Inside Kelsea Ballerini’s Guest Appearance In The New Medical Drama, ‘Doctor Odyssey’

“I really hope that I did the character and the show proud,” she says.

By

Madeleine O’Connell

| Posted on

November 7, 2024

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1:25 pm

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Kelsea Ballerini; Photo by Disney/Frank Micelotta

Prior to the premiere of Ryan Murphy’s new medical drama, Doctor Odyssey, a trailer was unveiled and featured a few major teasers, including some of the epic guest stars that would appear in the first season. Several of these highly anticipated cameos includes country stars like Kelsea Ballerini, who will make her debut on the show tonight during episode 6 airing on ABC. 

Ballerini has entered a new chapter of life, and this opportunity to step out of her comfort zone and put her acting skills to the test fits perfectly into the journey of growth that she’s been embracing. Even though she had a big of nerves going into the experience, she had confidence in knowing that even if acting didn’t work out, music would always be there waiting for her return. 

“[Acting] was one of the things that I was like, ‘run toward the things that scare you,’” she said in an interview with Women’s Health. “What if I suck on TV? Then you know what I do? I’ll go put on my glitter and go back onstage. That’s always going to be home base.”

Margo Martindale, Kelsea Ballerini; Photo by Disney/Tina Thorpe
Margo Martindale, Kelsea Ballerini; Photo by Disney/Tina Thorpe

Each week, viewers see the show’s team of medical professionals, Dr. Max Bankman (played by Joshua Jackson), Avery Morgan (played by Phillipa Soo), and Nurse Tristan Silva (played by Sean Teale) come together to navigate some unique and often chaotic medical crises on the luxury cruise ship. While they put their skills to work, the ship’s trusty Captain Robert Massey (played by Don Johnson) is responsible for making sure each trip runs smoothly for both his guests and his staff members, who tend to get distracted by some personal dramas from time to time. 

In tonight’s episode of Doctor Odyssey, the “Sorry Mom” singer will board the ship that she and her wealthy family chartered for a weeklong wedding cruise. The trip that was supposed to be the perfect setting for a celebration suddenly turns into chaos as Ballerini’s character becomes a “bridezilla” who falls ill, making for the opposite of an elegant and romantic journey. Even with all the havoc on deck, the medical crew still finds themselves in a situation of their own involving the temptations of love and lust.

Doctor Odyssey is Ballerini’s first big step into the world of acting, but she has been in front of the camera before as she previously had a guest spot in Nashville in 2016. Regardless, this experience was certainly unfamiliar so in order to prepare the best she could, the Tennessee native explained to PEOPLE that she “asked a lot of questions” and in the process learned “so much.” 

“I really hope that I did the character and the show proud,” she said. 

Kelsea Ballerini; Photo by Disney/Tina Thorpe
Kelsea Ballerini; Photo by Disney/Tina Thorpe

Luckily, she also had the guidance from her boyfriend Chase Stokes, who has had plenty of experience in front of the camera thanks to his starring role in the show Outer Banks

“I’ve always called acting his world, and so whenever I was asking him questions about this opportunity, I was like, ‘What about this in your world?’” she said. “And he was like, ‘Hey, it’s just a world. I’m a part of it and now you’re a part of it. It’s not my world.’”

She continued, “By the end of the conversation, I was like, ‘OK, so you’ll run the scene with me?’ And he was like, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’”

Kelsea Ballerini; Photo by Disney/Tina Thorpe
Kelsea Ballerini; Photo by Disney/Tina Thorpe

Ballerini isn’t the only country star who has made an appearance on the new show. In an earlier episode, Shania Twain also boarded the ship and brought a bit of glamour and romance of her own to the scene. Other guest stars this season include John StamosCheyenne JacksonChord Overstreet and Gina Gershon.

Fans can tune into Doctor Odyssey tonight at 9 p.m. ET on ABC to see what will unfold for Kelsea Ballerini’s distressed character. 

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Madeleine O’Connell graduated from North Central College with a bachelors degree in Journalism and Broadcast Communications before deciding to pursue her studies further at DePaul University. There, she earned her masters degree in Digital Communication & Media Arts. O’Connell served as a freelance writer for over two years while also interning with the Academy of Country Music, SiriusXM and Circle Media and assisting with Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly podcast. In addition to Country Now, she has been published in American Songwriter, Music Mayhem, and Holler.Country. Madeleine O’Connell is a member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.