According to Entertainment Weekly, Woodard is to play Taye Diggs's mother on the ABC medical drama.
© PA Images
© ABC
The actress, who will also be starring later this year in Lifetime's remake of Steel Magnolias, will appear in a November episode.
The 59-year-old actress has been involved in several television ventures in recent years, including a recurring role on HBO's True Blood.
The upcoming sixth season of Private Practice will be the last for star Kate Walsh, around whom the Grey's Anatomy spinoff was built.
Season six of Private Practice is set to premiere on September 25 on ABC in the US.
Watch a behind-the-scenes promo for season six below:
