Billy Bob Thornton Says He’s Been Writing Country Music

Is Billy Bob Thornton going country? Not exactly, but he is becoming a popular writing companion in Nashville.

Billy Bob Thornton Is Writing Country Music

It all started when the Landman actor put pen to paper with his pal of 35 years Mark Collie who stars in the show with him. The two wrote the song “Midland After Midnight,” which was then recorded by Flatland Cavalry for the show’s soundtrack.

“I’ve been writing a lot of country songs,” Thornton tells KSBY News. “For some reason, all of a sudden… I grew up in rock ‘n’ roll, I don’t know how to write a country song.”

“Next thing you know, all the country guys want to write songs with me.”

And boy, has he been writing.

The actor tells KSBY that he’s “probably written — I don’t know — 18 to 20 songs” with most of them having been recorded or are going to be recorded for various albums.

“That’s a thing that is kind of new to me, writing in that world,” he adds.

Which Songs Did Billy Bob Thornton Write for the Landman Soundtrack?

The Landman – Songs From and Inspired by the Paramount+ Original Series (Volume I) is loaded with country talent from Ella Langley to George Strait and more. Thornton and Collie are credited with co-writing five songs.

“Midland After Midnight” (Flatland Cavalry)
“Livin’ It Up Down In Texas” (Billy Gibbons)
“She’ll Dance For Whiskey” (Parker McCollum)
“That’s What Lonely People Do” (Dwight Yokam)
“Blood for Black Gold” (Ronnie Dunn)

Is Billy Bob Thornton a Country Music Fan?

Don’t put Thornton into the Ella’s Fellas category just yet. He explained that while he is writing country music, it’s not the stuff that is going into today’s biggest hits.

“I don’t write what they write these days,” he explains. “Modern country music doesn’t thrill me. I call it ‘Def Leppard with a steel guitar.'”

“It just sounds like pop music.”

Thornton describes the songs he’s written as having the sounds of the old days of country music with singers like Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash.