Melissa Gilbert Guest Stars on Hallmark’s ‘When Calls The Heart’

Melissa Gilbert will guest star in a two-part story arc in Season 12 of the long-running series When the heart calls, is scheduled to premiere on Hallmark Channel next year. The news was shared with those gathered at the show’s annual Hearties Family Reunion fan event in Vancouver, Canada.

Gilbert will play Georgie McGill, who “shares a surprising past with a special Hope Valley resident,” according to the announcement description. The opportunity to join the series came about through executive producer Michael Landon Jr., who reached out to the veteran actress at the Little House on the Prairie 50th Anniversary Cast Reunion and Festival held earlier this year. The two shared the news during a panel discussion on stage at the Hearties Family Reunion.

“When the heart calls has long drawn comparisons with Little House on the Prairie“For his charming and compelling stories of hope, human connection and survival on the frontier,” said Kelly Garrett, vice president of Hallmark Media programming. “It was only fitting that the first people to hear this special news were the Hearties — dedicated fans who have celebrated the show year after year and made it such a success. The energy to be here with them to share this news is electric and we can’t wait for them to meet Georgie next year.”

Gilbert is best known for her role as Laura Ingalls on NBC’s Emmy-winning family series Little House on the Prairie. The Emmy-nominated performer is also a former president of the Screen Actors Guild, launched the lifestyle brand Modern Prairie and is a New York Times bestselling author. Her other credits include The miracle worker (for which she received an Emmy nomination), Sweet justice (opposite Cicely Tyson) and Secrets and liesan ABC drama starring Ryan Phillippe, Juliette Lewis and Michael Ealy.

Beloved as Hallmark’s longest-running original series, When the heart calls Season 12 will consist of 12 episodes and will air in 2025. News of the renewal came during the release of Season 11 of the show, which followed the residents of Hope Valley as they entered their 20s. The plot revolved around schoolteacher Elizabeth Thornton (Erin Krakow), who was starting over — with new romance, new challenges, and a new style. She and Mountie Nathan Grant (Kevin McGarry) navigated their growing romantic feelings while also leaning on each other as they faced obstacles in their upbringing. Rounding out the cast were Chris McNally, Jack Wagner, and Pascale Hutton.

Season 11 of this romantic costume drama is the most-watched entertainment series on cable television to date among households, total viewers, and women over 18.