The tragic fate of John Dutton Yellowstone was predetermined, according to star Luke Grimes.

In an exclusive interview during his Nov. 15 Grand Ole Opry debut in Nashville for his 2024 self-titled album, Grimes, 40, told PEOPLE that it was always the plan for the Dutton patriarch (played by Kevin Costner) to “get away to go. ”

“There have been some negative reactions,” Grimes says of fan reaction to the show’s return on November 10, in which Costner’s character was found dead of a fatal gunshot wound in the final minutes.

“I think they feel a little bit cheated. And what I would say to that is, I think we were all lucky that Kevin was on the show for so long,” he continues. “It was always the plan for him to leave so that the story would really build, and that was the story. You lose a patriarch of the family. Can the kids do it themselves?”

He compares John’s death to greats like King Lear, The godfather And Succession.

“I think originally he was supposed to die a lot earlier. So in a sense, they got a lot more from John Dutton than they were originally going to get,” Grimes says. “I would keep that in mind.”

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The Real blood alum notes that the shock value of the character’s death adds to the authenticity of the drama series. “If it happened in such a shocking, quick way, that’s how life works, right? I mean, when you lose people, sometimes it’s not how you planned it and not when you think it’s going to happen,” he explains out.

Grimes stars as Kaycee Dutton, John’s youngest son Yellowstonewhich follows the Dutton family and the conflicts they face as they maintain the legacy of their ranching empire.

Costner, 69, portrayed the patriarch for five seasons, from 2018 to the Nov. 10 episode. He opted to leave the hit show before its intended conclusion, telling PEOPLE in a June interview that “the scripts weren’t there.”

As a finale Yellowstone episodes are airing, Grimes is also busy promoting his debut album.

Before his first performance at the famed Grand Ole Opry, he tells PEOPLE that “music has always been important” in his life. “I think anyone who grows up in church sees live music two or three times a week,” he says.

The actor adds that his parents loved country music and it was “really big in our household.”

“It was always really important. It was always something big. And I never really thought that this would be something that I would try to do professionally,” Grimes says. “I honestly can’t believe I’m trying to do it professionally. It still doesn’t feel real to me.”

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Yellowstone air Sundays at 8pm ET/PT on Paramount Network.