‘This Is Us’ Star Tours Sarasota's Mote Aquarium Friday Morning

SARASOTA, FL — Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium had a famous visitor Friday morning.

Actress and singer Chrissy Metz toured the aquarium with her family, Mote shared to its Facebook page.

The “This Is Us” star and EMI Nashville singer got to see different areas of the aquarium up close and personal.

“From hanging out with hatchlings, to feeding otters, visiting with our shark scientist and even checking in on our sea turtle patients in Mote’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital, a FINtastic time was had by all,” Mote wrote.

A Florida native, Metz was born in the Miami suburb of Homestead, though she spent much of her childhood in Japan, according to Glamour. She later moved to Gainesville, where she lived in poverty with her mother and stepfather.

Despite her difficult youth, she still loves visiting the Sunshine State, where she maintains many connections, as an adult.

"I really, really enjoy coming to Florida," she told the Tampa Bay Times in 2018. "I come for every holiday. I was there for Thanksgiving and we went to one of the Gator games. I still have a lot of friends and family there."