Claim: Connie Britton played Vivien Harmon.

Constance Elaine Britton -LRB- née Womack ; born March 6 , 1967 -RRB- is an American actress , singer and producer .   Britton made her feature film debut in the independent comedy-drama film The Brothers McMullen -LRB- 1995 -RRB- , and the following year , she was cast as Nikki Faber on the ABC sitcom Spin City . She later starred in the short-lived sitcoms The Fighting Fitzgeralds -LRB- 2001 -RRB- and Lost at Home -LRB- 2003 -RRB- , and appeared in several films , most notably the sports drama film Friday Night Lights -LRB- 2004 -RRB- and the thriller film The Last Winter -LRB- 2006 -RRB- .   Britton received positive reviews from critics for her performance as Tami Taylor on the NBC/DirecTV drama series Friday Night Lights from 2006 to 2011 . For this role she was nominated for two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series . In 2011 , she starred as Vivien Harmon in the first season of FX horror-drama series American Horror Story , for which she was nominated for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie .   Britton starred as country singer Rayna Jaymes in the ABC/CMT musical drama series Nashville from 2012 to 2017 , for which she was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress -- Television Series Drama in 2012 . In 2014 , Britton was named UNDP Goodwill Ambassador . Britton next starred in the comedy-drama film This Is Where I Leave You -LRB- 2014 -RRB- , the drama film Me and Earl and the Dying Girl -LRB- 2015 -RRB- and the action comedy American Ultra -LRB- 2015 -RRB- . In 2016 , Britton had a recurring role as socialite Faye Resnick in the first season of FX true crime anthology series American Crime Story .