Tim McGraw Reveals How He Took His Role in ‘Friday Night Lights’ from Another Musician

Tim McGraw is one of the biggest stars in modern country music. He has been making hits and performing for massive crowds for more than three decades. However, he’s more than an artist and songwriter. McGraw is also an accomplished actor. His roles include a lead in the hit TV show 1883 and major motion pictures like The Blind Side and Friday Night Lights.

Videos by American Songwriter

Recently, McGraw appeared on Tracy Lawrence’s podcast, TL’s Road House, to talk about his life and career. During the conversation, he talked about how his acting career started and how he took the role of Charles Billingsley in Friday Night Lights from another actor.

[RELATED: Tim McGraw Reveals Why He Was Reluctant to Start His Acting Career]

Tim McGraw Initially Passed on Friday Night Lights

Tim McGraw’s first acting role was in the 2004 independent film Black Cloud. He was reluctant to take that role. So, when he got the offer to be in Friday Night Lights, he blew it off. “That was one that I had the script forever sitting on my thing,” he recalled. He didn’t believe he was ready to take the first role. He definitely wasn’t ready to take on a second film. “Then, I read the script,” he said.

“I grew up in athletics around coaches and bad dads and all the stuff around the field. When I read the script, I was like. ‘I know that guy.’ So, I called to find out about the script and they said they’d already cast it,” he recalled. “I’m not gonna say who they cast. It was another musician from the pop world,” he added.

“Pete Berg, who directed it, didn’t know who I was from Adam. So, I tracked him down and said, ‘Just give me an audition.’ And he said, ‘Well, I’ve already cast it.’ I said, ‘Just let me try.’ So I flew down, on my own dime, to Texas,” he recalled. “They were just about to shoot. They had already hired the guy. I walked in and did the audition, and I totally told myself that I was going to get full-on into character. I walked in and did the audition and got nothing,” McGraw said. “No response, no good job, no nothing. I’m like, ‘Okay. I suck.’ So I left,” he added.

McGraw Gets the Role

Tim McGraw and Faith Hill had flown to Paris, France, to shoot a music video. “As soon as we walked into the hotel room in Paris, my phone was ringing,” he recalled. Billy Bob Thornton was on the other end of the line with exciting news. “I just heard from Pete Berg, and he said some country singer just came in and blew him away. It looks like you got the gig.”

Featured Image by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for ABA