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Fire Country Season 3, Episode 17 “Fire and Ice” introduces us to a new character, Noah, a healthcare worker and former convict who’s in the process of turning his life around. And if he seems familiar to you, it’s because he’s played by a very famous face, just not someone we usually see on TV acting. Yes, that is indeed Jason Bradley DeFord, who goes by the stage name of Jelly Roll in his first scripted project. He previously made a cameo as himself on Paramount+’s Tulsa King.

Max Thieriot, who plays Bode, revealed to Us Weekly how the role came to be, sharing that he “reached out first” at the CMT Music Awards, adding, “He was finishing drying his hands with a towel in the bathroom at the CMTs [in April 2024]. I ran into him in the bathroom straight up.”

As the two got to talking, they realized they were fans of each other. “I said, ‘Thank you for letting us have some of your songs on the show.’ And he’s like, ‘Dude, how do I get on the show? I’ve been petitioning online and talking to my people, and you got to get me on that show,’” Thieriot recalled to the outlet. “He said Fire Country is what he really represents. … He called me the next day and it showed how sincere he was.”

More: Where else can you watch Max Thieriot?

Noah first appears when Vince (Billy Burke) goes to visit his father, Walter (Jeff Fahey), at the new home he’s living in. Noah tells him that he’s been working with Walter and that Walter will be happy to see him, but Walter doesn’t actually recognize Vince and instead confuses him for his brother Luke. Noah and Vince later have a conversation about Walter and what he remembers, with Vince suggesting a nostalgic activity with Walter that might jog his memory.

It’s a very nice scene, particularly as Vince has been struggling with his relationship with his dad for a while, especially since Walter’s health has deteriorated, and he’s started to forget things. Everyone’s in the middle of something else, with Bode and Sharon (Diane Farr) clashing because Sharon decided to cut a deal with Oxalta that secured Manny’s (Kevin Alejandro) release from jail, while Vince is just trying to be in a good place with his dad.

Ultimately, Noah’s advice pays off as Vince returns to the home and offers to cook with his dad, something they used to do every weekend when his mom was alive. The nostalgic activity does help Walter remember not just his wife but Vince, and though the good moment doesn’t change all the bad ones they’ve had recently, it seems like it means something to Vince.

About Noah, Thieriot also told Us Weekly, “We worked on coming up with a character [for him] that we all thought would be interesting, unique and special and still. It tells some of the story about second chances and what he really represents. But [it] also feels different from who he is and how people see him day to day as a country singer.”

The show doesn’t give any indication whether we might see Noah again, but considering his role in Walter’s home, it’s likely the door is wide open if Jelly Roll wants to return to reprise his role at some point. And even if he doesn’t, he has already made a really great impression, not just on Walter but on Vince and, by extension, on Fire Country.