Rita Wilson is joining the star-studded cast of 1883, a Yellowstone prequel starring Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Sam Elliott.
The singer and actress confirmed the news on Tuesday (Jan. 11) via Twitter, days after Variety reported her upcoming appearance on the series.
“The secret is out—I’ll be joining my friends @FaithHill and @TheTimMcGraw on the show @1883Official this season!” Wilson wrote on Instagram. “Keep up with episodes every Sunday on @paramountplus to catch a glimpse of yours truly.”
After hearing the news, McGraw’s daughter Audrey gushed “Love y’all so much,” later adding, “Iconic.”
Wilson’s husband Tom Hanks appeared earlier in the Season. Hanks made an appearance during Episode 2 of the popular series in the role of U.S. Civil War General, George Meade.
Wilson, no stranger to appearing in popular films, as her resume includes appearances in Volunteers (1985), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), Now and Then (1995), That Thing You Do! (1996), Jingle All the Way (1996), The Story of Us (1999), Runaway Bride (1999), It’s Complicated (2009), and Larry Crowne (2011).
In addition to making appearances in movies, she also appeared in televisions series such as Pitch, The Good Wife and Girls. She also has performed on Broadway, and has produced several films.
As a singer/songwriter, Wilson has released many albums, including AM/FM, Rita Wilson, Bigger Picture, and Halfway to Home.
In March 2019, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1883 debuted on Dec. 19 on Paramount+ and made history as the biggest new series premiere on cable since 2015’s Into The Badlands and The Walking Dead.
Nielsen reported that the premiere drew in 4.9 million total views in Live+Same Day, more than doubling the previous viewership record, and marking the biggest new series premiere on cable since 2015’s Into The Badlands and The Walking Dead.
“The results of 1883’s debut are truly phenomenal,” said Tanya Giles, Chief Programming Officer, ViacomCBS Streaming. “The day 1 streaming numbers coupled with the results of the linear sampling effort, and social response from our audience show the tremendous promise for this series.”
“The success of Taylor Sheridan’s 1883 is another proof point of our unique model to leverage our linear platforms and franchise our biggest hits to supercharge Paramount+,” added Chris McCarthy, President and CEO ViacomCBS Media Networks.

Created by Taylor Sheridan, 1883 features country superstars Tim McGraw and Faith Hill alongside cast mates Sam Elliot, Billy Bob Thornton, Isabel May, LaMonica Garrett, Audie Rick, Marc Rissmann, Eric Nelsen and James Landry Hébert.
According to a press release, “1883 follows the Dutton family as they embark on a journey west through the Great Plains toward the last bastion of untamed America. It is a stark retelling of Western expansion, and an intense study of one family fleeing poverty to seek a better future in America’s promised land — Montana.”
The next episode of 1883 premieres on Sunday, January 16.