Tim McGraw is reportedly stepping away from his lead role in Netflix’s upcoming bull riding drama. The 57-year-old country star was initially set to headline the series but withdrew due to a tour-related injury.
The health issue led to orthopedic surgery on both of his knees in August, followed by a separate back surgery. As a result, McGraw opted out of the physically demanding role in the scripted rodeo drama.
McGraw was originally announced as both the lead actor and an executive producer during Netflix’s upfront presentation in May 2024. Us Weekly has reached out for comment, but neither McGraw nor Netflix has publicly addressed the future of the untitled project.
The series was set to take place in the high-stakes world of bull riding, centering on a champion rider who finds himself “at a life-changing crossroads.” His world is upended by a “fearless young competitor who challenges his beliefs and uncovers buried secrets, forcing him to confront his past.”
McGraw is no stranger to the screen, having transitioned into acting following his successful music career. Over the years, he has taken on roles in films such as Friday Night Lights, Tomorrowland, The Blind Side, Country Strong, and more.
More recently, McGraw and his wife, Faith Hill, co-starred in Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone prequel, 1883. McGraw, who has been married to Hill, 57, since 1996, has credited her with being his rock throughout his sobriety journey.
“I don’t think I could stand up straight without leaning on her in everything that I do,” McGraw told in August 2023. “It is not a linear path. There are setbacks, and there are times you move forward and do great, and there are times you step back.”
Tim Mcgraw (Photo: Getty Images)He added, “And that will probably be a process throughout the rest of my life—something I have to be diligent about and continue to work on. My song ‘Hey Whiskey’ was helpful in that regard. It was very cathartic for me in many ways.”
McGraw has been open about hitting rock bottom with his drinking before turning to Hill for support.
“I remember a moment when I was getting out of bed and going to the liquor cabinet to take a big shot at 8:00 in the morning, thinking, ‘I have to wake the kids up,’” McGraw told in 2021. “I went straight to my wife and said, ‘This is where I’m at.’ I was scared. She just grabbed me, hugged me, and changed my life.”
Reflecting on how his perspective on love evolved because of Hill, McGraw shared, “My wife always says, ‘You’re not scared of anything.’ And I say, ‘Ehhh, one thing. I’m looking at it right now.’ I didn’t know love could feel so good. Was it an emotion? A lifestyle? An imaginary thing? Love is all of those things.”
He concluded, “Love is being angry. Love is not talking for a day. Love is getting in each other’s face. Love is accepting that I’m wrong.
Love is a 360-degree thing—it’s not linear. They always say you’re not supposed to fight in front of your kids, but everybody does. That’s part of the deal.”
