Ilse DeLange, artist and frontwoman of The Common Linnets, has been cast in CMT’s popular series Nashville.

Singer-songwriter, Eurovision 2014 runner-up, TV-host… and now Dutch artist Ilse DeLange of The Common Linnets may add another title to her resume: actress!

From the Netherlands to Nashville!

She has been cast for a role in the American series Nashville – very fitting for a country- and bluegrass artist.

Ilse is all set to appear in the sixth and final season of the show, appearing in a recurring role for at least four (possibly seven) episodes, both acting and singing.

With her role, Ilse DeLange follows in the footsteps of stars such as Christina Aguilera, Elton John and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, who appeared in the series.

Ilse DeLange will play Ilse de Witt, a coach on a talent show – which fits Ilse DeLange’s profile, as she actually was a coach on the popular show The Voice Of Holland!

The singer contacted the producers of the series herself, telling her story as a musician, which actually began in the city Nashville where she recorded her debut album World of hurt in 1998.

Keeping it in the group

She is not the only Common Linnet to be featured in Nashville, as Jake Etheridge (the only group member not to perform on stage at Eurovision 2014, due to commitments at home) will play a major recurring role in season six, starring as military veteran Sean, who suffers from PTSD yet also has a passion for music. Jake Etheridge also frequently writes songs for the show.

It is also not the first time that Ilse DeLange was featured in an American TV-series, as The Common Linnets provided the theme song for the show Wayward Pines.

Ilse DeLange revealed the big news yesterday evening in the TV-show De Wereld Draait Door:

Ilse DeLange will travel to the United States next week to film her parts. Sesaon 6 of Nashville is scheduled to debut on 4 January 2018 on CMT in the United States.

About Nashville

Nashville is a musical drama series, following the lives of various fictional country stars, most notably veteran Rayna Jaymes (played by Connie Britton, American Horror Story, 9-1-1) and young rising star Juliette Barnes (portrayed by Hayden Panettiere, Heroes, Kingdom Hearts).

The fame, fortune, conflicts, loves and lives of the characters and their struggle in the music business form the theme of the show.

Both the show and its actors have won numerous awards.

About Ilse DeLange

Ilse DeLange (born Ilse Annoeska de Lange, Almelo, 1977) is one of the most popular female artists of the Netherlands, both as a solo-artist and as frontwoman of her country initiative The Common Linnets.

In 2014 The Common Linnets, together with guest singer Waylon, represented the Netherlands at the Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Winning Semi-Final 1, they ultimately reached the honourable 2nd place in the Grand Final, receiving 238 points with their entry Calm after the storm.

Waylon decided to leave the group after Eurovision, focussing on his solo-career. He will return to the Eurovision stage, representing his country at the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal.

Calm after the storm became a huge hit across Europe and marked The Common Linnets’ international breakthrough.

Enjoy The Common Linnets performing Calm after the storm at the Grand Final of Eurovision 2014: