Jill Wagner just flipped the script on winter. Six days after the Lioness season 2 finale, she opened her Tennessee farm for a two night holiday gathering, then lined up a Christmas special that pulls viewers right into her living room. The message is clear. She can carry a tactical drama, then guide a family through cocoa, carols, and candlelight. I watched both worlds collide this week, and it was electric.
From tactical grit to candlelight calm
On December 8, the Lioness season 2 finale put Wagner’s character, Bobby, under high heat. She brings a steel edge to the role, and she also serves as an executive producer. That double duty shows. The action feels grounded, and the character work runs deep.
Yet away from the set, she is building a different story. At home in Tellico Plains, she restored the 1912 Scott Mansion with care and patience. She homeschools her children. She keeps the tech load light. You can feel the reset in every room, every fence line, every fire pit.
A weekend on the farm, up close
I walked the gravel path at her Merry Movie Night on December 13 and 14. Hayrides circled the pasture. Steam rose from cups of cocoa. Kids leaned into s’mores, then into a singalong. A fir tree blinked to life as the crowd counted down. Wagner kept the mic time short, then moved through the guests like a neighbor, not a headliner. The scene was simple and warm, which felt like the point.
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Her next invitation is set for the screen. Christmas on the Farm with Jill Wagner and Family airs December 23 on Great American Family. Expect porch light, baking, and the gentle pace of a home that breathes. It is not a set. It is her real table, her real barn, her real December.
Host your own backyard movie night. Hang a white sheet, run a small projector, set lawn chairs, and light a safe fire pit. Keep the snack bar simple. Cocoa, popcorn, and one cookie type is enough.
Borrow her rhythm for your winter hobbies
Wagner’s routine offers a clear blueprint for hobby joy. You do not need acres. You need intention. Start with small, repeatable rituals that slow the day and feed the senses.
- Try a nightly lantern walk, ten quiet minutes after dinner
- Restore one piece of wood furniture, sand, oil, and enjoy the grain
- Plan a one pot Sunday supper, bake bread if you can
- Keep a nature notebook with your kids, sketch one leaf a week
Set one low tech hour each night. Phones in a bowl, music on a speaker, hands in a task. The room changes. You change with it.
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Training that bridges the barn and the briefing room
Lioness demands physical focus. Wagner has carried that into real life chores. You can borrow the concept without stunt gear. Functional work builds strength and calm.
- Take a ruck walk, 30 minutes with a light backpack
- Do a barn style circuit, carry a bucket, drag a sled, stack wood
- Finish with breath work, four seconds in, six seconds out, five rounds
These moves steady the mind, which makes family time richer. They also make holiday treats taste better, because you earned them.
The quiet choice behind the scenes
In late September, Wagner stepped back from social media by choice. She said she needed to shield her home from noise and give more of herself to family and faith. The farm reflected that choice this weekend. No one stared at screens. People looked at sky, firelight, and each other. It felt oddly new, and very old.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When is Jill Wagner’s holiday special airing?
A: December 23. The special is titled Christmas on the Farm with Jill Wagner and Family on Great American Family.
Q: What happened at Merry Movie Night on the farm?
A: Guests enjoyed hayrides, hot cocoa, s’mores, a tree lighting, and a friendly chat with Wagner.
Q: Where does Jill Wagner live now?
A: On the restored 1912 Scott Mansion property in Tellico Plains, Tennessee.
Q: What is her role on Lioness?
A: She stars as Bobby and also serves as an executive producer.
Q: How can I adopt her slow living approach?
A: Set a daily low tech window, add simple crafts or cooking, and create one weekly outdoor ritual.
Conclusion
Jill Wagner is writing a rare winter script. On screen, she closes a high tension season. At home, she opens her gates and shares a slower way to live. The contrast is the headline, but the craft is the news. Strong work, warm spirit, one intentional choice at a time.
