You probably know Kevin Costner as the guy who brought us cinematic classics like Silverado, Dances with Wolves, JFK, and The Bodyguard. But here's the thing — Kevin's not just a Hollywood heartthrob. In fact, he’s got another side to him, one that’s been rocking stages since 2007 with his country-rock band, Modern West. And believe it or not, this multi-talented father of seven has been making music just as passionately as he's been acting.
From Classical Piano to Country Rock
Born back in 1955, Kevin grew up surrounded by music. His grandmother taught him how to play classical pieces on the piano, but his tastes weren’t limited to just that. He soaked up everything from the Four Seasons and the Doors to Carole King. It was a love affair with music that stayed with him throughout his life, even as he climbed the ladder in Hollywood. But here's the kicker: before he won that Academy Award in 1991, Kevin actually started a band. He called it Roving Boy, but it didn’t last long. It wasn’t until a decade later, thanks to encouragement from his wife, Christine Baumgartner, that he decided to dive back into the world of music.
Backstage with Kevin: The Reluctant Musician
Now, Kevin wasn’t exactly jumping at the chance to pick up a guitar again. He told The Roanoke Times in 2014, “I kind of hemmed and hawed about all of it and kind of avoided it.” But Christine kept pushing him, seeing how much joy music brought him. For two whole years, she nagged — I mean, encouraged — him to give it another shot. Finally, Kevin caved. And you know what? It was one of the best decisions he ever made.
Read also:Sterling K Brown Celebrates Justin Hartleys Tracker Renewal A Heartwarming Exchange
Once he decided to get back into music, Kevin reached out to his friends John Coinman and Blair Forward. Together, they formed the backbone of what would become Modern West. In 2007, they hit the road, touring the globe and building a following. Their debut album, Untold Truths, dropped in 2008 and made it all the way to No. 61 on the U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums chart. That was just the beginning. A second album and a European tour followed, and Kevin found himself loving every minute of it. “The thing about music is I can be with my friends and we can make music and there’s some kind of bond that comes with just being in the room together,” Kevin shared with the Grammy’s Recording Academy in 2014. “I get a lot just from the camaraderie. Sometimes when the guitars are set down, the discussions that come out of it are very satisfying.”
Modern West: The Soundtrack of Kevin’s Life
The band’s third album, Famous for Killing Each Other: Music from and Inspired By Hatfields & McCoys, wasn’t just any album. It was the soundtrack for Kevin’s Emmy Award-winning miniseries, Hatfields & McCoys. And guess what? His daughter, Lily Costner, even lent her voice to the project. Talk about a family affair! But Modern West wasn’t done yet. In June 2020, they released Tales From Yellowstone, a 16-song album that dives deep into the perspective of John Dutton, Kevin’s character in the hit series Yellowstone. “This project was really special to me and the band,” Kevin shared on Twitter in June 2021.
Celebrity Fans and Country Stars
To help promote season 4 of Yellowstone, Modern West hit the road again, playing concerts across the U.S. Along the way, they attracted some pretty big-name fans. During a tour stop in Indiana in November 2021, country superstars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood showed up to watch the show. Kevin even posed for a photo with the iconic couple backstage, making country music fans everywhere swoon. It’s moments like these that remind us just how special Kevin’s journey as a musician has been.
