The Yellowstone star also is waiting for audience reaction to his film Eddington, and recording music for his next album.
Luke Grimes has a lot of different things on his plate right now. But when it comes to filling his glass with his favorite adult beverage, his heart belongs only to the prime products — Bourbon, Double Rye and Campfire Whiskey — of the Park City, Utah-based High West distillery.
The former Yellowstone star recently signed on as ambassador for High West and the brand’s conservation efforts through its Protect the West Initiative. This collaboration marks a major step in High West’s mission to help charities that preserve the open skies, rugged trails and wild landscapes that define the spirit of the American West. And it’s also part of High West’s Protect the West sweepstakes. According to the distillery: “One lucky winner will receive the ultimate getaway to Park City, Utah to experience the High West lifestyle firsthand.” Rules can be found here.
“Every adventurer has their spot, that one place in the wild they cherish most,” Grimes says. “For me, this partnership with High West is about protecting those places before they’re gone. The Protect the West initiative is something I deeply believe in, and I’m honored to lend my voice to the cause. I’ll be raising a glass to the incredible work the High West team is doing, and I hope others will join us.”
When Grime’s not riding for the High West brand, the Dayton, Ohio-born actor-musician has plenty of other projects to keep him busy.
He soon will be publicizing the July 18 theatrical release of Eddington, writer-director Ari Aster’s neo-western black comedy set in a small New Mexico town torn apart during the 2020 COVID pandemic, in which he appears alongside Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, and Austin Butler.
Meanwhile, he’s already at work on Y: Marshals, the Yellowstone spinoff set to premiere during the 2025-26 midseason on CBS. The new show, for which Taylor Sheridan will serve as an executive producer, has Grimes reprising his Kayce Dutton character. The pitch: “With the Yellowstone Ranch behind him, Dutton joins an elite unit of U.S. Marshals, combining his skills as a cowboy and Navy SEAL to bring range justice to Montana, where he and his teammates must balance family, duty and the high psychological cost that comes with serving as the last line of defense in the region’s war on violence.”
But wait, there’s more: Grimes also is recording songs for his second album, after the success of his self-titled debut LP released last year. And during his downtime, he’s enjoying quality time with his wife, Brazilian model Bianca Rodrigues Grimes, and their toddler son at their home in the Bitterroot Valley of southwestern Montana.
We recently had the opportunity to speak with Luke Grimes about his various projects. Here are some excerpts from our conversation, edited for brevity and clarity.
Sampling the Spirits
C&I: So what should we try first? The rye, the bourbon or the whiskey?
Luke: Well, my favorite variety is the Campfire Whiskey. I’ve said that a few times today. They make a lot of ’em, but I think the Campfire stands out the most. They’re all good, though. They know what they’re doing around here.
C&I: What made you eager to lend your name to this enterprise?
Luke: I mean, usually, when I’m going to do any sort of collaboration, I want to make sure that it’s something that I myself am actually a fan of. I don’t want to put my name or my face on something that I don’t personally enjoy. It feels a little false to do that.
I became a big fan of High West when I was working in Park City for three years. I would go to their restaurant all the time on Main Street. I always enjoyed the product. So when the call came in, not only was it a product I loved, it was also attached to a good cause. They’re doing the High West Initiative, and it’s not very often you get to be a part of something like this where you’re not only campaigning for a brand you enjoy, but also for a good cause. It was a win-win all the way around.
Reactions to Eddington
C&I: Now when someone describes a movie as controversial, what it sometimes means is some guy writing in his mom’s basement gave it a good review and everybody else hated it. But I think it’s fair to say Eddington really is a controversial movie. It got rave reviews and it got not-so-great reviews out of this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Were you surprised by the diversity of reactions?
Luke: Not at all, no. I think what the movie is about at its core is how media can separate us, pit people against each other, and shape people’s beliefs — especially during COVID, where there was this big unknown that we were all afraid of. People used that fear to divide us. That’s what the movie is truly about. So the fact that people are divided over it makes complete sense to me.
C&I: Are you proud of your work in that film?
Luke: It’s hard to say “proud of my work.” I think a part of the work is trying your best to understand a character and play it to the best of your ability. I can say that I’m very proud to be a part of the film, and proud to be in that cast of incredible actors. And I’m very proud to work with Ari Aster, who’s one of my favorite filmmakers.
Returning to the West in Y: Marshals
C&I: Now, this is not a question I would usually ask of an actor, but our Cowboys & Indians readers always seem to be interested in what people wear. So for Y: Marshals, are you going to be wearing some of the same wardrobe that we saw you sporting in Yellowstone?
Luke: Yeah, I would imagine. I think Marshals will pick up not too far after Yellowstone left off, so I don’t imagine Kayce Dutton went on a big shopping spree or anything. I think he’ll sort of start in that same wardrobe.
I’ve always thought that jacket was probably a hand-me-down. It looks a hundred years old, and clearly he has the dirtiest cowboy hat in the show. I think because he’s just not really concerned too much about his appearance. So I’m sure it’ll start there. And who knows where it will end.
C&I: Will Kayce’s wife and son be back along with you for the ride, watching your back?
Luke: I'm not really supposed to talk too much about it. I'll say there's definitely going to be some familiar faces. I'm not going to be the only character from Yellowstone in the show. There’s going to be some people that you know and love.
As far as plot details or where the show starts, I know I’m not really supposed to talk about that. [Laughs] Maybe if we were sharing some High West whiskey in private, I could tell you a few things.
Music and Creative Fulfillment
C&I: Well, after working with Taylor Sheridan for as long as you did on Yellowstone, I’m sure you’re used to playing your cards close to the vest. What’s up next for you musically? A new album?
Luke: Yes, I’m currently working on an album. We’re almost done. I think I have a few more days on that coming up. The plan is to slowly release a few songs throughout the rest of this year and then probably have the full album come out at the top of next year.
C&I: What do you think satisfies you — fulfills you — about music differently than your acting career?
Luke: That’s a really good question. They’re both creatively fulfilling in different ways. I would say the main difference is that with acting, I’m part of an ensemble, telling a story I usually didn’t write. I’m playing a part in a much larger project that takes a village of people to bring to life.
Finding Inspiration in a Quieter Life
C&I: Along the same lines, what do you think fulfills, refreshes, or inspires you about living where you’re living now, as opposed to, say, Los Angeles or New York?
Luke: Without being too specific, I guess living in a large city versus living in a small town in the West is just two really different gears — and they both have their place. I enjoy spending the majority of my time where I live now, which is in a small town in the West. There’s something about slowing everything down that’s been really healthy for me.
My wife and I wanted to start a family in a place that was maybe a little quieter, a little slower. I think for me it’s helped me live in the moment a lot more than when the pace was a little faster.
Looking to the Future
C&I: Getting back to what you were saying about using your own words, expressing your own emotions — do you ever want to get on the other side of the camera for television or movies?
Luke: Yeah, I do. I don’t know when that will be or what will inspire that. But I hope so. I hope at some point I have a story I want to tell enough to try that.
C&I: Well, Luke, thank you for your time. We’re looking forward to seeing your new show in, what, January?
Luke: I believe that’s the plan.
C&I: Okay. Good luck, sir. Take care.
Luke: Thank you.
