Darius Rucker is trading out country music for acting! While the South Carolina native isn’t actually giving up his music career, he is stepping away from it for a brief moment to appear in an upcoming episode of Big Sky: Deadly Trails, produced by 20th Television in association with A + E Studios.
Announced by ABC, Rucker will guest star in the series, playing the role of a man named Possum. According to the network, the Grand Ole Opry member’s character is that of a “hired gun who works at night like his nocturnal namesake.”
This isn’t Rucker’s first foray into the acting world. He has previously earned acting credits in movies like, Shallow Hal, Sandy Wexler, and Scooby-Doo! And Kiss: Rock and Roll Mystery, among others. Rucker has also appeared in various shows on the small screen throughout the years, and is even the star of his own show, Rucker’s Reno, featured on The Design Network.
The program follows the former frontman of Hootie & the Blowfish as he goes back to his home state to revive a historic mansion. The six-part series has Rucker and others taking on the restoration of a home one room at a time, while also visiting some of Charleston, South Carolina’s finest establishments.
Per Big Sky, Rucker is not the only music artist featured in the upcoming episode. He will star in the action thriller opposite Lyle Lovett. The “Same Beer Different Problem” singer will play the partner to the four-time Grammy winner’s humble cowboy character with a secret menacing side – a tracking expert who goes by the name of Tex. Meanwhile, Reba McEntire resumes her ongoing role as a backcountry outfitter named Sunny Barnes.
McEntire stars in the show alongside her real-life boyfriend, actor Rex Linn. The two portray a married couple who own a business called Sunny Day Excursions, with Linn playing the role of Buck Barnes, and the lovers say they are “having a blast” filming the show together.
McEntire and Rucker are no strangers to working together. The pair have a longstanding working relationship and friendship. In fact, in 2020, they co-hosted The 54th Annual CMA Awards.
During that same night, McEntire and Rucker took a break from their co-hosting roles to deliver a memorable duet on the Elvis Presley hit “In The Ghetto,” as tribute to Mac Davis – a country legend and three-time CMA Awards host. Awards shows aside, McEntire and Rucker have also shared the stage on numerous occasions
Given the title “Deadly Trails,” the new season of Big Sky follows the lives of private detective Cassie Dewell (Kylie Bunbury), undersheriff Jenny Hoyt (Katherine Winnick), and newly elected sheriff Beau Arlen (Jensen Ackles) as they put their investigative skills to work, observing activities and maintaining peace in Helena, Montana. But things go awry when Barnes leads a crew on a backcountry trip that turns into a terrifying mystery. The group finds themselves in a dangerous situation where every camper is seen as a suspect.
Big Sky: Deadly Trails, which premiered on ABC on Sept. 21, is executive produced by showrunner Elwood Reed with creator Kelly. CJ Box, as well as Gwyneth Hodder-Peyton, Paul McGuigan, Matthew Gross, and Ross Fineman.
