The Bobby Bones Show - Kathryn Kelly on Joining Yellowstone, Life on the Ranch, and Auditioning for Taylor Sheridan

Episode Date: February 6, 2025

Actress Kathryn Kelly, who plays Emily on Yellowstone, joins host Bobby Bones for an inside look at her journey into the Yellowstone universe. Kathryn shares the whirlwind experience of auditioning for Taylor Sheridan, the challenges of filming at the remote 6666 Ranch, and how she brought her character to life. She also opens up about life in Atlanta as a working actor, her love for Montana, and what it’s like to step into the world of one of TV’s biggest shows. Plus, a fun conversation about her rescue dog Juno and the unexpected friendships formed on set. Don’t miss this engaging and candid conversation with one of Yellowstone's fan-favorite stars!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Welcome back to the official Yellowstone podcast. Episode three. If you missed the first two, we had Governor Perry and Teeteran, also known as Wendy Mona's and Jen Landon, love talking with them. On this episode, we have Catherine Kelly,

who plays Emily on the show, The Vet for the Four Sixes, and then semi-spoiler eventually becomes Jimmy's wife. So she joined the show in season four, but she's also been on Nashville, the resident, a few other awesome shows. The coolest thing about Catherine was, even though she wasn't all the time on every single episode,

she was a big part of the show because it helped Jimmy develop and helped Jimmy be stable and put Jimmy on the right path. And we all love Jimmy. Loved talking with Catherine. Follow her on Instagram at Kat Kelly D. And keep up with her in her acting career. And here we go. Big thanks to Catherine Kelly.

Catherine, thank you very much for spending a few minutes with me. Of course. Thanks for having me. I would like, for people that are watching this, I would like an explanation for the Christmas tree behind you that looks like some of the Christmas has been taken away from it. What's happening back there? It has.

My daughter asked to keep the tree, and actually we were traveling a lot in December. So I was like, we didn't really get the use out of it. So I took the really Christmasy stuff down, and she was like, can we please have a Valentine's tree? So I put up like little ribbons and we're already Valentine's Day out. So will she turn it into a St. Patrick's tree, though? then does it continue?

It is a real tree. So like we're probably on our last limb soon. We're pushing it. It's pretty dry. Well, let's talk about Yellowstone for a second. I'm curious as to when, you know, you first get the, you know, maybe the email or the text going, hey, do you want to audition for this role? Was it an audition? How did the first communication happen regarding Yellowstone?

Yes, it was an audition. I actually hadn't watched the show at the time. My dad watched the show. So I called him because there's this thing, like back when I worked on the show Nashville, it was like, whatever show my dad is into, that's the show I will end up working on. So I called him and then I did the audition. I did the read and my manager at the time was like, that wasn't it. And I was like, I know that wasn't it. I got to do it again. So I turned back around in Atlanta traffic and then did it again. and then I think it was literally the next day that I heard back. And my agent called me and she was like,

Taylor Sheridan's about to call you. I was like, okay. So I quickly made a gin martini and went into my master closet because I've got a kiddo out here and was like, hey, what's up? When you say it wasn't it and you were in Atlanta, was the audition in Atlanta or did you shoot it and send it off? I was taping. I was taping with a friend.

And the friend that I had taped with, I felt a little rushed. I wasn't as prepared as I wanted to be. And I was like, and it was past the deadline. We were just like trying to get it in, you know? And I was like, I don't think we should send this either. So I called another friend and I ended up taping at like 10 p.m. It was really late. But I was like, this has got to be right because I felt I loved the script.

And I, yeah, I wanted to be a part of it, obviously. Do you live in Atlanta? I do, yes, yeah. Is it hard to be a working actor living in Atlanta when you have to constantly, if needed, fly to L.A. or fly to wherever they're shooting? Honestly, it's like everything's on location anyways. So I like it here.

