Country Stars Join Epic New 'Hunger Games' Soundtrack

Ella Langley, Kacey Musgraves, Kashus Culpepper, Carter Faith, and Tyler Childers are among the country artists featured on the upcoming soundtrack for "The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping."

The album, titled "The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (The Album)," includes 29 tracks in total.

It is set for release on Friday, November 13, 2026 — exactly one week before the film premieres on November 20.

The soundtrack blends country, rock, and alternative acts, mixing original songs with a few previously released tracks.

According to a press release announcing the album details, previously released songs include tracks by Noah Kahan, The Smashing Pumpkins, and Gigi Perez.

Other notable names on the tracklist include Stevie Nicks, Jennifer Lawrence, Noah Cyrus, Lizzy McAlpine, Madison Cunningham, and The Cure.

Jennifer Lawrence, who played Katniss Everdeen in the original four Hunger Games films, performs the song "Deep in the Meadow" on the soundtrack.

The film itself is a prequel set 24 years before the events of the original "The Hunger Games" trilogy.

It begins on the morning of the reaping for the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell, according to IMDb.

The movie is directed by Francis Lawrence, who directed all four original Hunger Games films as well as the 2023 prequel "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes."

It is an adaptation of Suzanne Collins' 2025 novel of the same name.

The cast includes McKenna Grace, Jennifer Lawrence, and Joseph Zada, among others.

The soundtrack features several country artists who are relatively new to major film projects.

Ella Langley appears on track 8, titled "Here Then We're Gone."

Kacey Musgraves appears on track 10, a version of her song "Ruthless" labeled as the "Arena Mix."

Kashus Culpepper appears on track 21, "May Brings Flowers."

Carter Faith appears on track 23, "Can't Let You Go."

Tyler Childers appears on track 24, "Old Money."

Other country-adjacent acts include Stephen Wilson Jr. on track 3, "First in Line," and Madeline Edwards on track 9, "Wrestle with God."

The full tracklist runs as follows:

1. "The Raven I" – Whitney Peak
2. "Ash and Snow" – Noah Cyrus
3. "First in Line" – Stephen Wilson Jr.
4. "See It Coming" – Bella Kay
5. "The Wheel" – Lizzy McAlpine
6. "The Raven II" – Whitney Peak
7. "Dove Song" – Sydney Rose
8. "Here Then We're Gone" – Ella Langley
9. "Wrestle with God" – Madeline Edwards
10. "Ruthless (Arena Mix)" – Kacey Musgraves
11. "No Destination" – Billy Vincent
12. "The Raven III" – Whitney Peak
13. "Favor" – Gigi Perez
14. "But You Wanted More" – Hudson Freeman
15. "Black Stars" – The Smashing Pumpkins
16. "Half Alive" – Mckenna Grace
17. "Doing The Best That I Can (Arena Mix)" – Stevie Nicks
18. "The Goose and The Common" – Whitney Peak
19. "Survive (Arena Mix | KÁRYYN Rework)" – Depeche Mode & KÁRYYN
20. "Same Blood" – Emelie Trahan
21. "May Brings Flowers" – Kashus Culpepper
22. "The Old Therebefore" – Scot Greenan
23. "Can't Let You Go" – Carter Faith
24. "Old Money" – Tyler Childers
25. "Show Me Where The Ending Starts" – Madison Cunningham
26. "Deep in the Meadow" – Jennifer Lawrence
27. "Draw You Out" – Noah Kahan
28. "Metal Birds" – Violet Grohl
29. "Alone (Live in Berlin 2022)" – The Cure

The soundtrack is being released by a major label, though the specific label was not named in the available source material.

"The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping" serves as the second prequel film in the franchise, following "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes," which was released as a novel in 2020 and a movie in 2023.

The original "Hunger Games" trilogy consists of three novels published between 2008 and 2010, adapted into four films from 2012 to 2015.

The 50th Hunger Games, or Second Quarter Quell, is a significant event in the series' lore because it is the first Games that Haymitch Abernathy — the mentor to Katniss and Peeta in the original story — won.

In the original novels, Haymitch is the only living victor from District 12 before Katniss and Peeta.

The Quarter Quell occurs every 25 years, with special rules that double the number of tributes or otherwise change the format of the Games.

The Second Quarter Quell featured four tributes per district instead of the usual two, making it twice as deadly.

Fans of the series have long speculated about a film adaptation of this specific Games, which is only briefly described in the original books.

The soundtrack's blend of country, rock, and alternative artists reflects the franchise's history of eclectic soundtracks.

The original "The Hunger Games" soundtrack in 2012 featured artists such as Taylor Swift, The Civil Wars, Arcade Fire, and Mumford & Sons.

"Catching Fire" (2013) included Coldplay, Sia, and Lorde.

"Mockingjay — Part 1" (2014) had Lorde curating the album, featuring artists like Grace Jones, Charli XCX, and Ariana Grande.

"Mockingjay — Part 2" (2015) included tracks by Lorde, Christina Perri, and James Newton Howard.

"The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" (2023) soundtrack featured Olivia Rodrigo, James Newton Howard, and Sierra Ferrell.

The new soundtrack continues the tradition of including a wide range of genres and artists.

The inclusion of country artists like Musgraves, Langley, and Childers marks a shift toward the genre for the franchise.

Kacey Musgraves is a nine-time Grammy winner known for albums such as "Golden Hour" and "Star-Crossed."

Ella Langley is a rising country artist who has gained attention for her debut album and singles like "Paint the Town Blue."

Tyler Childers is a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter in the Americana and country space, known for albums like "Purgatory" and "Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven?"

The film is expected to be one of the major releases of the holiday season.