After ABC shocked fans in mid-May with the cancellation of Nashville, fans swooped in and hoped that another network or streaming service would get the rights to show for fifth season. Luckily for them, CMT and Lionsgate agreed on a deal that would allow CMT to air the show for its fifth season and would let Hulu still have day after streaming rights, with Variety confirming the news on June 10.
And now it seems that fans of the show will have Rayna Jaymes (Connie Britton) and Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere) back on the show, as Variety reports that both actresses are close to reaching deals for both of them to appear on the show again.
Other actors that are planning on coming back to the show in a full-term capacity include Charles Esten, Sam Palladio, Jonathan Jackson, Clare Bowen, Lennon Stella, Maisy Stella and Chris Carmack. Will Chase and Aubrey Peeples won’t return to the show in a series regular capacity, but there are talks for the two of them to return for a few episodes as a way to wrap up their storylines.
Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz, the showrunners who were brought on to serve as showrunners of season five before ABC canceled the show, will remain as showrunners when Nashville moves to CMT.
The show focuses on the relationship between Rayna and Juliette, which started out rocky when the show first premiered in 2012 but has gotten better over time. The show has had many notable guest stars during its run, including Kelly Clarkson, Kesha, Carrie Underwood, Michelle Obama, Luke Bryan and Elton John.
Britton is probably best known as her role on Friday Nights Lights, where she played Tami Taylor, Coach Eric Taylor’s wife and guidance counselor turned principal of Dillon High School and everyone’s favorite mother figure on the show. For her role on Friday Night Lights, she was nominated for an Emmy in 2010 and 2011. Britton also starred in the first season of American Horror Story as Vivien Harmon and was in two episodes of The People vs. O.J. Simpson, where she portrayed Faye Resnick.
Panettiere guest acted in many shows, including two different episodes of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit before she was casted in NBC’s superhero show Heroes, where she played Claire Bennet, a role she held for the four seasons that the show was on air. She also played Dot in Pixar’s Bug’s Life and played Sheryl in Remember the Titans.
The newest season of Nashville doesn’t have a premiere date, but is expected to air later in 2016.