Nikki DeLoach and Kristoffer Polaha’s decades-long friendship has come full circle on the most iconic circle in country music. While filming their new movie, “A Grand Ole Opry Christmas,” the beloved Hallmark actors both felt the power of getting to reunite onscreen in such a historic place, DeLoach told EntertainmentNow ahead of the movie’s November 29 premiere.
The storied Grand Ole Opry circle is a round six-foot section from the original stage of the venue’s former home, Ryman Auditorium, and it’s where the best of the best in country music stand to perform each night. Filming there, as part of a star-studded cast of Hallmark talent and country music icons, was a moment in time that DeLoach said she and Polaha will never forget.
Nikki DeLoach Says She & Kristoffer Polaha Have a ‘Deep, Profound Respect’ for Each Other
HallmarkOne day during filming at the Opry, Polaha and DeLoach were mesmerized while listening to famed country artists jam backstage in one of the dressing rooms.
DeLoach recalled, “Kris looked at me, and both of us had tears in our eyes, and he said, ‘If we had to wait (all these) years to be able to work together, boy, did it pay off getting to do this movie. This was the one. This was the one.’ And it’s true, because the story of our characters in the movie, we play characters that were best friends since the time we were little, grew up next door to each other in Nashville. That is myself and Kris. You know, we’ve been the dearest of friends since 2004.”
DeLoach and Polaha first met filming the TV series “North Shore” and forged a close bond that’s lasted all these years. In honor their new movie’s premiere, Polaha posted a photo of them together and a beautiful tribute to their friendship.
“I’ve lived with his family at two different occasions in my life,” DeLoach told EntertainmentNow, noting how well she knows Polaha’s wife Julianne and their three boys. “I was, like, the third person to hold Caleb when he was born in the hospital in Hawaii, when we were working on North Shore together. I dog sat, for them while they were in the hospital! I also lived above their garage for months.”
Beyond staying at Polaha’s house, DeLoach said, “There’s a deep, profound respect that we have for each other. And you know, when we’ve experienced our own valleys in our careers, it’s kind of been one of the first calls that we’ve made to reach out to each other and to say, ‘Hey, man, I’m struggling.'”
“I mean, we’re both Christians, so that plays a big role in it, too,” she said. “Our faith and picking each other up and helping each other and encouraging each other. I’ve been one of his biggest fans for the longest time, and I just have so much respect for him as an artist. So (the new movie) was so much the story of who we are, obviously without the romantic love part of it, but there’s so much of the story of
who we are that was in the story of the Opry.”
Nikki DeLoach Says ‘Grand Ole Opry Christmas’ Project Has Been Full of ‘Miracles’
DeLoach said that she also felt the presence of her dad, whom she lost in 2021 to Pick’s Disease, and that Polaha felt it, too.
“There was so much of the story of my dad and me in the story between my character and her dad in the movie, and we just kept looking at each other, going white,” DeLoach told EntertainmentNow. “This is a situation where, literally, art is imitating life. I’ve never experienced anything quite like it in a creative project.”
She continued, “I just keep looking up at the skies and thanking my angels, my dad, my grandfather, God, and going, this is all you. I could not have dreamt up a more magical, mystical experience than what I experienced doing the movie with Kris and the Opry. There’s just so many miracles that came together for this movie. And the only way I can describe it is just ‘God.'”
“A Grand Ole Opry Christmas” premieres on November 29 at 8 p.m. Eastern time and will be available to stream via Hallmark+ the following day.
I didn’t get to see the beginning of the movie, but so far it’s really good. I like it a lot. I remembered that Mr Polaha was in another Christmas movie where characters go back in time to a famous place! Another God wink, I think!
I am so glad to read that Mr Polaha and Ms Delouch are Christians. I’m a Believer too. I look foreward to meeting you in Heaven.
This movie just took over me, even posted on FB after watching, Kris Polaha is so great in everything I’ve seen him in , I always try to find something he’s in , he just touches my heart! Knew he’d become a star, as he is so believable in whatever he ‘s in Hallmark has been lucky to have him
I just finished watching this movie. Kris and Nikki are marvelous. What a beautiful story! I am a big country music fan myself which made A Grand Ole Opry Christmas even more special for me. I have recorded this special movie to show to my friend this week. Thank you for the JOY this movie brings.
Huge fans of both of you. This movie has all the attributes of a classic keeper. Of course you have the Opry, and guest stars- but it was well written & and acted. Outside of the magical time travel it was so real. Loved it. Keep up the Faith
WOw…What a great movie!! You can tell they have a great connection!!!! This movie will stand the test of times!!!Pray they make more movies together!!! Merry Christmas and thank you for Hallmark!!!
This was the best movie so far this season. Love these two, they are so talented. Great movie!! I will watch this one again and again.
I loved seeing Nikki and Kris together at the Opry! Her character’s relationship with her dad reminded me of Nikki and her Dad! It was so wonderful. A great movie!
Absolutely best movie this holiday season. I will watch this again and again. Thank You!
What an Amazing Movie. I Loved every bit of this Movie. It brought tears to my eyes remembering my Dad. Such great Acting by Niki Deloach & Kris Polaha. 1,000 Stars to them Both.