The star of the acclaimed TV series Little House on the Prairie will appear on Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart. Actress Melissa Gilbert will join the cast of WCTH in Season 12 for a two-episode story arc, according to Hallmark Media.
The announcement was made at the Hearties Family Reunion, a fan event held every year at the show’s British Columbia set.
“When Calls the Heart has long drawn comparisons to Little House on the Prairie, for its charming and compelling stories of hope, human connection and frontier survival,” said Kelly Garrett, VP of programming at Hallmark Media. “It was only fitting that the first people to hear this special news were the Hearties – devoted fans who have celebrated the show year after year and made it such a success. The energy being here with them to share this news is electric and we cannot wait for them to meet Georgie next year.”
Little House star
Melissa Gilbert will play a character named Georgie McGill. Though Hallmark did not reveal much about the character, Gilbert said that the majority of her scenes will be “with Jack.” Fans are speculating that she means Jack Wagner, who plays Bill Avery on the show.
When Calls the Heart is produced by Michael Landon Jr., whose father both produced and starred in Little House on the Prairie, which aired for nine seasons on NBC.
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Fans react
According to Hallmark, the idea for Melissa Gilbert to do a guest appearance on When Calls the Heart came about when she and Landon caught up at the Little House on the Prairie 50th Anniversary Reunion and Festival in March 2024. The three-day event was held in Simi Valley, California, where the show was filmed.
When Calls the Heart star Erin Krakow shared the news in a social media post.
“Just a couple of prairie girls!” she wrote in the caption. “Grateful and honored @melissagilbertofficial has joined us in Hope Valley! Total pro, so down to earth, sweet as pie — and fun at parties.”
Fans responded with enthusiasm.
“Little House on the Prairie instilled in me a love for historical romance,” wrote one Heartie. “This is beyond amazing to have my favorite childhood show collide with When Calls the Heart.”
“My mind is still blown!” wrote another. “I love this, my 2 favorite shows, 2 favorite prairie girls! So exciting.”
Hallmark has not yet given a release date for Season 12 of When Calls the Heart. We will update this story as more information becomes available.
