Tyler Hilton and Kate Voegele Share Backstage Moments from Their Tour on One Tree Hill

Though Chris Keller and Mia Catalano never encountered each other on One Tree Hill, the actors Tyler Hilton and Kate Voegele share a remarkable musical chemistry.

“Our characters never interacted in the show,” Voegele, 39, revealed to Us Weekly exclusively during their Celebrating the Music of One Tree Hill tour stop in New York City on December 13, 2025.

“We haven’t even watched each other’s episodes,” Hilton, 42, chimed in. “Our connection has been outside the series, even though most of our touring has revolved around it.”

Hilton made his debut in the Tree Hill universe in 2004 portraying the confident indie musician Chris Keller, who complicates Nathan’s (James Lafferty) and Haley’s (Bethany Joy Lenz) relationship in the second season. Although a villain, Chris quickly became a fan favorite and returned for multiple seasons thereafter.

Voegele entered the scene as a musician in her sole acting role as Mia, who first appeared in season 5 as the inaugural artist of Haley and Peyton’s (Hilarie Burton Morgan) Red Bedroom Records. She too gained a loyal fanbase and returned for several seasons.

Despite being two of One Tree Hill’s most admired musicians, they never crossed paths onscreen.

“We often hear about this from fans,” Voegele shared with Us, noting that neither has watched the entire series yet. “We keep saying, ‘We should sit down and watch it.’ Then we remember there are about 24 episodes each season.”

“We joke that one day, when we find ourselves in the same retirement home — which is bound to happen — we’ll say, ‘Alright, let’s hit play,’” Hilton quipped. “Let’s see what we haven’t experienced.”

After years of listening to fan requests for the music they performed on One Tree Hill, Hilton and Voegele chose to embrace their roots and embarked on a global tour featuring songs from the show. Celebrating the Music of One Tree Hill kicked off in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in September and will end in Paris in May. Highlights from their set include duets of “When the Stars Go Blue” and “Hallelujah,” along with Hilton’s “Missing You” and “Loaded Gun,” and Voegele’s “No Good.”

“The show has suddenly gained immense popularity again,” Hilton explained to Us. “That’s why we decided to create a worldwide One Tree Hill music tour. … We thought, let’s fully commit to it this time. We’ve never done something solely focused on the show and discussed it as much. It’s been such a blast.”

Like many early 2000s series, OTH has experienced a resurgence among younger viewers thanks to platforms like Hulu and Netflix. Stars Lenz, Burton, and Sophia Bush even launched a rewatch podcast called “Drama Queens” in 2021.

“The show’s themes remain quite relatable, even though it began filming a while ago,” Voegele commented on the rise in viewers. “It feels amazing to create something specifically for those fans, as the One Tree Hill community continues to grow.”

Hilton concluded: “There’s something wonderfully carefree about this, as opposed to releasing a new album where you feel all this pressure. This tour has been so relaxed and enjoyable. No egos, just fans celebrating a TV show that aired 20 years ago.”

The magic created during the show’s nine-season run from 2003 to 2012 continues to flourish: from Hilton and Voegele’s tour to a podcast and conventions, the cast remains actively connected.

They’ve appeared in various Christmas films together (including 2019’s A Christmas Wish featuring Burton Morgan, Hilton, Lee Norris, and others); James Lafferty and Stephen Colletti co-created and star in the comedy series Everyone Is Doing Great; and Voegele even formed a band with another OTH musician, Mike Grubbs, called Your Future Ghost.

“There’s something special about growing together in this unique family formed by the cast and crew,” Voegele said to Us. “It cultivates a creative synergy that’s tough to replicate elsewhere… Perhaps being situated in a small town in North Carolina helped, but we all resonate on the same frequency. These individuals know my life and experiences better than anyone else. This creates a unique creative magic.”

These creative collaborations show no signs of waning. In August 2024, reports surfaced that a sequel series is in development with Bush, Burton Morgan, and Danneel Ackles leading the way. While they, like the fans, are hopeful, Hilton shared with Us, “We don’t have any details. I wish we did.”

“I know it’s been in development, but I’m not sure about its current status. I’ve met some of the writers and other team members at various points, and it seems exciting,” Hilton continued. “I hope it materializes, but time will tell.”

He added: “Launching a TV show is a huge challenge. Getting it filmed is even crazier. Securing a first season is nothing short of a miracle. To have a show run for nine seasons and keep coming back is extraordinarily rare. So, we’re just here trying to stay hopeful.”