My kiddos here, we've got great neighbors. Just like the way, how chill it is, it's nice to come home and it be so chill and kind of like fully eject. You know what I mean? and then otherwise we're just on set and fully into work. And obviously I'll fly out for meetings and stuff, but... That had always been what was not irritating for me,

but I was on American Idol for four years where I had done different sorts of shows, but I don't live in Los Angeles. And so I live in Nashville. And so it would be like, you need to have a meeting. And it's like, man, I got to fly all the way to freaking California to have a meeting, something that ain't going to happen. And so, you know, I just wondered as a working actor,

if that came into play, or now are most of the auditions, at least the preliminary ones, are you sending off tape of you just acting whatever role? Yeah, the first round is pretty much always tape. And then I kind of find now, too, I think it's pretty rare, which, you know, things are always shifting. But I'm pretty sure right now it's like pretty rare first round if they do offer in person that you're even going to be in person with the casting director. It's probably like an assistant taping.

for the casting director to see. So there's not a huge advantage. Whenever you do go in or like old school before COVID, I felt COVID actually changed a lot too. Like a lot of the meetings that I'll have a pre-limp, they're like, they don't even do in person. So that's like to tell me. Meaning I probably just didn't want me in person

because I wasn't good enough. But I still accept that and be like, okay. But they would say, we don't even want in person the first round. So we do a big Zoom and, you know, I talk to whomever about whatever game show or whatever they're talking to me about. And then you would go out, But if you go out now, is it that the idea of you go in and there's like all these people that

kind of look like you or that kind of could be the character and you're in a hallway with them? Did you ever have that experience? We're just like looking around and there's a lot of other versions of what they want to cast for that role? Oh, completely. And you've got to like psych yourself out. You're like, got to put the blinders on. I'd like have my headphones in.

I'm like, I'm just going to do my own thing. But yeah, that was mostly pre-COVID. And I was actually, like my dog's, like, having a time in his crate right now. Sorry. I have 100 dogs, so let it let it go. It's all good. Yeah. If I have him out, he's going to be like fully right here.

Yeah, I was out there for a pilot season right when COVID hit. And that was the most that I was in person, like, constantly. And even then it was taping and then you're driving in person, like within the same day. It was wild. But yeah, you're looking around. You're like, all right. So they know the type that they want. It's a bunch of us.

Cool. Whenever you're recording for an audition and you're sending the tape off, are you dressing a certain way per the character you're playing, or are you kind of given it straight? Kind of a mix. I don't try to go way too over the top, but I do want, you know, you want to feel like the character, right? And you don't want it to be like too modern day if it's a period piece.

I like to give like a little hint of it because I'm also not here in makeup. and I'm not going to have someone necessarily, like, helping me with all of that. But I do, like, get to lean towards that. And you chance you out on a white coat and, like, a stethoscope as you're additionally to be a veterinarian. Like, how did you do that? No, I had no, I actually did no makeup. I had no makeup on.

And I didn't do my hair. I just, like, let it dry. And I was wearing a flannel. And I think, like, a tank top underneath. Just, like, very, very, very casual. and actually during the first season that I was on, or half of it, I think, when we were filming in Texas for the first time at the four-sixes, I didn't have anyone doing my hair.

At all. It was at all. Then is it purposeful because they're going, you wouldn't have anyone doing your hair in real life if you were this character? I was fine with it. I did find the difficult. that I didn't think about, like, continuity and, like, we're filming in a barn right now. And, like, there's not necessarily a mirror. So I'd have to have, like, someone with costumes or something,

and especially during, like, a really emotional scene. I'm like, I don't know. I can't remember if I had this tucked or not tucked, you know, like, little things in my head's over here in acting world, you know? So that's where it became, like, a little difficult. But then we added a little movie magic and my hair gradually got better with the help of the hair department. When Taylor Sheridan calls you, was it from the first audition you sent or was it they wanted another? Like at what point in the process did he call you and offer you the job? It was so quick. It was from the first tape that we sent in.

And it was like, like I said, it was definitely within 48 hours. And so we found out that like, okay, this is happening. And then pretty soon, like, I think it was that night, I got a call from him. And I'm like, okay, this is casual. Hi. How are you? How the hell are you, Taylor Sheridan? How does he offer it to you?

