Jen Richards Becomes CMT's First Openly Trans Actress Playing Trans Role

The country-music drama Nashville will welcome Jen Richards to the cast, who joins the CMT hit as the network's first openly transgender actor playing its first transgender character.

CMT announced Tuesday that Richards will play Allyson Del Lago, a physical therapist, in on the fifth season of Nashville, returning Jan. 5, 2017.

Related: Her Story Brings Determination & Clarity to Trans Representation On Screen

Richards is a co-writer, star, and producer on Her Story and will appear on CBS's Doubt, also featuring trans actress Laverne Cox.