Yellowstone’s Luke Grimes Says Although Fans Feel 'Cheated' by John Dutton’s Death, 'It Was Always the Plan' (Exclusive)

The tragic fate of John Dutton in Yellowstone was predetermined, according to star Luke Grimes.

In an exclusive interview at his Nov. 15 Grand Ole Opry debut in Nashville for his self-titled 2024 album, Grimes, 40, told PEOPLE that it was always the plan for patriarch Dutton (played by Kevin Costner) to “go away.”

“There was some backlash,” Grimes says of fan reaction to the show’s Nov. 10 return, in which Costner’s character was found dead from a fatal gunshot wound in the final minutes.

“I think they feel kind of cheated. And what I would say to that is that we were all lucky to have Kevin on the show as long as we did,” he continues. “It was always the plan to leave so that the story would really get going, and that was the story. You lost the patriarch of the family. Can the children be alone?”

Luke Grimes attends the ‘Yellowstone’ panel on January 4, 2023 in New York City. Eugene Gologursky/Getty

He compares John’s death to greats like King Lear, Godfather and Succession.

“I think he was originally supposed to die much earlier. So, in a way, they got a lot more John Dutton than they originally should have,” says Grimes. – I would keep that in mind.

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The True Blood The alum notes that the shock value of a character’s death adds to the authenticity of the drama series. “If it happened in such a shocking, quick way, that’s how life works, right? I mean, when you lose people, sometimes it’s not the way you planned and not when you think it’s going to be,” he explains.

Luke Grimes says there is no Kevin Costner Yellowstone ‘Felt Different’ Set: ‘He’s a Big Presence’ (Exclusive)

Grimes plays Kaycee Dutton — John’s youngest son — in Yellowstonewhich follows the Dutton family and the conflicts they face as they maintain the legacy of their ranching empire.

From left: Cole Hauser, Luke Grimes and Kevin Costner in ‘Yellowstone’.

Cam McLeod/Paramount Network/Courtesy of the Everett Collection

Costner, 69, portrayed the patriarch for five seasons from 2018 until the Nov. 10 episode. He decided to leave the hit series before its planned conclusion, telling PEOPLE in an interview in June that “there was no script.”

As final Yellowstone episode, Grimes is also busy promoting her debut album.

Ahead of his first performance at the famed Grand Ole Opry, he tells PEOPLE that “music has always been a big thing” in his life. “I think for anyone who grows up in church, they see live music two or three times a week,” he says.

The actor adds that his parents enjoyed country music and that it was “really big in our household.”

“It was always very important. It was always a big, big deal. And I never thought it would be something I would try to do professionally,” Grimes says. “I can’t believe I’m trying to do this professionally, to be honest. It still doesn’t feel real.”

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Yellowstone broadcasts Sundays at 8:00 PM ET/PT on Paramount Network.

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Source: HIS Education