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Taylor Sheridan has never been to prison. His new book still maps how to survive it

NEW YORK (AP) — Oscar-nominated screenplay writer and “Yellowstone” co-creator Taylor Sheridan has written about crime and violence so often that he decided to work on a book about an ordeal he has never endured: life behind bars.

Simon & Schuster announced Tuesday that Sheridan’s “How to Not Die in Prison,” a “darkly funny survival guide” to a maximum-security facility, will come out June 23. Sheridan is a best screenplay nominee for the 2016 crime drama “Hell or High Water,” and has overseen such TV series as “Yellowstone,” “Tulsa King” and “Mayor of Kingstown.”

“You might wonder what in the world gives me the knowledge or wisdom to write a survival guide to prison,” Sheridan writes in the book’s introduction, according to Simon & Schuster. “Well, I’ll tell you — absolutely nothing. I’ve never been to prison. But, like every man, I’ve certainly wondered how I would survive if circumstances ever put me there. That morbid curiosity sent me on a journey to understand the politics and dangers of prison.”

Sheridan did receive some firsthand input. His co-author is Tom Nelson, who spent more than a decade in prison.

“Hey, one of us has written hit TV shows and Academy Award-nominated movies, and the other has spent much of his adult life behind bars in medium and maximum-security prisons,” Nelson said in a statement. “If that’s what makes for good wisdom and entertainment, I’ll take it.”

Sheridan’s other film credits include writing and directing the Angelina Jolie thriller “Those Who Wish Me Dead” and the Western-thriller “Wind River,” starring Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen. Last fall, Paramount and Activision announced that Sheridan and “Hell or High Water” collaborator Peter Berg are working on an adaptation of the blockbuster video game franchise “Call of Duty.”

Inside country legend Alan Jackson’s triumphant finale concert

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The time has come for country music superstar Alan Jackson to hang up his signature Stetson hat. The genre traditionalist from Newnan, Georgia, whose career kicked off in the 1980s and exploded shortly thereafter in the oft-cited '90s country wave with heartfelt songs for the working man who'd rather be drinking, or fishing, or ideally both, has sold over 60 million records across his storied career. And on Saturday night at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, he brought his touring career to an end. The event titled “Last Call: One More for the Road — The Finale" was a triumphant swan song for the performer, a celebration of his life and career with some help from the artists he directly inspired. Nashville's all-stars came out in droves
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