Yuma Sun

Editors’choice ‘My Kind of Country’: Apple TV+ competitio­n series seeks the next big thing in country music

- BY GEORGE DICKIE

Reese Witherspoo­n (left) and Kacey Musgraves are executive producers of “My Kind of Country,” premiering Friday on Apple TV+.

As a force in Hollywood, Reese Witherspoo­n has few peers.

As a prolific actress, she has a formidable list of films to her credit, including “Election,” “Wild,” Legally Blonde,““Water for Elephants,““Four Christmasa­s“and “Sweet Home Alabama.“And in 2006, she garnered a best actress Oscar for “Walk the Line,“in which as country singer June Carter Cash she proved she can also carry a tune.

But it’s in the TV arena where she’s currently making a name for herself as an executive producer, and through her production company Hello Sunshine she comes forth with another on Apple TV+.

In “My Kind of Country,” premiering Friday, March 24, she and country artist

Kacey Musgraves are among the producers of this eight-part competitio­n series that endeavors to break down barriers in country music by providing opportunit­y to diverse artists from around the world.

Here, scouts and country artists Jimmie Allen, Mickey Guyton and Orville Peck each hand-pick a roster of up-andcoming artists to invite to Nashville, Tenn., where they showcase their talents and sound. In the end, the winner will receive life-changing support from Apple Music and exposure on the platform.

It’s the latest in a growing list of TV shows Witherspoo­n has produced in recent years, joining the following.

“Big Little Lies” (2017-19, HBO): Witherspoo­n helped assemble an impressive cast including Nicole Kidman,

Shailene Woodley, Zoe Kravitz and Laura Dern for this tale of a murder investigat­ion involving a group of wellheeled wives in tony Monterey, Calif. A boatload of Emmys followed, including one for outstandin­g limited series. Witherspoo­n herself would get a lead actress nod.

“The Morning Show” (2019-21, Apple TV+): The culture behind a successful morning news show beset by sexual misconduct and COVID-19 is put under the microscope in this drama series that starred Witherspoo­n, Steve Carell and Jennifer Aniston as anchors. This series was also a favorite on the awards circuit with multiple Emmy nomination­s, including another lead actress nod for Witherspoo­n.

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