move, Nashville. There’s another country music drama on the TV scene. The action takes place in Texas, at Fox Monarch has a premiere date this fall after Fox’s NFL football doubleheader.
The show is part of the network’s commitment to having music shows in its lineup, so fans can expect some new music releases periodically during the show.
Kingdom Trouble in Monarch
Set in Texas, Monarch follows Albie Roman and his wife Dottie Cantrell Roman as the king and queen of country music. Both are extremely talented singers in their own right. Together they created a dynasty based on the authenticity of their brand.
But the Roman Empire is on the verge of collapse. Albi is a legend, but he hasn’t had a hit in 10 years and his fans are disappearing. Queen Dottie announces her retirement, despite repeatedly telling Princess Nicolette (Nicky) that she will never be queen.
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Nikki begs her mom for a chance to perform. Luke ran the business side of things. Meanwhile, Dottie says Gigi is the wild card, even though Albie just wants his little girl to be her person, even if it means not following in her parents’ footsteps in the family business.
Meet the stars of ‘Monarch’
Get ready for music from the entire cast. Country music legend Trace Adkins stars as Albie Roman, the family patriarch. The singer-songwriter and actor brings an instant spirit to the show. He covers Hank Williams Jr.’s “A Country Boy Can Survive” to open the set. Adkins told Taste of Country:
“Having the opportunity to record such an iconic song was both exciting and terrifying. I wanted to honor the original version while at the same time giving it my own twist.”
Playing his wife, Dottie, is Susan Sarandon, another legend bringing her style to the small screen. She puts her boldness into the role of family matriarch at the top of her game, until some circumstances force her to change her mind and pass on the family legacy. Yes, the actor can sing. I’m watching The Rocky Horror Show sometimes for proof.
The incredibly talented Anna Friel plays Nicolette, the daughter who is so desperate to pass on the family legacy and tries so hard to earn a place on stage (but surprise, one of her other siblings does too!)
Friel kills the role as you can’t tell she grew up in England with British parents. The actor was a lovely Hermia in one of his first film projects Dream in a summer night in 1999, alongside Hollywood heavyweights and a young Christian Bale. She is well known for Pressing daisies.
Joshua Sasse is Luke. Also British (and again a great actor), Sasse shot to fame in 2012’s big-budget horror film. Frankenstein’s Army before landing roles in the TV series A crookfollowed by Galavant.
Sasse became known to American audiences on the CW Not tomorrow, lasting only one season. Beth Ditto rounds out the main cast as Gigi Roman, who steals the spotlight from older sister Nikki.
A fantastic singer in her own right, she was the lead singer of the band Gossip from 1999 to 2016 before embarking on a solo singing and modeling career. Before MonarchDitto was seen in Don’t worry, he won’t get there on foot in 2018 and Becoming God in Central Florida (starring Kirsten Dunst) a year later.
Is ‘Monarch’ based on a true story?
Nashville was (though the cast told Entertainment Weekly otherwise) eerily similar to Taylor Swift’s personality and life.
Well Monarch following this tradition? Not specifically, no. However, it may be based on the life of Hank Williams Jr. Not only is the country legend the son of a country legend, but four of Williams’ five children have also pursued music careers, according to Wide Open Country.
The plot of Monarch it could also come from the lives of Johnny Cash and his wife June Carter Cash. Both were powerful musicians who ruled country music for three decades. Wide Open Country states that Johnny Cash had four children with Vivian Liberto.
Roseanne and Cindy were into music. Johnny’s only son, John Carter Cash, followed in his parents’ footsteps with a music career of his own, creating three Johnny Cash children, two daughters and a son, who are part of the family business.
Sound familiar?
Monarch premieres on September 11, 2022, after a nine-month delay on Fox following an NFL football doubleheader, TV Insider notes.
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