‘Yellowstone’ actor Ryan Bingham covers Toadies’ ‘Possum Kingdom’

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation is out with the second single from its benefit album, Texas Wild, and the song has a connection to Yellowstone.

Ryan Bingham, who guest-starred as a singing ranch hand on Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone, is featured on the track. Backed by The Texas Gentlemen, he performs “Possum Kingdom.” The song was originally recorded by the Toadies, an alternative rock band formed in Fort Worth.

Texas Wild launched in May. A third release off the album is scheduled in August. A digital and limited-edition vinyl release is expected to drop in the fall.

The album features Texas musicians, both well-known and rising stars, as they pay tribute to classic Texas tunes. It blends traditional Texas genres such as blues, cumbia and country with modern sounds such as hip-hop, rhythm and blues and electronica.

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“Ryan Bingham wanting to do ‘Possum Kingdom’ is exactly what makes an album like this special; a big artist in one genre taking a chance by doing a popular song in another genre,” producer Walker Lukens said in a statement.

In Yellowstone, a contemporary Western drama on the Paramount Network, Bingham played the role of Walker, an ex-felon who gets a second chance as a ranch hand at the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch.Bingham won an Oscar at the 2009 Academy Awards for “The Weary Kind,” so Sheridan was aware of his singing talent.

“To have him on Yellowstone is a gift,” Sheridan told The Los Angeles Times. “He is the graveled voice of this generation’s cowboys and poets.”

Phil Lamb, TPWF’s director of philanthropy and the project leader of Texas Wild, is enthused about Bingham’s inclusion.

“We knew the possibilities were endless when we set out to make this album of cool covers, but never in our wildest dreams did we think Ryan Bingham would ask to cover [the] Toadies,” Lamb said.

“Ryan’s passion for the song shines through, and we’re thrilled that the Toadies have joined our album lineup with a Kelly Clarkson cover that we’ll share when the album drops later this year.”

The Toadies will cover Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone.” In addition, Ray Wylie Hubbard, who grew up in Oak Cliff and attended Adamson High School, will cover Fort Worth native Leon Bridges’ “Texas Sun” with Sir Woman.

The Toadies released “Possum Kingdom” on their album Rubberneck. The song would become the band’s most successful and well-known release. Having Bingham cover the song was a good choice, said Vaden Todd Lewis, the Toadies’ lead singer.

“I love how Ryan made the tune his own. It brought out the swampy, gritty vibe. Cool stuff,” he said.

Toadies guitarist Clark Vogeler said Bingham’s version takes the song to new places.

“Ryan Bingham and The Texas Gentleman bring their style to the tune, imbuing it with a uniquely haunting touch. A lurid and chaotic violin pairs with the guitars creating an original appeal,” Vogeler said.