Sturgill Simpson to Appear in Season 3 of “The Righteous Gemstones”
Where has Sturgill Simpson been? He’s been participating in the production for Season 3 of the over-the-top black comedy series The Righteous Gemstones on HBO. The trailer for the upcoming series was released on Wednesday (5-31) ahead of the June 18th premier, and many people immediately recognized Sturgill Simpson’s mug making a brief appearance in a scene with members of a militia.
In the series, Simpson plays one of two brothers who operate a Christian militia, and his character will appear in nine episodes of the upcoming series. He joins a primary cast that includes John Goodman, Edi Patterson, Adam Devine, Walton Goggins, and the show’s creator Danny McBride, who is apparently a big fan of Sturgill Simpson’s music.
Speaking to Pitchfork in 2019, Danny McBride said, “I love Sturgill Simpson. I’ve gotten to know him over the last few years, too, and he’s a buddy of mine. I just respect his journey. I respect that he’s been doing what he’s doing and found success not when he was 19 years old. He kind of lived a whole life before he became a rock star. And he actively wants to shed people’s perceptions of him. He leads the charge in his career, and not in a way that people expect. I think that’s admirable.”
The Righteous Gemstones is about a family of televangelists and megachurch pastors who live extravagant lifestyles and fleece their congregations. They’re led by family patriarch Eli Gemstone played by John Goodman.
Sturgill Simpson has appeared in numerous film projects in the past, including the 2011 film Orca Park, the 2019 horror-comedy Jim Jarmusch film The Dead Don’t Die, Queen & Slim also in 2019, and in 2020 Sturgill appeared in the controversial film The Hunt. Simpson is also scheduled to appear in the new Martin Scorsese epic Western film Killers of the Flower Moon, which premiers in theaters on October 6th.
After releasing his last album The Ballad of Dood & Juanita in 2021, Sturgill Simpson said he was retiring as a solo artist, but left open the possibility of playing in a band and production work for others. Simpson was rumored to be in consideration to produce the new album for the Turnpike Troubadours before it fell through and Shooter Jennings stepped into the position. He also recently made a rare appearance at Willie Nelson’s 90th Birthday Party.
June 1, 2023 @ 7:57 am
The show does nothing for me, doesn’t really look that good, my favorite singer who puts on good performances in movies is still Dwight Yokam, he does both very well and travis tritt was hilarious as a savage killer in tales from the crypt.
June 5, 2023 @ 6:11 am
This show is severely underrated and is one of the best on TV right now. If you’re saying it doesn’t really look that good yet you haven’t seen it then you should give it a go.
June 1, 2023 @ 8:08 am
“who operate a Christian militia”
well of course this is the content.
June 1, 2023 @ 4:28 pm
I thought the first season was funny. But haven’t watched further. In the first season they never made fun of the christians in the congregation. They just ridiculed the grifting leaders. I sense that tone has changed. I’m not surprised because they quickly started ramping up the shock factor despite their being plenty of materia by satirizing evangelical culture.
June 5, 2023 @ 6:11 am
The second season was even better somehow. Danny McBride doesn’t miss.
June 1, 2023 @ 8:10 am
I really liked Eastbound & Down and recently rewatched it (and the soundtrack is very good). The guys on the local sports shows reference Righteous Gemstones all the time. I watched the first episode for free. Then signed up for HBO but the package I got didn’t allow me to stream shows, just watch live HBO programming. Maybe after Season 3 is over, I’ll to the upgrade to watch shows on demand.
June 1, 2023 @ 8:20 am
If you really liked Eastbound, you’ll probably like Gemstones. The sense of humor is very similar, though I think Gemstones is a little more “accessible”to a wider audience. My wife loves Gemstones since it has moments of sweetness between the crude humor, but she couldn’t connect to the “meaner” (but slightly funnier IMO) Eastbound and Down.
June 1, 2023 @ 1:13 pm
You should watch Vice-Principals that in addition to McBride co-stars Walton Goggins (aka Boyd Crowder). It is similar to EB&D and the Gemstones, but may have even more sweetness to it.
June 1, 2023 @ 8:45 pm
Seen it and loved it. I really wish it has a third season. I prefer Eastbound and Gemstones, but Vice Principals is definitely underrated.
June 8, 2023 @ 7:02 am
I loved the first season (I will watch anything from either Goggins or Goodman…and this had both!), and I think the flashback episode really helped ground the nastier humor in the present day.
Last couple seasons haven’t been available on my side of the Atlantic, though, so I’ve fallen behind.
July 23, 2023 @ 8:49 am
What’s up with all the penises?
Did Sturgill even have a line in the show? I think I saw him, but never heard him. I’m usually working while it’s on TV. But every time like if there’s a penis. The latest episode was the mother of all penis scenes!
July 23, 2023 @ 8:53 am
“Look up”
June 1, 2023 @ 8:11 am
He’s also in Gareth Edwards’ upcoming “The Creator” which will be a pretty high.profile flick as well
June 1, 2023 @ 6:35 pm
I was just about to say that. Pretty high billing too. I’m really looking forward to this one.
June 1, 2023 @ 8:13 am
Oh man, I can’t wait. Judy Gemstone is probably the funniest tv character of the last 5 or so years.
June 1, 2023 @ 8:54 pm
Season 2 Judy is unhinged but fucking hilarious. Snail trails
June 5, 2023 @ 12:11 pm
Truly the best comedy character on TV. If you enjoy Judy, check out comedian Maddy Smith!!!
June 1, 2023 @ 8:41 am
I love Sturgills music but another ‘Christians are evil’ TV show is a hard pass for me.
June 1, 2023 @ 9:01 am
They tested the idea of a Mormon militia but it wasn’t believable.
June 1, 2023 @ 9:03 am
I dont know- Ive only known a couple LDS types in my life and they were hardcore doomsday preppers. I assumed that was part of their deal.
June 1, 2023 @ 9:15 am
This show isn’t saying Christians are evil, it is more about how hypocritical evil Christians are, but are still able to be redeemed and forgiven.
June 1, 2023 @ 9:22 am
But if you see a Christian in film/ TV these days 95% of the time its specifically to portray them as evil. Its beat to death. We get it. Communists hate Christians. Its a dead horse still getting beat.
June 1, 2023 @ 9:32 am
Only a matter of seconds before communists are referenced or how much Sturgill has hurt people. Only thing better would be to have Isbell have a cameo.
Its fun watching people implode.
June 1, 2023 @ 12:09 pm
just wait till they find out sturg and isbell are both in scorsese’s latest. and they won’t even be able to comfort eat their chic-fil-a to drown their sorrows.
June 1, 2023 @ 10:19 pm
Lol, ok Mr.Red Scare. But, when Christians disagree with something they don’t like and whine it’s in their face, that is totally ok. Maybe ya’ll need to sit down together, have a beer and get some therapy.
It’s not all Christians, it’s just the shitty and entitled ones like you.
June 1, 2023 @ 5:14 pm
Bud. If this isn’t your Christianity, move along. If it is your christianity- the one extremely accurately mocked by the gemstones, the one continuing to dodge responsibility for generations of know child abuse/protecting pedophiles, the one that somehow uses the 50 year old talking point ‘comnunism’ as the adversary while having paid zero taxes in its entire history- bud. This show is for you, and Stergill’s only trying to help.
June 1, 2023 @ 7:42 pm
the third season appears to be for people who don’t venture past Occupy Democrats FB page and MSNBC for their “news”
Where are conservatives protecting pedophiles?!! It’s conservatives and informed moderates who are pushing for the Epstein client list.
the Communism talking point is valid because multiple countries tried it in the 1900’s, hundreds of millions died, yet the furthest of the Left still want to try it again.
June 2, 2023 @ 5:06 am
Catholic Church? Boy Scouts of America?
Southern Baptist Association? Half of the youth group pastors? Just a few off the top of my head.
June 2, 2023 @ 6:07 am
where are the conservatives protecting pedophiles? please note: part 41. sources included.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/3/12/2157746/-Republican-Sexual-Predators-Abusers-and-Enablers-Pt-41
June 2, 2023 @ 7:48 am
This topic is (apparently) contentious enough. We’re not going to get into divisive political arguments here too. Please move on.
June 1, 2023 @ 8:04 pm
I miss the old days, when people were open and honest about their hatred of Christ’s Church.
Nowadays, you all can’t express your hatred without using canards. It’s so trite; it’s the epitome of midwittery.
I expect to be hated. I would be disappointed and concerned if I wasn’t. But man y’all are boring. Impress me.
June 1, 2023 @ 8:28 pm
It is a hilarious show about a specific type of hypocritical Christian mega-church charlatans, living an ultra-wealthy life off of the donations of their congregants. They do exist/have existed and deserve mockery as hypocritical charlatans of any religion do.To quote Bono, ‘They God I believe in isn’t short of cash, mister.’’ The show is only anti-Christian in the minds of non-critical thinkers. And the unhinged.