What does he say? Do you want to the job? I had been, I think I already had like the offer, not like financially and stuff, like the contract, but like, okay, this is, you know, what we're looking at. He mostly was like, okay, like it was kind of like a warning call. He was like, okay, this is going to be pretty immersive. You know, like we do things very real and authentic.

and we're going to be in Texas, and it's in the middle of nowhere, and we're not going to have hair department there, you know, like all those stuff. And I was like, he's like, you down with that? And I'm like, yeah, I'm good with that. Like, that's fine. I can handle that. He's like, how you did your hair in the audition and makeup? Like, that was great.

And I'm like, cool, I did that. So sure. And how accurate was that once you got there? Was it exactly, as he said, it's just you're basically living there and doing it yourself? Oh, completely. I mean, like, even down to, you know, my character is a vet tech. The house that Jimmy and Emily, like, are in, Emily's house, that house is a vet tech and a cowboy's house.

They're married and have a baby. And, like, it is furnished by the four-six's ranch. And they live and work there. And, like, that's pretty much, there's a little set deck going on. But, like, it was mostly there how it is. Which is crazy. And then, like, getting up, we were staying in the four-six's house, like the big house. And when we would wake up, like, cowboys would be eating breakfast in the kitchen at, like, 4 a.m.

We'd all be just, like, chilling, eating, getting ready to go out. And I had no idea about any of that world, really, like, modern day. The ranch seems vast. It is obviously a massive ranch being there. what was it like? The first time, I wasn't fully prepared for like how far it is from every thing. It was pretty isolating because we were, we flew into, I think Amarillo, another time we flew into Lubbock. It's about an hour and a half of a drive from Lubbock, which Lubbock is not a big town.

And then in Guthrie, which is where the Sixthes is, it's pretty much. much, I can't remember what the population is. I want to say it's less than 200, but it is literally the families and people who work and live, like, their livelihood is the four-sixes. That's why they're there. And that's why there's a school there is for the kids of these families. Like, that's it. And the grocery store is an hour away. Walmart's an hour and a half away, closest Walmart. How long do you go away when you first go? How many days are you on set? I think that first one was actually, it wasn't that long. It felt really long because it was so remote. But we had gone from Montana. It was during COVID. So we actually had to be out there longer than, you know, because we had to stay in the bubble and everything. So I think that's why it felt like a long time because there was also so many days in between that normally we would get to travel home. And we just kind of had to stay in this bubble. But we were in Montana for, I want to say like, four weeks and then flew down to Texas for like two weeks, I believe it was.

When you take a role like that and it was, you were in season four and season five, did you know that would be the length of your role or was it, let's just see where it takes us next season? Because obviously you know what you're going to do in four, but do you know you'd be back in five? No, no. I hoped, obviously. And I knew that it had the potential for that, but I feel like also with Taylor, you never know, like someone could die or get killed off in a second.

You know, it's such a crazy show. But we did do like, that first time we filmed, it was so special because when we went down to the sixes, it was just Jefferson and I, cast-wise.

That's it. And it was like, it was a whole secondary crew. And Taylor was directing it. it was like this whole beautiful little mini movie. You know, it was like our scenes were put in to bits of the show, but we filmed all of that, like as if it was this little indie movie in Texas, you know.

That would be kind of cool to see by itself, like isolated as that project, like a side. Yeah. Because we saw it intertwined in the show as the story developed, but how that was shot as one piece, I feel like that would be a pretty cool thing, like, to put on Paramount Plus. Like, you know, just with Emily and Jimmy. Like, has that ever been talked about?

Have you ever thought about that? I mean, I feel like the four or six is like spin-off whole thing has been hinted at for like three years. And I could totally see that because it is just, it really is a different world. You know, it's different like modern day ranching than Montana. And Texas does have its own. you know, it's two different like subcultures. So it feels, just the whole feel of it is very different. And also like those characters, I love the way it's written.

