Outlaw Country Pilot Airs on FX

This lens is devoted to all things "Outlaw Country" -- the drama originally planned as a television series on the FX network. The "Outlaw Country" lens will cover some of my first-hand experiences during the shooting of the pilot for the show in Nashville, Tennessee, in October 2010, as well as cover cast members Mary Steenburgen, Haley Bennett, John Hawkes and Luke Grimes. The lens will also feature show updates and news.

The FX Network program "Outlaw Country" has been described as a modern drama set against the backdrop of Southern organized crime. According to the IMDB, "Outlaw Country" is a "crime thriller/family drama set against the backdrop of southern organized crime and Nashville royalty where music, love, hope and tragedy collide." Steenburgen and Bennett play mother and daughter country music singers.

"Outlaw Country" was shot as a pilot in 2010 starring Luke Grimes, Haley Bennett, Mary Steenburgen and John Hawkes. The pilot movie underwent reshoots in April of 2011. Then in November 2011 it was announced that FX had officially passed on the crime thriller/family drama exploring organized crime and Nashville "royalty." The pilot was finally aired on FX as a TV movie on August 23, 2012.

Please sign the guestbook at the bottom of the page and let us know what you think about "Outlaw Country."

Also see the Bring Back Outlaw Country Petition below.

In October of 2010, the pilot for the new FX drama "Outlaw Country" was filmed in various locations across Middle Tennessee including locations in several Tennessee counties around Nashville. Some scenes were shot at the Dickson County Fairgrounds with Mary Steenbergen, Hayley Bennett, Luke Grimes and John-Paul Howard. Other scenes were shot at Cumberland Furnace, also in Dickson County.

According to the Nashville Scene, a partial list of the Nashville talent used on the production would include Jim O'Rear, Reegus Flenory, Jason Allen, Jessejames Locorriere, assistant camera Tracy Facelli, music supervisor Shooter Jennings, sound mixer Glen Trew and set PA Eric Williams.

Outlaw Country joins other recent films with country music roots shot in Nashville including "Pure Country 2: The Gift" and "Country Strong."

Mary Steenburgen - Anastasia Lee (country singer)

Haley Bennett - Annabel Lee (daughter of Anastasia Lee & a country singer)

Luke Grimes - Eli Larkin (cowboy)

John Hawkes - Tarzen Larkin

Travis Fimmel

John-Paul Howard - Jonny

Johnny Whitworth

Joel Garland - Orville

Alex Van - Trevor Peters

Jim O'Rear - Deputy Sheriff Reese

Todd Bush - Deputy Sheriff

Kathryn Darden - Movie Extra

Mary Steenburgen was born February 8, 1953 in Newport, Arkansas. She plays plays country singer Anastasia Lee in "Outlaw Country."

Mary Steenburgen was the first cast member signed to the new FX drama, "Outlaw Country." While Steenburgen is reported to sing in the role, she was definitely lip synching in the concert scene shot at the Dickson County Fairgrounds in Nashville. However, she sang in the movie "The Butcher's Wife," also starring Demi Moore and Jeff Daniels, so she may really do some of her own singing in "Outlaw Country."

Speaking of singing, Shooter Jennings, son of Waylon Jennings, is also reportedly an executive consultant and music supervisor for the FX series.

Steenburgen is co-starring in another country music-themed movie -- the upcoming indie film 'Dirty Girl,' with Juno Temple, Milla Jovovich and William H. Macy. Country stars Dwight Yoakum and Tim McGraw ("Country Strong") are also in the film, which is about a girl who runs away from her Oklahoma home in 1987, according to Variety. "Dirty Girl" premiered at the Toronto Film Festival on Sept. 12, 2010.

"Country Strong" is not Steenburgen's only Southern-themed pilot in 2010. She shot another pilot earlier this year for the sitcom "Southern Discomfort" with Don Johnson and Sophia Bush.

Steenburgen is also known for her roles in "Back to the Future III," "Melvin and Howard," "One Magic Christmas," "Elf," and many other movies.

Actress Haley Bennett plays Annabel Lee, the daughter of Anastasia Lee (Steenburgen) and a rising country singer in "Outlaw Country." The singer and actress was born Haley Loraine Keeling on January 7, 1988, and has starred in films like "Music and Lyrics," "College" and "The Haunting of Molly Hartley."

Official website: www.haleybennett.com

The Haunting of Molly Hartley with Haley Bennett and Chace Crawford on DVD

The Haunting of Molly Hartley, a 2008 horror film which just released on DVD starring Hayley Bennett, is a strange movie, somewhat derivative of other horror films including To the Devil a Daughter, Rosemary's Baby, and The Omen.

Luke Grimes plays cowboy Eli Larkin in "Outlaw Country." Born January 21, 1984, Luke Timothy Grimes is best known for his role in the TV series "Brothers and Sisters"where he played Ryan Lafferty, the illegitimate son of William Walker.

Actor John Hawkes (John Marvin Perkins) plays Tarzen Larkin on "Outlaw Country." He may be best known for his his Academy Award-nominated performance as the villainous backwoods meth addict Teardrop in "Winter's Bone" opposite Jennifer Lawrence ("Hunger Games") although he has had numerous other roles in movies and TV shows.

What do you think? Did you like the "Outlaw Country" pilot enough to want to see it made into a series like FX originally planned?

Should "Outlaw Country" Return to FX as a Series?

Suggested by readers of this "Outlaw Country" page who left comments asking for a petition below, here is the Bring Back Outlaw Country Petition

We, the undersigned, want to see the "Outlaw Country" pilot with Mary Steenburgen, Haley Bennett, Luke Grimes and John Hawkes made into a television series like was originally planned by FX. The cast was great, the story was original and the ending left us wanting more. Bring Back "Outlaw Country."

Sign the Bring Back Outlaw Country Petition Here

Articles about or related to the "Outlaw Country" show and cast members:

'Outlaw Country' begins filming at Dickson fairgrounds

Filming for the pilot of the FX Network drama "Outlaw Country" began in Dickson Tuesday morning at the county fairgrounds for a concert scene filled with hundreds of extras from around the area.

Pure Country 2: The Gift stars Katrina Elam, Travis Fimmel, J.D. Parker, Dean Cain and features a couple of special appearances by country music superstar, George Strait.

Your Visits Count!

Thank you for visiting the "Outlaw Country" lens.

Built in 2010, the "Outlaw Country" lens averaged 50 or 60 visits a month, but really took off when the pilot was finally aired on FX on August 23, 2912.

By Aug. 29, the "Outlaw Country" lens ranked #299 in Entertainment, #3,343 overall out of a couple of million Squidoo lenses.

On Aug. 30 this lens ranked #222 in Entertainment, #2,532 overall

On Aug. 31 it reached #206 in Entertainment, #2,569 overall

In September we are still going strong with our best ranking so far on Sept. 7 - #82 in Entertainment, #1,175 overall and winning a Purple Star for the lens.

Thank you for helping to make this one of the most popular lenses on Squidoo in August 2012 and for keeping this lens going strong in September. Your visits and comments are helping to draw attention to "Outlaw Country" -- the movie and the TV series.

Keep checking back as we keep you updated on the latest news about "Outlaw Country" on FX, and let your friends know about this lens and petition! Use the handy bookmarking tools on this lens above to spread the word!