Luke Grimes pushes Riley Green to join Marshals spinoff, reveals backstory

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• 🔥 Quick Facts
• How Luke Grimes Championed Riley Green for the Role
• From Songs to Scripts: Riley Green’s Acting Breakthrough
• Kayce’s Journey After Yellowstone Creates New Opportunities
• CBS’s Hesitation and the Audition That Changed Everything
• What Does Riley Green’s Casting Mean for Marshals and Beyond?

Luke Grimes pushed hard for Riley Green to join the Marshals spinoff, revealing a touching backstory behind the casting. The Country Music Award winner will make his acting debut this month in Taylor Sheridan’s universe, playing a troubled Navy SEAL named Garrett. Green’s episodes arrive after Marshals already pulled in 9.5 million viewers for its premiere.

How Luke Grimes Championed Riley Green for the Role

Luke Grimes made a bold move while developing Marshals. According to an interview with SiriusXM The Highway, Grimes recalled a songwriting session with Riley Green. The country star mentioned his desire to act, and the timing aligned perfectly. Grimes immediately envisioned a character crafted specifically for Green’s talents and presence. He pitched the idea to showrunner Spencer Hudnut, who eagerly wrote a custom role for the musician.

Grimes noted that Green possesses the ideal look for a weathered Navy SEAL, adding, “He’s got that look to him like he could be a team guy.” The chemistry worked so well that Grimes even joked about his own casting taking a backseat. “I knew I wasn’t doing myself any favors. Who wants to stand next to him on screen?” Grimes quipped, referencing Green’s striking appearance and 6’4″ frame. Despite potential on-screen competition, Grimes believed in Green’s potential as an actor.

From Songs to Scripts: Riley Green’s Acting Breakthrough

Riley Green, a CMA and ACM Award-winning artist, faces a milestone moment in his career. His character Garrett is a former Navy SEAL burdened by active duty trauma. Desperate for peace, Garrett seeks out his old teammate Kayce Dutton, played by Grimes, hoping to adapt to Western living. In true country fashion, Garrett also plays guitar, blending Green’s real-life musician identity with his fictional narrative.

The Tennessee native flew to Utah for the audition process, despite Grimes’ objections about CBS requiring him to audition at all. Grimes auditioned with Green, reading scenes together. “He did better than any of us expected that he would do,” Grimes revealed. “First time ever on a set like that, never acted before, he crushed it.” The performance silenced any doubts about Green’s readiness for television drama.

Kayce’s Journey After Yellowstone Creates New Opportunities

Show Element	Details
Kayce’s New Life	U.S. Marshal, raising son solo, 15 months after personal tragedy
Character Arc	Ditches ranch life for federal service, confronts Afghanistan backstory
Supporting Cast	Logan Marshall-Green, Arielle Kebbel, Riley Green, Mo Brings Plenty
Setting	Montana, following Yellowstone’s conclusion

Marshals picks up 15 months after the end of Yellowstone, transforming Kayce Dutton’s trajectory completely. The character abandons ranch life to become a U.S. Marshal, grieving his wife’s untimely death while raising a son alone. Luke Grimes describes this new chapter as diving into Kayce’s “untapped reserve” of backstory. The series explores his Afghanistan military service and the psychological weight carried from active duty.

Grimes explained that Kayce finally achieved his dream of peace but had it “brutally shattered,” forcing a reinvention of his identity and purpose. Riley Green’s Garrett character mirrors this struggle in many ways, making the pairing narratively and thematically rich. Both men face the challenge of integrating their military pasts with present-day responsibilities.

“Riley and I were doing a write together and he was talking about wanting to act, and this was right when Marshals was sort of coming together. I thought, ‘Man, that’d be kind of cool if he was like in my show.'”

— Luke Grimes, Star of Marshals

CBS’s Hesitation and the Audition That Changed Everything

CBS executives in Los Angeles weren’t initially aware of Riley Green’s superstar status in country music circles. As Grimes noted, network leadership wasn’t as versed in the genre as the production team. This skepticism led to an audition requirement despite the role being specifically written for Green. Grimes found the situation ironic, given Spencer Hudnut’s enthusiasm and the character’s perfect fit.

The audition itself became a testament to Green’s adaptability and talent. First-time actor on a professional television set, Green delivered a performance that exceeded everyone’s expectations. His transition from Grammy-nominated country musician to dramatic actor proved seamless. Today, Grimes calls Green a genuine friend and mentor figure. “He gives me advice,” Grimes shared, praising Green’s effortless navigation through the entertainment industry’s pressures and complexities.

What Does Riley Green’s Casting Mean for Marshals and Beyond?

The addition of Riley Green signals exciting possibilities for Marshals‘ continued expansion. CBS already committed to a second season after the show’s record-breaking premiere pulled 9.5 million viewers, becoming the most-watched network original series premiere without a football lead-in since 2017. Green’s debut in mid-April arrives amid this momentum, bringing his substantial country fanbase to mainstream television.

For Green personally, this marks a watershed moment. His sophomore country album Redbird released on April 3, 2026, positioning him at the height of dual-career potential. Grimes emphasized that Green approaches entertainment with rare composure, never appearing nervous despite juggling music and acting demands. Will Green continue acting after Marshals, or focus on music? The industry watches closely as country music intersects with prestige television drama in new and compelling ways.