Billy Bob Thornton clearly has a soft spot for classic country music — and he believes a couple of iconic songs capture the inner world of his Landman character, Tommy Norris, better than anything else.
Season 2 of Landman debuted on November 16, nearly a year after its first season premiered, and it immediately shattered records. With more than 9 million viewers in its first few days, the premiere became the biggest season or series debut in Paramount+ history, tripling the numbers from Season 1.
Taylor Sheridan, once again, has another major hit.
Much of the show’s success is tied to Thornton’s gripping performance as Tommy Norris, the complicated West Texas oilman navigating high-stakes business pressures and an equally turbulent family life. Sheridan wrote the role with Thornton in mind — and it shows.
During an interview with Awards Buzz, Thornton was asked a fascinating question:
If Tommy Norris had a soundtrack for his internal world in Season 2, what songs would be on it?
Thornton didn’t hesitate with his first two picks — both staples of classic country storytelling:
“‘Sunday Morning Coming Down’ by Kris Kristofferson, for sure. And then probably ‘If We Make It Through December’ by Merle Haggard.”
When pressed for a third pick, Thornton joked that Tommy could probably use an instrumental track, something quiet for his moments alone in the truck — just him and his thoughts, with nobody talking at him.
But in describing that idea, Thornton realized another song fit perfectly:
“There’s a song by Harry Nilsson called ‘Everybody’s Talkin’,’ from Midnight Cowboy. Maybe that could be the third one.”
It’s a surprisingly fitting trio:
Kristofferson’s weary reflection
Haggard’s cold-season resilience
Nilsson’s longing for escape
Together, they paint a pretty accurate picture of Tommy Norris’ world in Season 2.
If you want to step into the headspace of Landman’s lead character, here’s the mini–soundtrack Billy Bob Thornton himself recommends:
“Sunday Morning Coming Down” — Kris Kristofferson
“If We Make It Through December” — Merle Haggard
“Everybody’s Talkin’” — Harry Nilsson
Pretty perfect choices, all things considered.