A music score was composed for the film, but director Bruce Beresford had it removed as he considered it too phony and saccharine. The only music in the film therefore is the country and western singing.
The film was originally released on March 4, 1983 in only three movie theaters, in New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago. This was possibly due in part to poor test screenings, which had caused Universal executives to lose faith in the film, but also because Universal Pictures had released the far more expensive and anticipated Scarface (1983) the same year, and was spending most of its advertising budget to promote that film instead. Willie Nelson was nonetheless one of several country performers who were impressed by the authenticity of Robert Duvall's performance, and offered to help promote it. However, studio executives told Duvall that they did not understand how someone like Nelson could help publicize it. Duvall later reflected that this was indicative of the studio's lack of understanding about both the genre and the film.
Allan Hubbard (Sonny) had his tenth birthday shortly after the film wrapped, and was preparing to celebrate it with his family at his home in Paris, Texas. He was pleasantly surprised when Robert Duvall showed up at his house and gifted him with a guitar for the occasion. Hubbard, who went on to teach guitar professionally, still owns the guitar to this day.