Vanessa Williams on her return to TV and Miss America pageant

Grammy-nominated singer Vanessa Williams has also conquered the big screen in movies like "Eraser" and "Soul Food." On TV, she co-starred in "Ugly Betty" and "Desperate Housewives."

She is also making her debut on CBS' hit series, "The Good Wife," starring as Courtney Paige, a wealthy businesswoman and potential donor to Peter Florrick's presidential campaign.

"It's kind of the first time that Eli Gold has somebody who kind of disarms him, so it's a multiple episode arc that I'm doing and it's nice to see Eli kind of get unraveled and a lot of people who have worked with him for years love seeing that part of him," Williams said of the upcoming episode on "CBS This Morning" Thursday.

Williams said she based her new gig off of real-life CBS News financial contributor Mellody Hobson, even watching her "Ted" talk for inspiration on how to play the role of a successful businesswoman.

"I didn't want to do an impression because I didn't want to emulate her speaking... but I wanted to get her power and sense of her," Williams said.

Williams also said she felt "at home" as the latest cast member for the hit series, because of her work with several costars and directors in the past.

Williams entered the spotlight in 1983, when she made history as the first black person to be crowned Miss America. But she was forced to resign when nude photos of her were made public.

Three decades after giving up her crown, Williams was invited to return to the pageant as head judge for the 2016 competition.

"When they asked me to come back, I of course called my mother and she had some real reservations," Williams said.

But Williams agreed to return, opening the night with a performance of her song, "Oh How the Years Go By."

"I will be seen from my 20-year-old self and now I'm a 52-year-old woman who's had a career and that was important for me," Williams said about her decision.

After her performance, Sam Haskell, executive chairman and CEO of the Miss America Organization, issued a public apology to Williams - as well as her mother -- on the Miss America pageant stage saying, "I want to apologize for anything that was said or done that made you feel any less than the Miss America you were and the Miss America you always will be."

"Sam came behind me and I could feel his hands started shaking," Williams recalled the moment. "It was wonderful, I'm happy for my mom. I kind of wiped my hands and said, 'I'm moving on,' but they endured a lot."

Williams also shared her excitement for her recent marriage to Jim Skrip, who she met while on vacation in Egypt.

You can watch Williams play her new gig on "The Good Wife" Sunday 9/8c.