Marietta resident Kathryn Kelly was thrilled to be part of Paramount’s powerhouse drama “Yellowstone” as sassy Texas vet technician Emily, who ended up getting engaged to ranch hand Jimmy.
During season five, she became a regular cast member and appeared in the final two episodes, which concluded this past Sunday. It’s unclear whether Taylor Sheridan will continue “Yellowstone” in its current incarnation or focus on offshoots. She has no idea if Sheridan will call her again or bring back her character.
“There’s definitely room for Emily and Jimmy to come back or to explore their story in a spinoff,” Kelly said in an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Selfishly, I’d love to see that happen!”
But she said the experience to date has been incredible.
“It’s something I am still digesting even four years in,” Kelly said. “It’s so super cool to walk in Walmart and there’s a whole section for ‘Yellowstone.’ I drop my kid off at school and someone is in a Dutton ranch T-shirt. This is wild! People love it. It’s part of their lives.”
Credit: PARAM
Credit: PARAM
Her character Emily effectively tamed wild child Jimmy (Jefferson White), who was sent from Montana (where most of the show is set) to Texas, a move John Dutton felt was necessary to help Jimmy mature.
“I just really connected with her,” she said. “She’s witty. She’s straight to the punch. She’s not afraid to get her hands dirty.”
To prepare for her role, Kelly spent time learning how to ride horses: “I can turn a barrel, weave and all this stuff. Maybe not on every horse but I know the patterns. I know the clover!”
Her season four scenes with White were shot at Four Sixes ranch near Lubbock, Texas, which Sheridan purchased in 2022. Her character actually lived in the real vet tech’s home.
“This is a legendary ranch,” she said. “We got the full experience. If we had a call time at 6 a.m. I’d go down to the kitchen. The woman who cooks for the cowboys was already there and I had breakfast with the actual workers. It’s crazy.”
The show’s popularity and Kevin Costner’s departure led Sheridan to shroud season five in secrecy. Kelly received scripts that were full of black marks redacting most of what was going that was not related to her character.
“It was frustrating,” she said. “There’s a unity there when we all know what’s happening. But given how big the show is, he had to take these steps.”
She said she found out her character was returning to Montana for the penultimate season episode that aired Dec. 8 on very short notice. She ended up spending six weeks this past summer shooting on the main set. During that episode, Emily attends an auction to help save the Dutton ranch following John Dutton’s surprise death.
“I think it was a time for all of us to be together and support each other through this tragedy,” Kelly said. “It was so nice to get back to everyone personally.”
For the final scenes this past Sunday, Kelly said she was suffering from a painful ear infection and could barely hear anything. “During a group scene, I had to kind of read lips,” she said.
She enjoyed watching the season finale. “What stood out to me was how beautiful and peaceful the ending felt, which is rare for ‘Yellowstone,’” she said in a follow-up text. “It felt like it could be a satisfying conclusion, but there’s still plenty of room for expansion.”
Kelly, who has a 10-year-old daughter, has lived in the Marietta area her entire life and graduated Harrison High School, where she got into musical theater. She hired an agent, took acting classes and got roles in “The Originals,” “Nashville” and “Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings” before landing on “Yellowstone.”
“I’m back in this crazy auditioning world,” she said. “I don’t know what’s next, but I’m excited not knowing what’s around the corner. I’m had some fun auditions lately. You never know what’s going to happen in this world with Taylor. I could get a call and we’re going back!”
IF YOU WATCH
“Yellowstone,” available on demand. Peacock has season 3, 4 and the first half of 5.
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