Unveiling a Shocking Family Secret: How Is Spencer Dutton Connected to John Dutton in ‘Yellowstone’? Dive into the Hidden Ties and Unexpected Twists That Could Change Everything You Thought You Knew About the Dutton Legacy!

It’s the biggest question on the Yellowstone family tree.

Everything to Know About 1923

The Yellowstone prequel 1923 just wrapped up on Paramount+, and the series finally answered a major question on the Dutton family tree.

It is a bit complicated, especially because Yellowstone aired first, before 1883 and 1923. The time jumps can make it hard to follow, especially because none of the characters overlap except for John Dutton Sr., who appears as a child on 1883 and an adult on 1923.

Emerson Miller

Spencer Dutton (Brandon Sklenar) stars on 1923 as former solider-turned-big game hunter who falls in love with Alex (Julia Schlaepfer). Spencer’s parents are 1883 stars James and Margaret (Tim McGraw and Faith Hill). James and Margaret have two other children: Elsa and John Dutton Sr. John Sr. and his wife Emma have one child, Jack, before John Sr.’s death.

Here’s where it gets confusing: The storyline had not revealed if Spencer or Jack is the father of John Dutton II and therefore the grandfather of John Dutton III (Kevin Costner’s Yellowstone character). But, now, with the series finale in the books, we know the answer.

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Prior to the series finale, even some members of the cast were in the dark. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Brandon Sklenar said he’s unsure how Spencer is related to Kevin Costner’s John Dutton III: “It’s something that Taylor [Sheridan] is keeping very close to the vest. I have my own theories, but it’s to be told, to be written, to be seen. He’s always moving all that stuff around.”

James Dale, who stars as John Sr. in 1923, told TV Insider, “We would talk about this all the time on set, and we couldn’t figure it out. I know Luke Grimes [Kayce Dutton in Yellowstone], and he would call me and be like, ‘I don’t know how we’re related either.’ We were trying to figure it out. I think Taylor probably has a few more curveballs planned.”

Emerson Miller

But the series finale showed Alex give birth before her death. The baby? John II. Now viewers know that Alex and Spencer are the grandparents of Costner’s John III.

Why does it even matter? It comes down to the Dutton prophecy. In 1883, James Dutton was given permission to settle his family on the land for seven generations. If Jack is the grandfather of John III, then Tate (Brecken Merrill) would be the seventh generation and the last of the Dutton family to live on their land. But, with Spencer being the grandfather, that makes Tate only the sixth.