Fire Country’s latest episode on the 2025 TV schedule brought in another country superstar. That’s right, after Kane Brown guest-starred in Season 1, it was Jelly Roll’s turn to make his acting debut. So, not only did Season 3, Episode 17, “Fire and Ice” feature Jake’s shocking phone call, but fans were able to see Jelly Roll in a different light. While I loved his character from the jump, I love him even more after hearing the moving story behind how the singer ended up on the show.
The Grammy-nominated singer played Noah, a healthcare worker and former convict who works at the facility where Vince’s dad is. He had a pretty meaningful and much-needed talk with Vince, who is continuing to deal with his dad’s dementia, and it gave us another look at a person who has figured out how to live after being incarcerated.
Marissa Bode And Ethan Slater Tell Us The ‘Wicked’ Song They Can’t Get Out Of Their Heads, And It’s Not The One I Would Have Guessed
Get ready for “Wicked!” We’re just days away from one of 2024’s biggest releases, and pop culture at large is seething with anticipation for the iconic musical to hit the big screen with its A-list, star-studded cast. The “Wicked” soundtrack is one of the most iconic in Broadway history, and if you’ve ever seen a musical, you know how easy it is for one of the tracks to become lodged in your brain whether you like it or not. While “Defying Gravity” has been firmly stuck in mine ever since I was able to catch an early screening of “Wicked,” stars Ethan Slater and Marissa Bode have less basic ear worms, and they are some very solid choices. I recently caught up with the cast of “Wicked” to discuss the first half of the now-confirmed two part phenomenon, and when I asked which track was cemented in their heads, Marissa Bode responded.
It turns out Jelly Roll had wanted to be on the show, and got to work with co-creator and star Max Thieriot on the role. Telling the story behind how this came to be, the Bode actor told Us Weekly that he met the singer at the CMT Awards, and from there they worked to get him into Fire Country, explaining:
I said, ‘Thank you for letting us have some of your songs on the show. It’s been awesome.’ And he’s like, ‘Dude.’ He’s like, ‘How do I get on the show, like I really want — I’ve been petitioning online.’ You know, I’m like, ‘Jelly, you know I could probably get you on the show.’ And we worked on, one, coming up with the character that we all thought would be interesting and unique and special, the second chances idea and what he really represents, but also feels different from who he is and sort of how people see him day to day as a country singer.
The fact that Jelly Roll had never acted before but was so adamant about being on Fire Country really makes the story. It’s also better knowing that they just had a chance meeting in a restroom at an awards show. Even though it’s likely his cameo would have come at some point, especially since the series was using his music and he was trying to make it happen online, the whole meeting in the restroom story couldn’t have been better.
There’s actually a big reason why the country star wanted to be on Fire Country and why the show was such a perfect first acting job for him. Jelly Roll spent time in prison when he was a teenager and in his 20s, but really turned his life around with music. So, he can relate to stories like Bode’s.
In a BTS video shared by the official Fire Country TikTok, he opened up about what it means to him to play a character like Noah and how that was almost his own life, explaining:
In the video, he also praised Thieriot and the series for really shining a light on second chancers, and it makes me love Jelly Roll’s appearance on Fire Country even more.
Jelly Roll playing this character highlights the ways people can turn their lives around, which is ultimately what Fire Country is about. It also shows off the various ways rehabilitation and healing can happen. From music to working in a nursing home to becoming a firefighter, there are lots of ways folks can find second chances after a tough chapter of life.
Whether or not Jelly Roll could be coming back as Noah is unknown, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he were to carve out some time in his schedule to return, especially since the role means so much to him. Since Fire Country was one of many CBS shows to be renewed for next season, it’s always possible. Maybe he can even appear in the upcoming Sheriff Country spinoff.
I don’t really care how it happens, I just ultimately hope he’s able to come back to the show, because his care is infectious, and this story is important.
