Naman Shrestha
Co-written and directed by Haylie Duff, Lifetime’s ‘Where the Heart Lands’ is a romantic drama movie that follows a Kentucky-based horse trainer named Charlie, who aspires to win a big horse race and compete in the Kentucky Derby. Her aspirations are threatened by the arrival of a charming real estate lawyer from Los Angeles, Nick, who inherits several properties, including stables and racehorses in rural Kentucky, after his Aunt Grace tragically passes away. He travels to Kentucky to sell the horses, which clashes with Charlie’s desire to save the farm.
When the two cross paths, Nick’s perspective shifts after seeing Charlie’s deep love for the animals. Soon, sparks begin to fly between them as Charlie teaches Nick to appreciate the beauty of a slower life and farm business in the countryside. Now, the lawyer must decide between his luxurious life in LA and a simpler life filled with happiness and love. The tale of romance unfolds in the lush green region known as The Bluegrass, where Nick and Charlie form a lifelong bond.
Where Was Where the Heart Lands Filmed?
‘Where the Heart Lands’ was filmed in its entirety in Kentucky, particularly in Lexington and Paris, adding a layer of authenticity to the narrative as it is also set in rural Kentucky. From what we can tell, principal photography for the romantic movie commenced in late April 2025 under the working title ‘Win, Place, Love’ and wrapped up after more than two weeks in the third week of May of the same year. Jana Kramer shared a few words of appreciation for her fellow cast and crew members, especially the director Haylie Duff. She stated, “…This whole cast and crew were absolutely incredible …always so hard to leave but so blessed to have had this experience. Thank you @haylieduff for not only your vision but your belief in me to bring it to life. You are the magic in this project and you’re such a talented human. Being directed by you made me better and you truly made this movie magical so thank you for that.”
Lexington, Kentucky
A significant chunk of ‘Where the Heart Lands’ was lensed in the consolidated city of Lexington, the county seat of Kentucky’s Fayette County. The filming unit reportedly set up camp in LEX Studios at 425 Codell Drive, which is deemed the largest film and production facility in Kentucky. Spread across over 50,000 square feet, the film studio is home to three different sound stages, conference rooms, production offices, green rooms, a communal break room, and more. It also offers various sets, including an office reception, a cop shop, interrogation rooms, and a courtroom.
The cast and crew members also took over the Keeneland Race Course at 4201 Versailles Road in Lexington to shoot the horse racing sequences for the Lifetime production. Over the years, Lexington has also hosted the production of other movies and TV shows. Some of the notable ones include ‘On the Road,’ ‘In Country,’ ‘The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come,’ ‘Home in Indiana,’ ‘Healing the Stupid,’ and ‘Girl/Girl Scene.’
Paris, Kentucky
For the purpose of shooting, the production team of ‘Where the Heart Lands’ also traveled to the home rule–class city of Paris, located in Bourbon County. Featuring numerous racehorses, the farm and stable scenes were taped at the Hillcroft Farm, set in the heart of the Bluegrass. Situated at 238 Tarr Road, the gem of the Bluegrass maintains the traditions of the scenic countryside, akin to the themes of the Haylie Duff directorial.
Where the Heart Lands Cast Details
The cast of ‘Where the Heart Lands’ is led by Jana Kramer and Tyler Johnson, who help bring the narrative to life through their chemistry-filled performances. Apart from being a talented actor, the former has also served as an executive producer for quite a few projects, including ‘The Holiday Fix Up,’ ‘Steppin’ Into the Holiday,’ and ‘Gaslit by My Husband: The Morgan Metzer Story.’ As for Tyler, he has been nominated multiple times for various awards, including the Soap Hub Awards, Independent Short Awards, The Monkey Bread Tree Film Awards, and more.
Jana Kramer as Charlie
In the Lifetime production, Jana Kramer essays the role of Charlie, the female horse trainer. The ‘Spring Breakdown’ fame actor has plenty of TV shows to her credit, including ‘One Tree Hill,’ where she portrays Alex Dupre; ‘Entourage,’ where she plays Brooke Manning; and ‘Friday Night Lights,’ where she stars as Noelle Davenport. She also appears in numerous movies, including ‘The Christmas Ring,’ ‘Soccer Mom Madam,’ ‘Kidnapped by a Killer: The Heather Robinson Story,’ and ‘A Cowboy Christmas Romance.’
Tyler Johnson as Nick
Tyler Johnson dons the garb of Nick, the real estate lawyer and Charlie’s romantic interest, in ‘Where the Heart Lands.’ Hailing from Washington, DC, Tyler is widely recognized for his role of Theo Vanderway in ‘The Young and the Restless,’ Noah Carter in ‘What Goes On,’ and Chance in ‘Across the Room.’ His other film and TV credits include the likes of ‘Falling for the Manny,’ ‘Psycho Stripper,’ ‘The Haunting of Sharon Tate,’ ‘Sons of Thunder,’ and ‘Chasing Life.’
Furthermore, the romantic movie also features John Schneider as Chuck, Charlene Tilton as Susie, and Alex Barone as Chet. You are also likely to spot other talented actors in supporting roles, including Jessica Szohr as Raquel, Tarek Zohdy as Hudson, Derrick D. Edmond as Julio, Connor Perry as Tina, Mike Dirksen as Mr. Foxworth, Jordan Gray Burgess as Sandra, and Anitra Mecadon as Susie’s Friend.
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