Morris' episode of 'Sheriff Country' premieres Friday, May 15
Credit: Maya Dehlin Spach/WireImage
NEED TO KNOW
- Maren Morris says guest starring on Sheriff Country was part of her new mindset of “saying yes, even when it scares me”
- The Grammy winner opened up about filming nerves, bonding with the cast and playing Hazel, a woman in recovery
- Morris also revealed how her song “Beat the Devil” became woven into the world of Edgewater before she joined the show onscreen
Maren Morris is stepping into a new spotlight with her guest-starring role on Sheriff Country.
The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter told PEOPLE exclusively that joining the CBS drama fulfilled a longtime goal of hers, even if taking the leap initially felt intimidating.
"I wanted to say yes to this opportunity because it's something I've always wanted to do, just never had the right timing or opening to do so," Morris, 36, said during filming on the episode late last year. "My whole motto in life right now is saying yes, even when it scares me."
The series centers on Sheriff Mickey Fox, played by Morena Baccarin, as she works to keep the streets of Edgewater safe while navigating complicated family dynamics, including reconnecting with her previously incarcerated father and supporting her daughter through struggles with addiction.
"The moral compass of the character is going to be tested over and over," Baccarin, 46, previously said in a video introducing the spinoff.
For Morris, stepping onto a television set came with pressure to prove herself.
"I definitely had nerves going into filming," she said. "I know they know I'm new at this, but I also wanted to come prepared and know my lines and not deviate too much. It's incredible writing, incredible dialogue."
Still, Morris said the welcoming atmosphere on set helped calm her nerves quickly.
Credit: Courtesy of CBS
"Luckily, everyone is so warm and inviting here," she said at the time. "There's no ego, there's no tension. Everyone's chatting between scenes and laughing, and it's a nice break from some of the heavier scenes."
She also shared that she formed a connection with Baccarin while filming emotionally charged scenes.
"My final scene with Amanda [Arcuri] was really fun because I feel like by the end, our characters and us as women outside of the character space were becoming friends throughout the day," Morris said. "It was really nice, and I felt like it was making everything even more authentic on screen. I hope!"
Morris plays Hazel, a woman in recovery who forms close bonds with both Mickey and her daughter Skye.
Credit: Darren Goldstein/CBS
"Hazel has been sober for several years," Morris explained. "She's not at her 10-year mark or 15-year mark by any means. She's closer in age to Skye, which I think was helpful for that sort of friendly, sisterly dynamic."
To better understand the character, Morris developed her own backstory for Hazel and drew from personal experiences supporting loved ones struggling with addiction.
"I've definitely dealt with loved ones and friends with addiction," she said. "Just being able to be a listening ear and be a sense of security and an empathetic person in the room, I've been that to people in my life."
Credit: Darren Goldstein/CBS
Despite years of performing onstage, Morris admitted acting presented a completely different kind of challenge. Surprisingly, though, memorizing dialogue came easier than expected.
"I found it easier to memorize someone else's words than my own," she said, noting that she still forgets lyrics during live performances. "This is not live, so that does help."
Morris’ connection to the series extends beyond acting. She also contributed two songs: "Parachute," which will play during the May 15 episode, and "Beat the Devil," which became tied to the show after CBS responded enthusiastically to an early version of the track and used it earlier in the season.
"I started writing it, and it was just like a verse and chorus," she said. "CBS really loved it for Sheriff Country. They were like, ‘This song would be amazing in this world of Edgewater.'"
The singer says the song's "spooky, haunted nature" made it a natural fit for the show’s darker themes and dramatic atmosphere.
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"And then this is like the trifecta," Morris added. "Song, music video for the song, now I'm in the show as someone else. I feel very lived in this world now."
Morris’ episode of Sheriff Country premieres Friday, May 15, on CBS and Paramount+.
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