Bob Dylan to Cover ‘Don’t Fence Me In’ for Ronald Reagan Biopic

Bob Dylan will provide a rendition of the oft-covered, Cole Porter-penned classic “Don’t Fence Me In” for an upcoming Ronald Reagan biopic.

Reagan, which stars Dennis Quaid as the titular president, will also feature Gene Simmons’ take on the 1930s standard “Stormy Weather,” as well as Clint Black taking on John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” Spin reports.

“Don’t Fence Me In” was popularized by cowboy crooners like Roy Rogers and Gene Autry; the latter happens to be Quaid’s late third cousin. Dylan’s rendition will play during Reagan’s end credits.

“I was honored to have Bob join our film,” Quaid said in a statement to Spin. “We gave him the freedom to do any song he wanted to do, whether an original or a cover, and he chose ‘Don’t Fence Me In.’ That was extra special since it was a song that Gene made famous. Bob is a great lover of the American Songbook and we were delighted with the way he delivered the song. He’s a national treasure and was the perfect addition to the film.

Quaid and Dylan previously worked together, albeit separately, on projects by the Americana podcast duo Bear and a Banjo, with Dylan contributing lyrics while Quaid served as narrator.

Reagan, which filmed over three years ago but is now finally getting released, features a cast of well-known, conservative-leaning actors like Jon Voight, Kevin Sorbo, Nick Searcy, and Robert Davi (and, Creed’s Scott Stapp playing Frank Sinatra). While it might seem strange that Dylan would affiliate himself with the project, as the singer himself said in a Reagan-era Rolling Stone interview, he’s not one to be motivated by ideology. 

“I think politics is an instrument of the Devil. Just that clear. I think politics is what kills; it doesn’t bring anything alive. Politics is corrupt; I mean, anybody knows that,” Dylan said.

“How long is Reagan gonna be president? I’ve seen like four or five of ’em myself, you know? And I’ve seen two of ’em die in office. How can you deal with Reagan and get so serious about that, when the man isn’t even gonna be there when you get your thing together?”