It's written so well and so natural. And I feel like it's so relatable too. And it's also like one of the only like happy, mostly happy, you know, stories going on within the dramatic Yellowstone world. New characters on established shows are often tricky. Could be a massive success. Could be tough. Right. Like when Aaron shows up and she's the secretary,

you're like, I don't know about this. I love this show so much. And it ends up being awesome. Do you watch feedback, you know, after the first time you're on to see if like the Yellowstone crew, I mean, not the crew, but like the fans are like feeling you? I think it's hard not to see, you know, like on social media or whatever. I don't typically go like scrolling and deep dive.

but it's pretty apparent, pretty quick, whether majority is like, love them, love her for him, or they're like, fat, you know, whatever, not loving it. And also, though, you don't know how they're going to receive it. And also, like, I spoke to Taylor one time and he was, like, saying how, he had no idea how people were going to receive Beth. And in the beginning, like, they were like, he was too harsh, you know, and two, they didn't receive her very well. And then as the journey progressed, she became like the favorite, you know, one of the most loved. It's like, you never know. He's like, I really don't know sometimes when I write these characters, how they're going to love them or hate them.

Are there any written rules or unwritten rules about how much you can share from the script while you're shooting with like your friends or family or social media or is a total lockdown? It's pretty much total lockdown. Like I try to stay, like I try to know kind of what, obviously, like, they'll let us know like what is publicly released when it's released. And so then you're like, oh, okay, cool. Yes, we are doing that. Yes, that is happening. Or like, but before that, it's pretty tight-lipped.

I mean, this last season, though, like, I hardly knew anything. There was very little. I knew some, like, which characters weren't going to be there anymore because I knew how it wasn't working with. You know, things like that. But for the most part, I mean, our script was, I had it printed. I love to have my script printed out. And I like the tangible, like, paper, you know.

And at one point, they printed out some of my sides. And it was like, I had like four or five pages that were just like black redacted mostly. I was like, well, cool. They don't want you to read about the aliens. Like, Jimmy, the character, you were isolated. It was you too. down at the ranch. When you started working with the other actors, who was it that was super cool and super warm immediately? Jen Landon, for sure. Hasse's really warm as well. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah.

She's like, I've always said, I'm like, she's everyone's favorite person. I mean, like, of hair and makeup, other castmates, like, everyone just, like, you can't not like her. And she's so funny and she doesn't mean to be, which is the funniest part of. I feel like. Sometimes she means to be obviously in the show and stuff. But like, I mean, I can't even like look at her during a scene.

Like the first time we ever shot together, I was like, oh, God, I can't even look your way. Part of that too is her character was, it's a strong character. It's loud and it's funny.

It's supposed to be that. So I can see how not cracking would be difficult the first couple of times you do it. Right. Especially when she's like, I remember the first scene that I ever shot, was that fight scene with my character and Eden Brolin's character. And I like look over and Jen is standing at the table and has picked up a random bag of chips.

And like, this is not in the script. And she's just like watching. Like ridiculous. How are you at memorizing lines? Just in general. You have a pretty good memory and you can take it down or is that hard work? I mean, I have to like dial in for sure. But I typically will like read it, try to understand.

my character, what's going on, obviously. And then, but for me, I'm so like, I have to do it physically to know it, but then it's very quick for me. So like if I have someone running lines with me, I can get it really quick. But if I don't, like, I can't just like stare, stare, stare, stare.

that's not going to work for me. Or even like I can make myself think that I'm working with someone. Like I've taped them up. When I don't have someone, I'm like, I'll tape it up. on the wall and like do eye lines and like pretend there's people and then that can help me

but I have to like block it out as if someone else is saying the other thing. What did you do in Nashville as to show Nashville, not the city, but the same. I was like, oh, I love Nashville. What haven't I done in Nashville? No.

I, so I was on the show during the last season, the guy who played my husband on the show, he was a vet. not like a animal vet, but like, you know, a veteran. And he had like PTSD and he had a relationship with one of the main cast and like not a fair, but like, you know, emotionally like kind of needed her and whatever. And I couldn't help him. And he goes through a whole suicide thing.

Very like heavy, heavy stuff. But it was really fun to work on. Can you cry on cue if you need to? Sometimes. Is that a natural, just in general with actors? is that something you really have to work on or you either have that or you don't? I kind of found

I used to when I was younger and I was acting and it would say like, then cries. Oh God. And it really just like, like make me like have a block to it, you know? Like, oh God, because we're supposed to get there

because of this expectation after this line, tears have. You know, like that's mentally so crazy. But I let, bro. Sorry. Tell me about your dog, though. Like, what kind of dog? What's the deal here?

