Aly Michalka’s ‘Hellcats’ character Marty Perkins has been searching for her father in recent episodes of the CW dramedy, and when it returns on April 19, she’ll discover she has a sister, tvguide.com is reporting. Marty’s sister, Deirde, who she meets at a record store their father used to frequent, will be played by Michalka’s real-life sister, AJ.

Marty doesn’t realize that Deirde is her sister when they first meet, as Deirde doesn’t tell her. But Deirde “can’t hold it in for much longer,” AJ told TVGuide. “When Marty finds out, it is a relief for Deirdre because that’s such a big thing in her life to know she has a sister.”

In real life, the two sisters also play together in the band 78Violent (formerly called Aly & AJ), and on-screen they cover Bob Dylan’s ‘Mississippi.’ “Our characters embrace each other the most when we’re playing, and that’s why ‘Mississippi’ plays such a poignant role in the episode,” AJ also said.

While Marty and Deidre are comfortable on-stage together, they don’t click as quickly emotionally. AJ added that “I don’t think they realize how much they’re alike or how much of a connection they (have).”

Written by: Karen Benardello

Aly Michalka