June 1, 2023 @ 8:45 pm
Douglas,
I’ll give you credit. Your brand of God-hating is usually on point; so I’m disappointed that you’re really gonna lean on a strawman of “Christianity” in TV format, to do your God-hating for you. Come on, Douglas; you’re better than this.
And don’t get me wrong; the Joel Osteens of the world definitely deserve mockery, but we both know what the purpose of this show is. It’s just boring.
P.S. LOL; did you imply that you’re a critical thinker? If you didn’t, then I apologize for laughing at you, but it really came off as though you did….which, if you did, is totally hilarious.
June 1, 2023 @ 10:08 pm
Sturgill’s lyrics in Turtles all the way down are staunchly anti-christian
June 1, 2023 @ 8:10 pm
…”evil Christians”…
oxymoron
noun
ox·y·mo·ron ˌäk-si-ˈmȯr-ˌän -sē-
plural oxymorons or less commonly oxymora ˌäk-si-ˈmȯr-ə -sē-
: a combination of contradictory or incongruous words
June 1, 2023 @ 8:50 pm
Are you under the impression that it’s impossible for a Christian to be evil? Or is it that if someone that identifies as Christian is evil, then they aren’t a true Christian?
June 1, 2023 @ 9:32 pm
I’ll tell you what I’m not gonna do.
I’m not gonna play that silly game where you misapply the “No True Scotsman” charge, and then strut around like you said something profound.
If you’d like to define the word “Christian”, I’ll let you know if your definition is Biblically sound, and we’ll go from there. Deal?
June 2, 2023 @ 9:38 am
As far as I can tell, a Christian is any person that believes in and tries to live in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ and also believes that he was the son of God. Now, whether you’d consider that brief definition “biblically sound”, I don’t know.
June 3, 2023 @ 11:03 am
Trainwreck,
Your definition is not Biblically unsound; but it’s not exactly right either. But I’m convinced that you’re being sincere, so I will answer your question. Biblically, a Christian is someone who is born again, indwelled with the spirit of Christ. It’s significantly more than just a belief system and the following of teachings. The following of the teachings is the result of being born again.
That being said, to say a Christian can be evil is to say Christ himself can be evil, because it is his indwelling that makes one a Christian.
Yes, people who go to church can be evil.
Yes, people who read the Bible can be evil.
Yes, pastors and preachers can be evil.
Yes, people who call themselves Christians can be evil.
But Christ cannot be evil; and therefore, neither can those in whom he lives.
June 5, 2023 @ 12:30 pm
What? Just because you’ve accepted Christ as your savior and actively seek to follow Him (mark of a true Christian), doesn’t mean you can’t commit evil in the process. Christ/Holy Spirit indwelling in you isn’t a protective barrier to worldly, everyday human sin and willfulness. It’s an active choice to follow the teachings of Christ (seeking moral purity in attitude, thought, action) and to TURN AWAY from Satan/evil which you clearly have access to or influence under as a fallen human being in a fallen world, even with the Holy Spirit indwelling in you. Obviously, the Helper (Holy Spirit) is supposed to help you (ideally, if you’re praying), but you play an active role against evil. Perhaps it’s the flawed theology as to why so many Christians are blindly unaccountable and hypocrites.
June 1, 2023 @ 11:23 am
I only watched the first season (much like Eastbound and Down is was a “meh” for me), but you are really missing the point of the show. The point of the show is really to poke at wealthy ministers and mega-church leaders who live in extreme luxury, while hiding the fact they have the same screwed up family dynamics most people have.
I’m sorry, but if we can’t note how ridiculous it is that some religious leaders travel in private jets, while their members live paycheck-to-paycheck or worse…what are we even doing anymore?
June 1, 2023 @ 7:47 pm
@Mike, people in the congregation support this! I am with you. I grew up in a small church and it was normal for a pastor to make the median income of his congregation. I posed this to a guy at my work and he thought it was completely ok for the pastor to make way more than the average of his congregation. (this was a non-white church and showing off wealth is different) And people target Joel Olsteen first but Kenneth Copeland is almost a billionaire. He got it from being a corrupt televangelist conning old people. I was dissapointed that the show missed so many opportunities in the first season to accurately lampoon megachurch culture.
