Maren Morris Discusses Her ‘High Stakes’ Appearance in Sheriff Country
Maren Morris is venturing out of her comfort zone and into the television limelight with her upcoming cameo in Sheriff Country — and it wasn’t an easy feat.
“I feel relieved that the day is finally over. I was really anxious,” Morris, 36, shared exclusively with Us Weekly after completing her guest role, which is set to air on Friday, May 15. “I’ve never acted on screen as anyone other than myself.” (Morris previously portrayed herself in a 2017 episode of NCIS: New Orleans.)
The artist expressed, “It’s quite nerve-wracking and feels crucial because this show is performing well. You don’t want to be the odd one out or the reason the episode falters.”
Morris, who takes on the role of a Narcotics Anonymous (NA) sponsor named Hazel, admitted that she “didn’t sleep well” the night before she reported to the set.
Once she finished filming her scenes, Morris told Us, “I feel so relieved and I can finally relax my shoulders because I felt very supported by everyone on set today.”
The country singer highlighted that the cast and crew made her feel “really welcome” and reassured her that she was “doing something right.”
“They were incredibly encouraging after every take, which made me feel like I belonged,” Morris reminisced.
Fans of Sheriff Country can catch Morris in the role of Skye Fraley’s (Amanda Arcuri) sponsor in the episode titled “Compromised.”
According to the logline, “Sheriff Mickey Fox (Morena Baccarin) is involved in a federal investigation focusing on a high-stakes case related to alleged interstate crime and a network of local land deals,” but it doesn’t reveal how Morris’ character, Hazel, fits into the story.
However, Morris described Hazel as “very soft, kind, and compassionate, but also quite stoic with no nonsense.”
She hinted that her character has “definitely faced her share of heartache and trust issues, so she picks up on red flags and alarm bells very quickly. Nothing gets past her.”
Alongside her acting, fans can also enjoy her performance of the original song “Beat the Devil,” which was specifically written for Sheriff Country and has appeared in the show’s promotional trailers.
Morris, for her part, remarked that her favorite scenes involved working with Baccarin, 46, and Arcuri, 28, adding that they shouldn’t be missed.
“I think my two favorite scenes were definitely with Morena and Amanda. I felt really connected to each of them in different ways,” Morris explained to Us. “In one scene, I’m supporting a mother on the verge of grief, and in the next, I’m almost like a big sister to someone.”
The “Girl” singer mentioned that balancing between Mickey and Skye was “emotional” for her, as she has an older sister herself.
“My mom, my younger sister, and I share a bond that’s very close, which parallelled the one I felt today with those two,” Morris reflected.
Catch Morris on Sheriff Country on CBS this Friday, May 15, at 8 p.m. ET.
