Community Screening to Explore Luke Bell’s Legacy

At Ease Horsemanship, in partnership with Wyoming PBS, will host a free community screening of the Wyoming PBS documentary “Frontier State: The Story of Luke Bell” on Thursday, May 7, at the WYO Theater in Sheridan. This special evening is designed to be both reflective and forward-looking, honoring Luke Bell’s artistic legacy while encouraging meaningful dialogue and collective action to improve mental health awareness and access across the state.

Christina George Director of Marketing, Outreach, and Communications at Wyoming PBS, explained about the upcoming screening.

The film screening will begin at 7 p.m., followed by a panel discussion. There will be several mental health providers who will be on hand for the discussion, Christina added.

“Public media has a responsibility to reflect and serve the communities it belongs to. In Wyoming, that means creating space for conversations like this, where people can come together around stories like Luke Bell’s, speak openly about mental health, and build greater awareness of the support available across the state,” says

This film is a part of the Heartland Chapter Emmy Award-winning series “A State of Mind: Confronting Our Mental Health Crisis,” the 30-minute film explores the life of Luke Bell, a rising country music artist known for his timeless sound and deep ties to the American West.

Wyoming PBS CEO Joanna Kail had this to add about the PBS series

Raised in Cody, Wyoming, Bell earned national recognition for his heartfelt songwriting and distinctive voice, opening for legends such as Willie Nelson, Dwight Yoakam, and Hank Williams Jr.

Behind his growing success, however, Bell quietly battled bipolar disorder and other mental health challenges—a struggle that ultimately claimed his life. Through intimate interviews with family, friends, and fellow Wyomingites, the film offers a powerful and personal look at the impact of mental illness, while highlighting the strength and resilience found in community.

“Luke Bell’s legacy extends far beyond his music,” says At Ease Horsemanship founder Matson Tew. “This event is intended to honor his life, elevate awareness, and foster conversations that strengthen support systems across Wyoming.”

He felt that the documentary would ‘wake people up,’ to the problem of mental illness.

The post-screening conversation will feature mental health professionals, community leaders, survivors, and Luke Bell’s mother, Carol Bell, who now works as a mental health care provider in Cody. Together, panelists will explore critical issues raised by his story, including: Reducing mental health stigma, encourage open and meaningful communication, increasing awareness of available mental health resources in Wyoming, how to access them, and identifying ongoing community needs.

“My family and I have chosen to openly share our experience of losing Luke (as well as our understanding of his experience of mental illness), because we regret we did not understand what was happening to him in the beginning,” says Carol Bell. “We mistook his illness for substance use. I feel sad that he was alone during much of his journey, and sad for my own sense of loneliness and isolation.

“I hope that our commitment to open conversation will impact the stigmas surrounding mental health. It is important to me to share my pride in my son, my acceptance of him, and my deep belief that what happened to him was not his fault,” she added. “ It is my hope that someday, people suffering with the trauma of mental illness will know acceptance, support, and compassion as they carry the often misunderstood burden of their illness.”

The Wyoming PBS series, “A State of Mind,” is made possible by the Hughes Charitable Foundation, Jack and Carole Nunn, the John P. Ellbogen Foundation, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming.

“I’m grateful to At Ease Horsemanship for partnering with Wyoming PBS to share this meaningful episode and to highlight an issue that should remain at the forefront of conversations across our state,” says Kail. “Mental health touches every corner of Wyoming, and I am honored that our series, ‘A State of Mind,’ is creating space for honesty, awareness, and connection.”

For more information about the series, visit: wyomingpbs.org/astateofmind/.

More than three years after his passing, Luke Bell’s influence continues to resonate. A posthumous release of 28 previously unreleased songs in November 2025 captures him at the height of his artistic power, reflecting the lives of ranchers, ramblers, and working-class communities through themes of heartbreak, resilience, and introspection. Proceeds support the Luke Bell Memorial Affordable Counseling Program: https://www.lbmacp.org/.

At Ease Horsemanship is a Sheridan, Wyoming-based organization dedicated to post traumatic growth experiences, education, community connection, and resource awareness through events, partnerships, and advocacy. As well as working with horses, patients can work with plants and practice martial arts, to help them recover and keep mentally healthy. For more information, visit ateasehorsemanship.org.

Wyoming PBS is a non-profit public broadcasting organization serving the state of Wyoming. With a commitment to educating, informing, and inspiring, Wyoming PBS produces and broadcasts high-quality programming that addresses the unique needs and interests of the Wyoming community.