June 5, 2023 @ 6:12 am
This isn’t a “Christians Are Evil” show. Its a show against megachurches but they never truly knock Christians.
June 5, 2023 @ 11:36 am
Newsflash: You can be a Christian and laugh and enjoy the show. All who profess they’re Christian are obviously not, and that’s biblical.
June 1, 2023 @ 9:00 am
The Ballad of Dood & Juanita has gotten more plays from me that I was expecting. I have grown to really appreciate it. A number of the songs have hit my playlists and work on their own as well..
Simpson has had some bad luck over the years with staying healthy on tour..
Sad that the vocal injury put an end to the blue grass tour.. That band was sick.
June 2, 2023 @ 6:58 am
I feel the same way. I liked it fine when I first heard, but it has grown on me more. Particularly when revisiting it after the bluegrass albums. A solid little album. Different story with Sound and Fury. When it first came out, I thought I might rank it ahead of ASGTE, which I found to be good-not-great and at best a middle of the pack album for 2016. But now, I really can’t listen to S & F all the way through, whereas ASGTE is still a good listen. Mostly, I listen to the first two and last two of S & F. Just not that good of a rock album.
June 1, 2023 @ 1:09 pm
Taking on the hypocrisy of Christians. Stunning and brave.
June 1, 2023 @ 2:08 pm
I’m all for Sturgil stepping out, trying new things and paving his own way for his career in the best way he sees fit.
But the fact he he’s never had a true follow up to Metamodern is an absolute travesty. The “what if” of the impact of that hypothetical 3rd album will always hang in the ether around him like a ghost that won’t move on.
I get that the comparisons to Waylon really rubbed him the wrong way but I’ll be god damned if he didn’t thumb his nose to the very fans that truly gave him the opportunity to pave his career they was he’s doing so now.
Just put out another fucking cou Try album Stu, please!
June 12, 2023 @ 4:38 am
Agreed. We got to see him several times when he was blowing up and a couple of his shows were among the best we’ve seen. We planned a trip to see him in Red Rocks and in the interim he parted ways with Little Joe and released A Sailors Guide. In retrospect it seems clear that he was getting away from what we liked best about him.
The opener at Red Rocks was terrible and he gave some of our favorite songs short shrift. A big, and expensive disappointment. Haven’t really paid much attention since and even High Top Mountain and Metamodern only get an occasional spin these days. I’m all about artists following their muse, but feel no obligation to go on the journey with them.
June 1, 2023 @ 2:30 pm
Playing at more stuff and trading in cliches.
*slow golf clap*
June 1, 2023 @ 7:38 pm
It’s hard to know which Christian militias are legit these days because so many are run by FBI agents.
June 1, 2023 @ 8:32 pm
53 likes, and counting. The SCM comment section is rife with the unhinged.
June 1, 2023 @ 8:52 pm
This isn’t correct. Someone is gaming the “like” button. This is one of the reasons it was taken down a while back to be updated. The last comment on this thread that’s only been up for a couple of hours would never garner these kinds of likes. Someone is using an IP address generator or something else to rack up likes, and this time they’ve gone so far they’ve exposed themselves.
If it persists, I’ll just take the “like” buttons down for good. Also, if I find out who is doing it, I will blacklist them from these comments sections.
Really sucks that so many exploit that fact that I’m trying to run an open comments section here to rage in the culture war. It’s not welcomed here, and it’s hurting these discussions.
June 1, 2023 @ 9:04 pm
I wondered if that’s what it was, Trig. At first I was like, “Wow, people really hate the FBI; That’s great!”.
But then I was like, “Naw, I bet this is that “Like” spammer that Trig told us about.
June 2, 2023 @ 7:44 am
Aside from the psychos with agendas that frequently comment on this site, the like button represents a powerful adjunct to the flow of information on this site. Either one will be extremely disappointed if you had to remove it because it would be one more horrible casualty in the ridiculous culture war that the vast majority of us have to suffer through.
I understand support that people are passionate about things, but vitriol and lack of grace and mercy in some of these comments continues to make me profoundly sad. Simply scroll up buy what I am selling. It is just gross.
June 1, 2023 @ 8:58 pm
The amount of people in the comments completely missing the point of the show and how it’s making fun of the fake mega pastors that were huge in the 80s and 90s is outstanding. You know the ones that were on TV asking for money for blessings but also for their excessive life of luxury..those guys.
