NASHVILLE, Tennessee– Music Spotlight artist Grace Leer made her acting debut in a Blake Shelton-produced new Hallmark Movie, Time For Her To Come Home For Christmas. Leer costars alongside Shenae Grimes-Beech and Chris Carmack in a holiday romance mystery that is airing during Hallmark’s annual “Miracles of Christmas” programming event.
To many, the words “Hallmark Movie” and “Blake Shelton” don’t appear to belong together, but this movie is the sixth installment of the popular movie franchise based upon the book Time for Me to Come Home by Dorothy Shackleford and Travis Thrasher and Shelton’s song of the same name. Leer performs Shelton’s hit “Time for Me to Come Home” in the movie as well.
In addition to her acting debut, Leer’s newest holiday single, “Star on Top Of The Tree,” is featured prominently at the beginning of the movie.
I knew something was up when Leer started promoting her new Christmas song in October. Very few artists ever premiere their holiday music before Halloween. Earlier this year, she went to Vancouver to make the movie.
She said, “I have always wanted to lean into acting. I took acting classes in college, and I’ve taken them here in Nashville, too.”
When she made music videos (such as the fan-favorite video “The One”), she and her director always saw them more like short stories. Acting was in her blood as part of the storytelling of the song. Hallmark was looking for an actor who could sing, and Leer fit the bill perfectly.
After she came back from the filming, she wrote “Star on Top Of The Tree.” The producers liked it so much they included it in the movie.
In Time For Her To Come Home For Christmas, Leer plays Riley Wheeler, the younger sister of Matthew Wheeler, who is played by Chris Carmack.
She said, “I was blown away when I was told that he was going to play my older brother because I was such a fan of Chris in the show Nashville. And to act alongside Shenae Grimes who has been around for so long, and she’s just such an incredibly talented actress.”
Leer continued, “I am grateful and honored to just be a part of this film and not only act in it but to have a song that I wrote included. And to be able to perform Blake Shelton’s song, “Time for Me to Come Home” in the movie as well. It just couldn’t have been a better fit. I’m just very grateful to Hallmark for giving me that opportunity and taking me in with such open arms as a first-time actress, with my first time on a movie set. This movie is exactly what Christmas is about and I cannot wait for fans to see it.”
Not only is Leer a gifted singer, songwriter, and actress, she is an awesome cook as well. In addition to releasing her debut self-titled EP last year, she has also released her debut digital cookbook, “Taste With Grace,” which people can download for free on her merch page.
Besides starring in her first movie this year, Leer recently made her CMA red carpet debut.
You can follow Grace Leer on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), YouTube, TikTok, and all streaming platforms.
– – –
Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer. You can follow her blog, Instagram, Threads, and X (Twitter).
