Some of the biggest stars in country music enjoy spending time on the small screen. From sitcoms and reality shows to made-for-TV movies, the following country stars don’t mind making the occasional – or frequent – trip from Nashville to Hollywood.
John Rich
Big & Rich singer John Rich has kept it real for all of his TV roles – as in “reality TV” real. Rich first crossed over to TV in 2007 when he started hosting CMT’s reality show “Gone Country,” which challenged celebrities such as Dee Snider, Bobby Brown, Sisqo, Julio Iglesias Jr., and Carnie Wilson to try their hand at writing country songs. The following year, Rich served as a judge on “Nashville Star,” and in 2011, he competed in – and won – the fourth season of “The Celebrity Apprentice.” Rich has recently signed on to host “The Next: Fame is at Your Doorstep” alongside Gloria Estefan, Nelly, and Joe Jonas, which premieres August 16 on the CW.
Clint Black
Country music veteran, Clint Black has managed to balance reality with fiction in his TV roles. He’s starred in sitcoms such as “Wings” and “The Larry Sanders Show” as well as just about every reality show he can sign up for – Black’s reality TV resume includes: “Nashville Star,” “Secret Talents of the Stars,” “The Celebrity Apprentice,” “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” “Coming Home” and “History Detectives.”
LeAnn Rimes
Rimes has been acting on the small screen since the late ’90s, when she starred in the made-for-TV movie, “Holiday in Your Heart.” Rimes also hosted a season of “Nashville Star” in 2005 as well as “The Colgate Country Showdown” for several years. But it was a 2009 role in the made-for-TV Lifetime film, “Northern Lights” that caused the most controversy for the country star. During filming, Rimes, who was already married to Dean Sheremet, had an affair with her co-star, Eddie Cibrian, who was also married at the time. Rimes and Cibrian subsequently split from their spouses and have been married to each other since 2011.
Billy Ray Cyrus
Before he was known mainly for being Miley’s dad, Billy Ray Cyrus was famous for his breakout country hit, “Achy Breaky Heart” – not to mention his role on the TV show “Doc,” about a doctor who moves to New York City from Montana. After “Doc” went off the air, Cyrus starred alongside his daughter in “Hannah Montana.” Cyrus has also appeared on “Dancing with the Stars” as well as the short-lived CMT reality show about his own life, “Billy Ray Cyrus: Home at Last.”
Reba McEntire
In the ‘80s and ‘90s, Reba McEntire was like the Michael Jackson of country music – creating videos that served as mini-movies, complete with characters and full storylines. McEntire has also acted on the big screen in films, such as “Tremors,” and was originally offered Kathy Bates’ role in James Cameron’s “Titanic” but had to turn it down due to scheduling conflicts. When it comes to the small screen, McEntire has outdone all other country artists with the success of her sitcom, “Reba,” which enjoyed a seven-year run. McEntire is set to star in a new sitcom, “Malibu Country” which premieres November 2 on ABC.
Which country music star has the best acting abilities?
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