It’s a joke not a dick folks don’t take it so seriously
June 1, 2023 @ 8:58 pm
Looks as predictably edgy and rebellious as saying something like:
“He leads the charge in his career, and not in a way that people expect. I think that’s admirable.”
June 2, 2023 @ 1:33 pm
I’m pretty sure the show isn’t trying to be edgy, it’s basically a platform for a bunch of hilarious jokes about genitals with some pretty good original music.
June 8, 2023 @ 7:06 am
Oh man, all of the Aimee-Leigh songs are incredible.
June 2, 2023 @ 6:31 am
season 3 of what? I’ve never heard of seasons 1 & 2
June 2, 2023 @ 9:48 am
To be honest, if anyone other than Danny Mcbride did this show it probably would make me a little mad. But for Southerners to make fun of ourselves makes it a little less offensive to me. The forced fake accents that usually accompany these types of shows or movies is what really irritates me.. Also, glad for Sturgill. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him excel at this.
June 2, 2023 @ 1:31 pm
Funniest show (aside from The Sopranos obviously) on HBO, and basically the only reason I keep the subscription. Killer dialogue and the actors absolutely nail it in every scene. Looking forward to seeing how he does!
June 2, 2023 @ 4:04 pm
The commenters here who say “the show is just mocking what deserves to be mocked” are looking at this pretty narrowly (or mendaciously, in certain cases).
The last thing the world needs is to continue attacking the association of goodness with Christianity.
We know what’s going on. You’re in a hole and the walls are caving in. Stop congratulating yourself on the progress. No one will mourn you.
Your time is up sooner than you think.
June 2, 2023 @ 7:49 pm
What a weird hill to die on. The people it’s making fun of fake Christians and mega pastors who justify why they should be rich while their congregation isn’t deserve to be made fun of.
To be a Christian you would think you would know one of the basic golden rules, let he without sin cast the first stone, but hey go on.
June 3, 2023 @ 9:58 pm
In answer to the prevailing question, Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn are good Christians.
Mega church millionaires who wouldn’t let suddenly homeless people (remember the Houston flood?) camp in their church , plus the constant parade of child-abusing youth pastors, not so much.
Love Gemstones, looking forward to new season!
June 4, 2023 @ 11:55 am
Yes Ma’am, Dee.
The Carter’s.
Wonderful people!
June 4, 2023 @ 12:02 pm
The Carters are the epitome of how to treat your fellow man, and come together, build with your neighbors.
Habitat for Humanity.
All Lives Matter.
Period
June 4, 2023 @ 10:48 am
Thanks for the warning, Trig, I’ll be sure to tune out.
June 5, 2023 @ 12:06 pm
You clearly have never watched the show or read the Bible? What the world needs is for Christians to actually FOLLOW CHRIST
1. This is comedy that can strengthen Christians (God willing they have a dynamic sense of humor, the courage to face uncomfortable realities, and self-awareness)
2. The show touches on timeless church abuses and Southern culture, you’re giving it way too much credit
3. Learn from it and set a real Christian example instead of damning people behind a keyboard
June 8, 2023 @ 4:28 pm
Boy, people are just way, way too tender-bottomed these days. It’s a comedy show. There’s no “message” or “agenda”. And if you dislike it, it’s really easily avoided.
July 5, 2023 @ 1:57 pm
Not following up Metamodern will be the lingering what-if for country music fans this century., I would say in 2015, Sturgill was literally on the verge of being a mega break-out star that would have completed the job of turning Music Row completely on its back. He had them bastards in a standing 8 count. I get ASGTE was a personal gift and guidance to his newborn son. No real follow-up leaves me wtf Sturgill. Just going back to 2015 in my memories, has been a great rundown memory lane. That was a fun year, and I became a massive Sturgill Simpson since I first heard him play at 2013 SXSW. I remember his April 2015 2 sell-out shows at Stubbs that coincided with his Austin City Limits Taping. The week prior was Sturgill’s iconic 2 shows 3rd & Lindsley. Sturgill was on the brink and the man pivots like a ghost and now wants to star in low-grade cable series shows and films.
I wish WSP still had their streaming share site. I should have downloaded their entire Sturgill streaming files. At least I would have more of his live stuff, especially that epic 2015 Austin City Limits Festival set.
August 11, 2023 @ 10:09 am
The show is fantastic. It’s a new favorite. and Sturgill is an actual artist. That’s music I can get behind. Thank You. Country music doesn’t really need saving, look at the charts. I mean – can we get more like this guy? Outlaw stuff. Not the current ‘viral’ junk.