[Editor’s note: The following contains major spoilers for The Bondsman.]
The supernatural horror seriesThe Bondsmanfollows murdered bounty hunter Hub Halloran (Kevin Bacon), resurrected by the Devil with instructions to trap and send back demons that have escaped from Hell. With his mother (Beth Grant) by his side, he tries to reconnect with his ex and former partner in country music, Maryanne (Jennifer Nettles), and their son (Maxwell Jenkins), all while coming to terms with the metaphorical demons of his own life that have brought him to this moment.
During this one-on-one interview with Collider, Nettles talked about the appeal ofThe Bondsman, the similarities withThe Righteous Gemstones, her transition from Sugarland to acting roles, writing music with Bacon, whether she’s a horror fan, and what she’d like to see in a possible Season 2.
Jennifer Nettles Fell in Love With the Script for ‘The Bondsman’
“The story really jumped off the page.”
Collider: This show is fun, it’s gory, it has some great music, and it’s all kinds of wild. When this came your way, what was the thing that drew in? What did you find most appealing about this?
JENNIFER NETTLES: There were a number of things that were and are appealing, but what I first found appealing was the script. I loved it. For me, the writing jumped off the page. As a writer myself and as an interpreter, and especially where music is concerned, I read things the way that I write them. I hear it. Can I hear this? How does it sound to me as I’m reading? I don’t read with my eyes, I read with my ears. So, for me, the story really jumped off the page. And then, of course,Kevin Bacon being attached to it was thrilling, above all else. I found those two pieces very exciting. And then, throw in the bonus of, organically within the story, our characters are musicians, and we were able to write music for the show for our characters. All of that, to me, checked all the boxes in so many ways.
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The series is the latest collaboration between Prime Video and Blumhouse.
It also just seems like it would have been so fun.
NETTLES: It was so fun. You said it yourself; it’s such a crazy, wild world that has been created for this story. But at the same time, while there is gore, there’s comedy, there’s camp, there’s heartwarming relationships and family. There’s a little bit of everything.
Jennifer Nettles Reveals the Biggest Difference Between ‘The Bondman’ and “The Righteous Gemstones’
“What they do not have in common is full-frontal nudity.”
This series is similar toThe Righteous Gemstones, in that it’s a mix of genres, it has an insane ensemble of characters, and there’s the musical element thrown in. Has there been something particularly fun about getting to do both of these TV series that incorporate a little bit of music, but in a way that really pertains to character?
NETTLES: Oh, for sure, and it has to be. It has to be organic to the world that you’re in. These shows are two ends of the spectrum, when you consider that at face value. A televangelism family and a demon-fighting family seem like two very far ends of the spectrum. But at the same time, it has those elements of highs and lows. There’s comedy, but there’s also violence.Gemstonescan be quite violent. What they do not have in common is full-frontal nudity. There’s a lot of full-frontal inGemstones.There is no full-frontal inThe Bondsman.At least, not yet. Who knows what they’re going to make Kevin do.
When you started your acting roles, did you have anything in mind as to what you wanted out of all of this? Were there types of projects you thought you wanted to do and that you didn’t want to do, or did you just try to be open to everything?
NETTLES: That’s a good question. When I started doing this, in general, what I wanted to do was to expand as a storyteller. I’m first known for music, but I grew up doing theater as well. About 10 years ago, when my son was born, I went through my own rebirth and was like, “I want to continue to expand as an artist.” I’ve been blessed to be able to do a lot of what I had wanted to do, specifically in the music industry, so I wanted to get back into acting, both on the stage and to do TV and film. Thankfully, I was able to do it at a level where I have been so rewarded, artistically, with the projects that I’ve been able to be on.
Now, that being said, there were projects that have come across my email, or desk, metaphorically, as we like to say, that were roles that are musicians, and I have turned all of them down until this one. Before, I thought, “They’re not getting what it is to be a musician right.” I’m also set up for a lose-lose because if I do it well as an actor, then everybody will say, “Oh, she’s already a musician, so she’s not really acting.” And if I don’t do it in a way that feels good to people, they’ll say, “Oh, my God, she can’t even act like a musician, which is what she is.” So, I was like, “That sounds like a dumb idea.” This show came along, and I was like, “Okay, I’m feeling strong enough in my own chops as an actor. I’m feeling inspired by the script.” And from a musician’s standpoint,Kevin and I were able to write music for the show as our characters. Music, for me, is the way into everything. For me to write music for this show, as Maryanne, was a much deeper avenue to be able to really access her. So, for me, it was an easy yes.
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The horror series is streaming now.
Are you a horror fan? Do you watch horror movies?
NETTLES: No. I can handle this. I recently didThe Exorcistwith Blumhouse as well. That is a very serious, obviously iconic movie, but at the same time, it had much more of a psychological thriller angle to it. Slasher is not my jam, but supernatural, otherworldly demons, that realm I can handle.
Jennifer Nettles Thinks Season 2 of ‘The Bondsman’ Could Be a Blast for Maryanne
“High stakes, baby.”
How did you feel about the ending? Things are left in a way where there’s obviously much more that you could do with this. How do you feel about your character being taken over? What was it like to even get to see yourself like that?
NETTLES: It was so much fun for Maryanne to explore some of the underworld, if you will.I feel like where it can go is what I’m even more excited about, so I love that they’ve left us open and set us up for a Season 2, hopefully, knock on wood. For Maryanne, I think that is going to be an absolute blast. High stakes, baby. High stakes.
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What was it like to find Lilith’s song and know that it causes people to rip their own jaws off?
NETTLES: For the song that’s in the last episode that ends up being Maryanne’s song, or Lilith’s song, I didn’t want to be too on the nose, as a writer and composer, with what was going on. I had this song that I had been working on, and writing it, I had no idea what was going to happen to the character. But then, once I learned what was happening to the character and got the script for that, I reached out to Erik [Oleson], our showrunner, and was like, “I have this song, and I think it could be great for Maryanne.” And he heard it and was like, “Oh, my God, it’s perfect for this moment.” I wanted something that felt eerie and that had a darkness to it and that definitely felt of the world. Especially in bluegrass and Appalachia, there are a lot of dark minor songs, in terms of their keys, so I got to play around with that and I loved it. It was fun.
The Bondsman
The Bondsmanis available to stream on Prime Video. Check out the trailer:
