Hold onto your Stetsons, Yellowstone fans — the Dutton saga is far from over. Paramount+ has officially confirmed 1944, a brand-new prequel series that will bridge the gap between the heartbreaking finale of 1923 and the modern-day chaos of Kevin Costner’s Yellowstone.

And with this announcement comes the biggest question yet: who is John Dutton III’s true grandfather?

Spencer & Alexandra’s Tragic Baby — The Key to the Legacy?

The 1923 finale ended in devastation when Alexandra Dutton died shortly after giving birth to a premature son. The child was named John, in honor of Spencer’s late brother.

Could this baby grow up to be the true grandfather of John Dutton III? If 1944 jumps forward twenty years, fans may finally see Spencer navigating fatherhood, ranch wars, and the weight of the Dutton name — all while haunted by Alexandra’s death.

Elizabeth’s Baby With Jack — A Rival Heir?

Elizabeth Dutton’s storyline also left fans stunned. Pregnant with Jack’s child, she chose to leave the ranch for the city. But actress Michelle Randolph has teased that Elizabeth’s arc is far from over: “She’s more of a Dutton than ever before.”

Her child could also be the rightful heir to the Yellowstone legacy, raising the possibility of two competing Dutton bloodlines. Will 1944 finally solve the family tree puzzle that has kept fans theorizing for years?

Teonna Rainwater’s Rise — A Parallel Legacy

While the Duttons grapple with their future, Teonna Rainwater’s survival may prove just as important. After escaping the horrors of the assimilation school in 1923, Teonna found freedom — and possibly love.

Actress Aminah Nieves has hinted that Teonna could already be pregnant with Pete Plenty Clouds’ child, planting the seeds of a legacy that runs directly to modern-day Chief Rainwater. Yellowstone has always been about more than one family; it’s about the land, the promises made, and the generations bound to it.

Who Is John Dutton III’s Real Grandfather?

Sheridan has kept fans guessing across 1883, 1923, and now 1944. Is the ancestor John III descends from Spencer’s son? Jack and Elizabeth’s child? Or is there a twist Sheridan has yet to reveal?

Even the cast has admitted they don’t know the answer — proof that Sheridan is keeping the mystery close to his chest.

What to Expect in 1944

While plot details are under wraps, here’s what we may see unfold:

• Spencer raising baby John — and possibly remarrying the widow teased in 1923’s epilogue.

• Elizabeth and her child returning to the ranch — or fighting for their rightful inheritance.

• Teonna’s survival story expanding, linking her bloodline directly to the present-day Rainwaters.

• The ranch under siege again, this time as World War II reshapes America and the frontier way of life.

The Saga Rides On

The confirmation of 1944 proves one thing: Taylor Sheridan is nowhere near finished with the Duttons. With multiple heirs in play, rival legacies emerging, and history crashing into modernity, the new series promises twists that could forever change the Yellowstone family tree.

The Dutton saga isn’t ending. It’s only getting more complicated.