Luke Bell Appears in PBS Doc Ahead of Bigger Film Projects
When country artist Luke Bell passed away in August of 2022, it became immediately obvious how compelling his life story was to the public. Though he’d enjoyed some moderate fame in his now storied career, he was far from a household name, and fell well outside of anyone’s conventional definition of being “famous.”
But there was something about Luke Bell’s story that gripped the United States and beyond upon his passing. It was his rugged countenance. It was his songs that are immediately compelling to audiences. It was his struggle with mental health that so many of us have seen in a son, daughter, brother, or sister. In his death, Luke Bell achieved the fame she should have enjoyed in life, even going on to be mentioned on ABC’s World News Tonight.
The captivating and heartbreaking aspect of Luke Bell’s story is the reason multiple creators have risen up to help tell that story to the world. There’s a driving motivation to make sure the lessons of Luke Bell’s life and death don’t go unlearned.
Directors Kevin Romeo and Matt Bakken of Rhino Media took the idea that someone should preserve Luke Bell’s legacy in full, and ran with it. With the blessing and participation of Luke’s mother Carol, sister Jane, as well as Luke’s grandparents, uncle, and others, they have been producing the full-length documentary Where Ya Been? The Odyssey and Elegy of Luke Bell.
The Where Ya Been? production has been back and forth to Luke Bell’s home state of Wyoming multiple times, down to Nashville, out to Arizona where Luke passed away, and in Austin on multiple occasions as well, interviewing the people who knew Luke and his struggles, along with capturing the places where his story unfolded. The film is currently being considered for the Sundance Film Festival, as well as SXSW.
As the film looks to premier at events and film festivals before full distribution, a 25-minute documentary by director Mat Hames just released through Wyoming PBS (see below) gives a great primer into Luke Bell’s life, while looking at it through the lens of Luke’s mental health struggles.
The film captures a devastating moment where Luke’s mom Carol reveals how she found out about Luke’s death. Luke Bell’s grandparents are also in the film, and it follows Luke’s grandfather who has championed mental health in the wake of Luke’s passing. The film is part of a greater Wyoming PBS series “A State of Mind: Confronting Our Mental Health Crisis.”
Beyond the new PBS Documentary and the upcoming Where Ya Been? film from Rhino Media, there is also a narrative biopic-style film based upon Luke Bell’s life that is said to be in the works. More information on that, as well as unreleased Luke Bell music that is on the way when it becomes available.
November 19, 2024 @ 8:29 am
Will definitely be interested in this but have to say I’m the most interested in the possibility of more music from him. It’s sad until he died it never occurred to me we would never get a second album. He was so talented it seemed obvious he would at some point give us more. Cause the one we got is so incredible. Though of course I’m weary that what wasn’t released wasn’t released for a good reason.
November 19, 2024 @ 12:46 pm
Yes it’s a sad cautionary story. I’ve had someone close to me with these issues. It’s unfortunately like fighting against the wind, trying to help someone struggling with these kind of things. ( bi-polar and the like) Meds can help, but most people don’t like how they feel on the meds, so they go off the meds, then go crazy again, then self medicate with alcohol, and the vicious spiral continues. Seen it firsthand. It’s no- win for the family and or caretakers. You often get vilified for just being there. Luke wasn’t unique in his problems, but he was a talented musician and performer. He had a promising career, just couldn’t hold it together. Not unlike a certain Keith Whitley.
November 19, 2024 @ 1:15 pm
Helllo and thank you to all of you. Is there another CD in the works, as I have heard? I hope so. People who watched the PBS said they had hoped for more music in it. I said, the film was meant to focus on mental health. I hope it helps.
November 20, 2024 @ 11:26 am
Yes, I believe unreleased music is on the way, and potentially might coincide with the release of the Rhino Media documentary on Luke Bell.
November 19, 2024 @ 2:30 pm
Thanks for sharing this.
November 19, 2024 @ 5:55 pm
A cousin and close friend succumbed to Fentanyl in 2022,near Luke Bell’s death.Fentanyl addiction is very tragic and often leads to ODs.(By the way,what does Luke Bell’s “rugged countenance” have to do with anything? You mean his tragedy would be less captivating were he a handsome cowboy ? Strange allusion indeed.)