In Episode 5 of Landman Season 2, as TL Norris adjusts to life at the M-Tex corporate crash pad in Midland, the old man is on the porch, doing that thing where he gazes into the middle distance. And well, the view around here is a little different than it was at his assisted living facility, because one of the first things TL sees is Shelby (Audrey McGraw). A friend of Ainsley Norris (Michelle Randolph) who lives next door to the Midland house, Shelby’s in her typical weekday outfit of a red bikini accessorized with margaritas, and she wants to know TL’s story.
“You got a cool voice,” Shelby says over the fence, equating TL Norris the character with Sam Elliott the living legend, and she even does a fun impersonation of his classic resonant tone. “Yeah, like the movie trailer guy. ‘Comin’ soon to a movie theater near you. Tom Cruise IS…The Falcon.’”
As the scene continues, Shelby learns a little more about TL, the grandpa next door, who once owned a Shelby Cobra, one of the world’s fastest sports cars. But what have we learned about Shelby? Who is Shelby on Landman? And for that matter, who is Audrey McGraw, who plays Shelby on Landman?
Well, first of all, Audrey McGraw has famous parents.
Audrey McGraw, who first appeared as Shelby in Landman during Season 1 of the Texas oil drama, is the daughter of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. And while Landman seems to be Audrey’s first professional acting credit, her famous parents are no strangers to the Sheridan-O-Verse. Landman creator Taylor Sheridan cast McGraw and Hill in 1883, his Yellowstone prequel, as James Dillard Dutton Margaret Dutton.
Audrey McGraw is also a singer.
And while Audrey’s acting career is just beginning, as you might imagine, the daughter of two Grammy-winning country singers is also a performer herself. Visit her Instagram for highlights of Audrey McGraw singing with Brandi Carlile.
And Shelby is also at the Pirate Dinner.
Audrey McGraw pops up again as Shelby later in Landman Season 2 Episode 5, when Angela’s big pirate-themed welcome dinner for TL is in full swing at the Midland house. We don’t know what else Taylor Sheridan has planned for Ainsley’s pal from next door. But whenever Shelby appears in Landman, good times usually follow.
Johnny Loftus (@johnnyloftus.bsky.social) is a Chicago-based writer. A veteran of the alternative weekly trenches, his work has also appeared in Entertainment Weekly, Pitchfork, The All Music Guide, and The Village Voice.
