longtime fan of get some deserved recognition

[@brettsharp913]

Ha, “get rid of Monica” is my favorite line. As far as the Jaime/Beth thing, as the great Lewis Grizzard said: “brother, I don’t b’lieve I’da told that!”

[@cvawesomevideos3746]

I hope they use Jamie by Zach and Charles Wesley Godwin. Or any Charles Wesley Godwin, he sounds like the voice of the mountains(I know he's from West Virginia, different mountains, but I just want more people to know how awesome he is)

[@ComedyBros5]

Absolutely. They definitely need to get some CWG in Yellowstone's OST! His voice and music is *made* for its atmosphere!

[@officialmickeymiller]

That's wild that that's how ZB met Dave Cobb. They obviously crushed American Heartbreak

[@JJohnsonTwin]

For a person who has never watched Yellowstone, your final thought was a captivating way to end this video hahaha.

[@redroverredrover679]

Saw that article and thought to myself "Grady should cover this."

[@JDawg-FR]

Grady I got that same shirt at Walmart!!

[@thehorriblegamer3263]

I love Zach Bryan and I never watched Yellowstone

[@douglasmcdonald9397]

I feel exactly the same on Yellowstone. The scenery and music is fantastic but the writing is so over the top.

[@josephtafur]

Yellowstone is amazing It's like Dallas but invovling Land instead of Oil And yes the music is amazing

[@MBustos828]

The show is definitely the most aesthetically pleasing show in tv since Mad Men in my opinion. That being said, Grady isn’t wrong about the writing. It feels like they add drama for drama’s sake and it doesn’t always serve the plot. It also feels like the characters rather than acting in a logical sense based on who they are, instead just choose to do the most over the top thing possible in that moment. That being said, the music is fantastic. They just featured ZB’s “Good I’ll Do” in one of the rare calm, reflective moments on the show. Sidebar, Whiskey Riff has a Yellowstone Spotify playlist that is top notch.

[@jordangamesvlogs9892]

You should do a video on some of heartlands music, because, although it’s not primarily country, the music seems to fit well in the scenes. Especially when Jack gives Tim a piece of his mind in a smart ass way, or even he says anything in a smartass way, for that matter, the music really fits. I feel that Heartland is Yellowstones older, more chill cousin, and that’s why I love it. It’s also based in an area that I live very close to, so that was one of the first reasons I got into it. Anyways, I could see why you wouldn't, as the music isn’t primarily country, but I do think it could be an interesting analysis.

[@Bornagain7202]

heartland is another great show

[@manjottakhar9495]

I agree...Heartland highlights a lot of musicians which aren't well known. It's such an easy going show.

[@jordangamesvlogs9892]

Yes, I completely agree

[@bridqer5573]

Seasons 1-4 of Heartland is one of my favorite series ever, i think mostly because of the almost perfect music selection for each scene. Whether it's introducing a new character, sending off a character, the music always matched the tone so perfectly

[@jordangamesvlogs9892]

@@bridqer5573 true

[@dereksullivan703]

If anyone hasn't watched 1883 - check it out. It's so good. It's not as much of a soap opera as Yellowstone. Great show.

[@ComedyBros5]

Absolutely. It's so much better than any season of Yellowstone. It replaced Lonesome Dove as my wife and I's favorite Western.

[@jasonlins9033]

Sweet shirt

[@colonelkenneth6214]

When the song the good I'll do first came out it was very over looked but as soon as it aired on Yellowstone it shot up the chart

[@beruangsinar1033]

Grady, "Walker: Independence" is a cool revenge western show that's lacking buzz because it's on the CW. If you can attract more eyeballs they can put cool country songs in the soundtrack.

[@mc98smusicmoviereviews93]

Hey, Grady, if it's possible: can you do a retrospective ranking of best/worst country "hits" from a year in the past (say, 2003)? Kinda like what Spectrum Pulse and Todd In The Shadows do for popular hits?

[@weestrom4517]

Yellowstone needs to feature Grady as a post-episode story line / music choice analyzer

[@DirtyD07]

I definitely feel like Sheridan should get a decent amount of credit because of his ties to the TXRD Country scene, proven by Shane and the Saints getting a few plays last season and now straight up playing the governor's party at the ranch. In Sheridan We Trust.

[@ricklp1861]

U forgot colter wall

[@davidweaver5940]

Ryan Bingham won an OSCAR!

[@barefootbreezy6983]

When I heard keep the wolves away season 1 I knew whoever was in charge of finding country music knows exactly what theyre doing

[@thisistheend3670]

I like watching Yellowstone, but what I really love is that shirt Grady is wearing. Where did you get it????

[@GradySmith]

Walmart

[@davidwinckler5253]

All I'll say is it will be a shame if the final episode of Yellowstone doesn't feature Randall King's Another Bullet, that song is Yellowstone.

[@RackDaddies]

That Jamie and Beth comment was a WILD TAKE 😂