Trisha Yearwood Makes Her ‘Nashville’ Debut
Trisha Yearwood was on the set of ABC’s Nashville last week, where several of her professional worlds collided all at once. The CMA award-winning singer, who has also done some acting in TV dramas, will be at the real CMAs in a couple of weeks. But on this day, Yearwood joined the Nashville cast as they filmed segments for a dramatized version of the star-studded awards show, allowing the show’s fictional country stars to mingle with a few who are the real deal.
In her scenes, which were shot on a meticulously constructed replica of the CMA Awards set on one of Nashville‘s massive soundstages, Yearwood is seen presenting an award to another country star (although you’ll have to tune in to the episode to find out if that star is fictional or real!). Her participation in the filming meant getting into an evening gown much earlier in the day than she ever had to before.
“It’s actually very similar. The only difference is I’m not in a gown and full hair and makeup at 10 o’clock in the morning,” Yearwood tells Rolling Stone Country. “But you look at the Teleprompter and you rehearse what you’re going to say. If you’re presenting [an award], it’s a pretty easy gig. This is good; it will be good rehearsal for me for the actual CMA Awards in a few weeks.”
Yearwood says she and her family, which includes husband and fellow country superstar Garth Brooks, don’t watch a lot of TV other than sports, but she does follow Nashville. And like many in Music City were when the show began two seasons ago, she was initially skeptical about it but is relieved to see that the show gets it right.
“The way Nashville, Southerners, the music industry sometimes gets portrayed, you just never know,” she says. “But I especially love to watch it for the city. They’re at the Bluebird, or I know that drummer, you see people that you know. Then you get sucked into the story and you’re waiting to see what happens. Now that I know a little bit ahead about what’s happening, I’ve got to have some conversations with the script writers. I’ve got some changes that need to be made! [Laughs]”
The singer says she relates especially to the character of country queen Rayna Jaymes, played by Connie Britton. “A lot of artists my age probably do [relate to her],” she explains. “It’s TV, so a lot of it is dramatized but it’s the music business. There are a lot of shenanigans, a lot of politics, a lot of games to be played. It’s not just about making great music and putting it out there, and I think the show portrays that really well.”
The Nashville episode featuring Yearwood airs November 19th, two days after the release of her album, PrizeFighter: Hit After Hit. The LP is currently available for pre-order at GhostTunes. Two other real-life country acts also make cameos on Nashville‘s CMA Awards episode, and Rolling Stone Country will reveal their names tomorrow.