Rooster Season 1 (2026) Soundtrack Guide
Created by Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses, the HBO comedy series Rooster stars Steve Carell as a bestselling author who moves onto a college campus to support his professor daughter (Charly Clive) through a messy divorce and professional crisis. Coaxed into the academic world, Carell’s character hilariously attempts to embody the "studly", hyper-masculine persona of his own fictional hero while navigating modern campus life, Gen Z students, and a strained family bond. The series, premiering in March 2026, blends sharp wit with heart as it explores generational clashes and mid-life reinvention.
Rooster soundtrack include songs by INXS, Yas and New Order. This informational article provides details about the composers and music supervisors involved in the HBO Max series. For more information on soundtrack songs and track listings, check the series section.
Rooster is an HBO original comedy that premiered on March 8, 2026, marking Steve Carell's return to a leading role on television. Created by Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses, the series follows Greg Russo, a successful fiction author who becomes a writer-in-residence at Ludlow College. His decision to join the faculty is mainly to support his daughter, Katie (Charly Clive), an art history professor who is dealing with a difficult divorce and the complicated politics of life on campus.
Popular Songs from Season 1
Theme Song
I Played the Fool (Main Title Theme from "Rooster")
Michael Stipe
Scene Context: Rooster Opening Theme Music
Episode 1: Release the Brown Fat (Mar 8, 2026)
Writer Greg Russo arrives at Ludlow College to support his daughter Katie as her marriage begins to implode.
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Scene Context: Greg Russo shows up at Ludlow College.
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firing line
Soft Focus
Scene Context: Tommy forgot his wallet so Greg grabbed some beers for him.
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Our Lips Are Sealed
Fun Boy Three
Scene Context: Greg pops out of some bushes, looking sheepish, and says "Uh, I was just, uh, hiding from the sun.
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Scene Context: A cop stops Greg and Tommy for messing up their beer purchase.
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Make It with Me
John Moran
Scene Context: Music playing at the bar. Archie sees Katie and she ducks behind a tree to avoid being noticed.
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Baby You Are a Star
Wayne Murray & Paul Sandrone
Scene Context: Greg and Dylan chat over beers about feeling alone and Greg's recent divorce.
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Kiss Off
Scene Context: Katie mistakes a burning book for kindling, engulfing Archie's house in flames.
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I Played the Fool (Main Title Theme from "Rooster")
Scene Context: Ending Credits Music
Episode 2: Trousers (Mar 15, 2026)
When Katie's future at Ludlow is thrown into question, Walt offers Greg a deal to keep them both on campus.
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You Never Knew Me
Magazine
Scene Context: Greg thinks about how he's struggling to be a good dad to both Tommy and Katie at the dinner.
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Beautiful Girl
Scene Context: Closing Credits Song
Episode 3: White Whale (Mar 22, 2026)
While Greg endures his first day of teaching at Ludlow, Katie struggles with her suspension. Later, Archie decides to help Sunny find a suitable advisor, and Dylan is presented with an unexpected new opportunity.
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Prove It
No scene description for "Prove It" at 00:03:27 yet. Spotted it?
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Ride a White Swan
No scene description for "Ride a White Swan" at 00:10:39 yet. Spotted it?
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No scene description for "Sweet Caroline" at 00:29:39 yet. Spotted it?
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Episode 4: Angry, Like An Angry Person (Mar 29, 2026)
To avoid Walt's party, Greg throws himself into helping a student. With her suspension lifted, Katie contemplates casual dating.
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Come On Eileen
Dexys Midnight Runners
Scene Context: Greg and Tommy lugged a keg and later got into a beer pong game.
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Scene Context: The student party keeps going strong.
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Everybody Hurts
Scene Context: Greg starts getting restless so DJ changes the tune to keep him happy.
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Slip Away
Scene Context: Closing Credits Song
Episode 5: Mr. Razzles (Apr 5, 2026)
When his ex-wife Beth shows up for a dedication ceremony on campus, Greg starts to backslide into old habits. Later, Katie reconnects with Archie, and Dylan finds herself flourishing in her new role.
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P.I.M.P.
Scene Context: Music playing in Greg's cell phone ringtone during Elizabeth's on-campus speech, interrupting her presentation.
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Scene Context: Archie pursues a hooded individual across campus. Sunny tracks the chase through real-time text message updates, providing situational awareness.
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Lucky Man
Scene Context: Rooster Episode 5 Closing Credits Song
Episode 6: Cop Hawk (Apr 12, 2026)
While relishing in his new fling, Greg offers a struggling Tommy a place to crash. Later, Katie confronts the student behind some personal campus graffiti, Dylan impresses Walt in her new role, and Sunny wrestles with a prestigious job offer.
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Episode 7: All the Dogs' Names (Apr 19, 2026)
Greg, Cristle, and Tommy attempt a return to normalcy after an embarrassing mishap. Meanwhile, Archie meets Sunny's father, Walt offers Dylan a new position following Dean Riggs' return, and Katie deals with her evolving feelings for Archie.
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Rebel
John Moran
Scene Context: Fred arrives at the diner, where he encounters Sunny's partner and pregnant
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Angel
Leon Paul-Phillips
Scene Context: Fred confronts Archie about his parenting style, urging him to take on more responsibility.
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Scene Context: Dylan assumes the role of Dean of Faculty
Episode 8: Nobody Spook It (Apr 26, 2026)
While Greg tries to support an increasingly emotional Katie, Dylan attempts to steer a promising student towards poetry. Later, Sunny is delighted when Archie starts to engage more with her
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Ride
Brett Newski
No scene description for "Ride" at 00:10:18 yet. Spotted it?
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Scene Context: Donnie introduces Tommy to Creed’s music during a car ride.
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NISSAN ALTIMA
Scene Context: Eva opens her door to reveal Dylan standing outside
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Scene Context: Tommy gives chase to the mascot, attempting to apprehend them
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2000 Miles
Scene Context: Greg and Katie have a conversation outside / Closing Credits
Episode 9: Ludlow's Fourth Hottest Professor (May 3, 2026)
Thriving in and out of the classroom, Greg empowers the hockey team before a key game. Meanwhile, Archie receives feedback on his book and Katie focuses on getting tenure, which reveals the extent of her parents' involvement in her life.
Rooster Season 1 Trailer Songs
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Rooster HBO Max Official Trailer Music
The show focuses on generational differences and the challenges of starting over in mid-life, using a mix of humor and character-driven drama. The ensemble cast includes Danielle Deadwyler as Dylan Shepard, Phil Dunster as Katie’s ex-husband, and John C. McGinley as the university’s president. Since its debut, Rooster has seen strong viewership numbers, becoming one of the most successful comedy premieres for HBO in recent years.
Main Cast
- Steve Carell
- Phil Dunster Phil
- Charly Clive Katie
- Danielle Deadwyler
- John C. McGinley Walter Mann
- Lauren Tsai
Official Trailer
Soundtrack Crossovers
Frequently Asked Questions
How many songs are in the soundtrack for Rooster: Season 1?
There are 30 songs featured in the soundtrack for Rooster: Season 1. SeekerTune lists all of them with detailed scene descriptions.
What are the genres of Rooster: Season 1?
The main genres for Rooster: Season 1 include Comedy.
How many seasons does Rooster have?
The TV show Rooster currently has 1 season.