From The Gray House soundtrack, we have a brand new Willie Nelson song. Today, MCA announced the full list of artists to be featured in the series, which comes from the Amazon Series set to arrive February 26th.
It includes tons of country artists like The War And Treaty, Lainey Wilson, Shania Twain and more, and the show itself was executive produced by Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman. It tells the true story of a female spy ring in Richmond, Virginia, that helped the Union win the Civil War:
“‘The Gray House reveals’ the extraordinary true story of the unsung women who helped turn the tide of the American Civil War in favor of the Union. At its center are a Virginia socialite, her indomitable mother, a formerly enslaved ally, and Richmond’s most infamous courtesan—four women operating at the heart of Confederate power.
Together, they evolve their Underground Railroad operation into a daring and highly effective espionage network, risking their lives and freedom to help preserve the nation’s future and safeguard American Democracy.”
The eight-episode limited series features cast including Mary-Louise Parker, Daisy Head, Amethyst Davis, Ben Vereen, and was written by Emmy-nominated writer Leslie Greif, Darrell Fetty, and John Sayles, with all eight episodes being directed by the Emmy-nominated director Roland Joffé.
And of course, no all-American soundtrack would be complete without the Red Headed Stranger, and Willie’s song “Heart Of America” was written by Erin Enderlin, Jim “Moose” Brown and Jeff Fahey. It finds him reflecting on what makes this country great and the true bravery and resilience embedded into the American spirit:
“Open arms, guiding light, a beacon of hope and light
The stars and stripes, a spirit that’s always gonna fly
What makes us different, makes us strong
Together we will carry on
The heart of America
Is still dreaming
Dreaming of things to come
It beating, beating like a drum
Oh the heart of America”
It’s reverent and reflective, and Costner says they feel “lucky” to have the country icon perform a song for this series:
“What a lucky day for us that Willie would take on performing a song for ‘The Gray House.’ I’m not sure what Willie’s process is, but it’s clear that Willie was ready and willing to go deep when thinking about that terrible moment in American history where our country was divided and at war with itself, a moment in time that I believe we still have not fully recovered from. Willie’s talent, while always on display, found a new depth at least for me. God Bless our country and bless this man!”
Amen to that…
The full soundtrack will be released on February 26th, and while it will represent tons of American genres from gospel to country, Americana to rock, and hip-hop too, the common theme is storytelling, and no artist does that better than Mr. Nelson in my humble opinion.
Executive producers Morgan Freeman and Lori McCreary added that they hope “The Heart of America” can be an anthem for everyone:
“Some songs don’t belong to one project… they belong to a people. ‘The Heart of America’ that Willie sings for The Gray House, feels like a new kind of anthem, one meant for every American.”
The Gray House also stars Paul Anderson, Ian Duff, Hannah James, Robert Knepper, Christopher McDonald, Colin Morgan, Rob Morrow, Colin O’Donoghue, and Sam Trammell, with Keith David. The Republic Pictures limited series is from Territory Pictures, Revelations Entertainment and Big Dreams Entertainment, and is executive produced by Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman, Lori McCreary, Rod Lake, Howard Kaplan and Leslie Greif.
Prime Video will debut all eight episodes of The Gray House on Thursday, February 26th, but until then, turn it up.
“Heart Of America”
The Gray House Soundtrack Tracklist:
1. The War And Treaty – “Blood In the River” (Erin Enderlin, Jim “Moose” Brown, Jeff Fahey)
3. Adrienne Warren – “Unholy Water” (Jon Bon Jovi, Butch Walker, Desmond Child)
4. Yolanda Adams – “Love Will Rescue Me” (Anthony Evans, Nick Pothoven)
5. The War And Treaty – “If This Day” (Diane Warren)
6. Scott Stapp – “Red, White, & Blue” (Scott Stapp, Marti Frederiksen, Desmond Child)
7. Lainey Wilson – “Dead End Red Dirt Road” (Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Paul Thomas Sikes)
8. Larkin Poe – “The Devil’s Boat” (Erin Enderlin, Jim “Moose” Brown, Jeff Fahey, Michael Trotter Jr., Tanya Trotter)
9. Killer Mike Featuring Lena Byrd Miles – “Smiling Eyes (Smiling Faces)” (Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield, Vidal Garcia, Cosmo Hickox, Robert Mandell, Max Perry, Michael Render)
10. Shainia Twain and Drake Milligan – “I’ll Be Here With You” (Erin Enderlin, Jim “Moose” Brown, Jeff Fahey, Drake Milligan)
11. Willie Nelson – “Heart Of America” (Erin Enderlin, Jim “Moose” Brown, Jeff Fahey)