I'm a big dog guy. He's a little scrappy shelter guy. Sometimes I'm like, brother, your shelter is showing. Oh, come on. Like, I'm going to jump right in the chair. Like, he knows what's up. Yeah, completely. He's like little mostly, we think miniature schnauzer,

some terrier. I kind of think like some bird dog tendencies going on. Have you done? Which we did on our rescue. Have you done the, basically it's like 23 and me, but for dogs to find out what's all in them? I haven't, but I want to. We just got him in September for my daughter's 10th birthday. And his name's Juno, like Alaska, because we actually, during filming this summer,

when we were in Montana, we went to Canada, we went to Banff, we went to Nelson, British Columbia, and we also went to Alaska. We did a big Alaska and cruise with my family for my grandmother's birthday. So, Juno after one of the places we were at this summer. That's pretty cool. I love Juno. I'll give you two more questions before we go. What was your favorite part about just doing Yellowstone and being involved in the Yellowstone world?

Like I said, we started filming during COVID. So it's been four years. You know, it's been a long time. There were so many different spots of it that were like broken up. I do think this past summer was definitely, even though it was kind of left. for my character, you know, in the show, it was my favorite personally to film because it was like, it just felt so special with everyone. Like, we all knew that this may be the last time we're all in this room. This may be the last time we're all in this room, like, just so present with it. And it took,

I think, those couple years to really process emotionally, like, how special it is. to get to be a part of something so massive, like this phenomenon, like there's merch in Walmart, you know, there's hot sauces and like it's so well. And you're like, oh, that's my job.

Huh. So like this summer definitely. And then like also, it's funny because Montana's so beautiful. And I love being there so much. But. and like I miss Montana, but like it'll never be what it was when we were all there. Because it was like we'd finish up filming and we'd all go to the saloon and play pool

or we'd all, you know, now that saloon probably has four people in it. Not the 30 people that we all know. I don't know. It just, it really like hit me how special every moment was this summer. And to conclude the Yellowstone questions, I'm not saying anyone would come out of the woodwork to be like, I wasn't nice to you in high school, but now I'm like, oh, wow, Catherine's on TV. You're my best friend. I'm not saying that, but a version of that where maybe there were people that maybe you just kind of lost touch with, but you still liked, but that you hadn't heard from it a while.

And they would like see you and they go, I just freaking saw you on Yellowstone. Did that happen at all? Oh, all the time. Yeah. And at first I'm like, huh, like, you wouldn't be saying hate him the otherwise. And then you're like, you know, you were like, you didn't ask me to hang out before. for but you know it's like you're on people's minds and I think it comes from such a pure place you know people being like I'm proud to like I'm a part of that somehow through her that's fun thank you for hanging out you guys follow Catherine at cat Kelly D on Instagram and I will be doing that thing where I'm watching a show and hopefully in the future I'll see you in and I go I know her from something and then be like oh it's yellowstone yeah and you'll be like let's hang out

And bring Juno. That's it. Yes. Congratulations. Thank you. Brutum for you. I hope you have a ton of success and really appreciate the time today, Catherine. Thank you so much.

The Yellowstone official podcast hosted by me, Bobby Bones, and brought to you by IHeartMedia podcasts and MTV Entertainment Studios. Big shout out to executive producers, Jason Reed, Lindsay Hoffman, Carl Cato and Kevin O'Connell, also our senior manager of podcast marketing, Ali Kanner Graver, for keeping the it out. And of course, a big thanks to Will Pearson, president of IHeartMedia podcast for him supporting this show. We've also got special thanks going out to Whitney Baxter, Xavier Afrii, Barbara Parada, Emily Curry, and Joe Flattery. You guys make this happen. This podcast is produced in association with 101 Studios. Over there, executive producer Scott Stone, and director of

podcast development and production, Danielle Waxman. We also got to give a big nod to Michelle Newman, David Glasser, and David Hutkin for their support. Thank you guys for tuning in. See you next week. This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed human.