This Is Us first look: Brian Tyree Henry plays young William's cousin

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The next episode of This Is Us is going to take a musical journey into the past — and Brian Tyree Henry to the stage.

The Atlanta star will guest in the Feb. 21 episode of the NBC dramedy as Ricky, the cousin of the younger version of William (Jermel Nakia). As you can see in the first-look image above, our story takes us to 1970s-era Memphis, where he plays bass and sings in a band with William. The episode also brings current-day William (Ron Cephas Jones) and Randall (Sterling K. Brown) to that music-rich city, so the terminally ill father can show his son where he came from.

“We meet my character Ricky in an episode that dives deeper into William’s past,” Henry tells EW. “Ricky is William’s cousin and a huge supporter of his artistic talent. At one point in their lives, they were in a band together, and through this episode, we see the evolution of their relationship.”

Henry, whose character will appear in multiple eras, calls his guest spot “an amazing ride,” which included the opportunity to act opposite his friend Brown. “Being a part of the This Is Us family was an absolutely unbelievable time,” he says. “I am honored to be a part of this story, which is constantly breaking hearts but mending them at the same time. And to share a screen with my brother, Sterling, was a dream fulfilled. I’ve waited for that moment for what feels like forever.”

The episode, titled “Memphis,” airs Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.

To read what This Is Us executive producer/director Ken Olin had to say about this past Tuesday’s episode, click here.