Kelly Rowland to Star in CBS Sports Comedy Special ‘Pickled’

Kelly Rowland will co-star in CBS’ two-hour sports comedy special, Pickled. 

The global star will join 15 other public figures — including Aisha Tyler, Jimmie Allen, Sugar Ray Leonard and Will Ferrell — for an amusing pickleball tournament. (Pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong, according to USA Pickleball.)

Rowland will play on Team Dink Floyd with Murray Bartlett.

Pickled airs Nov. 17 at 9 p.m. ET on CBS, and will stream on-demand on Paramount+. Stephen Colbert will host the competition, which will benefit the non-profit organization Comic Relief US.

“Ready to take on the competition for @comicrelief,” Rowland wrote on Twitter. 

Ready to take on the competition for @comicrelief. Get #PICKLED on November 17th on @CBS! pic.twitter.com/T8sfDsjaFQ

— KELENDRIA ROWLAND (@KELLYROWLAND) November 1, 2022

“If you love pickleball and you love celebrities and you love helping people, you’re going to love watching these celebrities help people by playing pickleball,” said Colbert, who also is producing the show with his company Spartina, Funny Or Die and CBS Studios.

“Funny Or Die is so proud to produce Pickled. Along with Stephen Colbert, CBS and our celebrity players, we all came together for two great causes: to support Comic Relief US and to add more articles about Pickleball to everyone’s newsfeed,” said Mike Farah, CEO of Funny Or Die.

Comic Relief US CEO Alison Moore added, “Comic Relief US is thrilled to be a part of this special entertainment event to support the millions of children and families living in poverty. Thank you to the amazing Stephen Colbert, Spartina, CBS, Funny Or Die and all of our celebrity friends who will now get to play Pickleball for a good cause!”

Rowland’s appearance in Pickled precedes her starring role in the Paramount+ original movie Fantasy Football, which premieres Nov. 25.

Marsai Martin and Omari Hardwick also have starring roles in the film. 

In Fantasy Football, Rowland plays Keisha Coleman, the mother of a 16-year-old Callie (played by Martin), who discovers she can control her NFL star dad Bobby Coleman (played by Hardwick) on the field through EA Sports Madden NFL 23.

In September, Rowland starred in the Netflix original movie, The Curse of Bridge Hollow, alongside Marlon Wayans and Priah Ferguson. 

Paramount+. Thousands of episodes, live TV & exclusive originals–all in one place. Try it free!