Wes Bentley, a renowned figure in the entertainment industry, has recently opened up about his current obsessions. These range from thought-provoking books to captivating music and more. Let's delve into the details of what has been captivating his attention.

Discover Wes Bentley's Hidden Passions

Books - A Journey of Self-Discovery

The Yellowstone actor, Wes Bentley, shares a profound connection with a particular book. "I'm obsessed with [the book] The Tao of Pooh," he reveals. This seemingly simple read by Benjamin Hoff has had a transformative impact on him. Before encountering this philosophical work, Bentley was a "temperamental kid" with an attitude. However, as he delved into the teachings through the lens of Winnie-the-Pooh, his mindset underwent a significant shift. "I read that book and in 15 minutes it changed my life," he confesses. "It opened my eyes and made me understand that things are beyond my control sometimes, and that I don't need to react." This book has become a guiding light in his life, constantly challenging his mind and inspiring him to seek self-awareness.Another aspect of Bentley's literary interests is his love for classic films. He enjoys watching Orson Welles' Touch of Evil and The Shining. Each time he watches these horror films starring Jack Nicholson, he discovers something new. It shows his appreciation for the depth and complexity that these films offer.

Music - A Melodic Escape

Music holds a special place in Wes Bentley's heart. He is a big music aficionado and can't get enough of Radiohead's 2008 album In Rainbows. "I can't stop listening to that album ever since it was released," he tells Us. "I think it's one of the most interesting albums of all time. It's also so expressive and it's Radiohead, so it's beautiful." This album seems to resonate with him on a deep level, providing a melodic escape and a source of inspiration.

Documentaries - Uncovering Mysterious Past

In addition to books and music, Bentley is also drawn to documentaries. He is currently bingeing the Netflix docuseries Ancient Apocalypse. This series, which has two seasons available to watch, follows journalist Graham Hancock as he travels the globe in search of evidence of mysterious, lost civilizations dating back to the last Ice Age. "It's about like, maybe who we were back in way, way prehistory at the last Ice Age," he shares. "How exciting is that?" The exploration of these lost civilizations through documentaries adds a new dimension to his interests and fuels his curiosity.Bentley has played Jamie Dutton in the hit Paramount+ series Yellowstone since 2018. Six years later, the show is now in its final season with the final batch of episodes coming out this month. "It was really satisfying to play [someone with] no spine, weakness and emptiness," he tells Us while promoting part two of the series' fifth season. "It's been a great challenge and one that I was really happy to try and meet — and I hope I did meet — but all that said, it is a weight that will be nice to let go of one day."For more on Bentley, pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly, on stands now.

The American South stands as a captivating realm of cultural dichotomies. These contradictions, having fueled the political maelstrom for centuries, are now igniting some of the most remarkable music of our time. In 2024, the story of rock is predominantly a tale of Southern rock, manifesting in both classic and indie-rock forms.

Unraveling the Southern Rock Phenomenon

Section 1: The Roots of Southern Rock

Rock & roll is inherently Southern music, as evidenced by luminaries like Little Richard (Georgia), Sister Rosetta Tharpe (Arkansas), Tina Turner (Tennessee), Elvis Presley (Mississippi), and Chuck Berry (Missouri). It migrated north and west, evolving racially and stylistically. In the 1970s, discerning rock fans across the nation placed "Southern rock" classics by Allman Brothers, Marshall Tucker Band, Charlie Daniels Band, and Lynyrd Skynyrd alongside records by Grateful Dead, Eagles, Poco, Neil Young, and The Band. These records drew from the same well, distilling Southern sounds and mythology into quintessentially American music. 2: The misapprehension of the "rebel flag" as a racially neutral symbol tainted the Southern-rock subgenre. This complexity led to diverse interpretations, as seen in Drive-By Truckers' 2001 Southern Rock Opera. Patterson Hood, from Alabama, recognized the opera's timeliness due to current political racial aspects.

Section 2: Modern Southern Rock Artists

Katie "Waxahatchee" Crutchfield (Alabama) and Jake "MJ" Lenderman (North Carolina) crafted 21st-century rock music with distinct Southern sensibilities on Tigers Blood and Manning Fireworks. Lenderman's music is influenced by the Truckers, Neil Young, and The Band, with his politics subtly woven into his storytelling. He sings about dipshit braggart machismo in "Wristwatch" and conveys a rueful message in the title track of Manning Fireworks. 2: Patterson Hood is a fan of Lenderman and Wednesday, his band with Karly Hartzman. Another great 2023 Southern rock album is Weathervanes by Jason Isbell, who started in the Truckers. He was invited to play at the Democratic National Convention, singing "Something More Than Free" about a workingman's plight. Hood and the Truckers played at a delegate party. Meanwhile, at the RNC, Michigan's Kid Rock and Nashville's Sixwire covered Southern rock songs. A recent Trump ad had a Southern rock soundtrack.

Section 3: The Broader Southern Rock Landscape

"Southern rock" isn't just about traditional acts. Bands like the B-52's and R.E.M. were unashamedly progressive in sound and presentation. Forerunners like Big Star (Memphis) and the reunited dBs (North Carolina > New York City) also contributed. Their seminal early-Eighties LPs were reissued this year. Singer-songwriters like Lucinda Williams also play a part. 2: In October, Michael Stipe and Jason Isbell played R.E.M. songs at a Harris/Walz rally, hoping to influence the situation positively. They sang Isbell's "Hope the High Road," a prayer for a new reconstruction. This performance was more convincing than any politician's this year, highlighting the power of Southern rock.