The two main stars of the American musical drama TV series “Nashville,” Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere, are confirmed to return for the upcoming Season 5 of the popular show on its new home network, CMT.
The fifth season of “Nashville” shall have 22 episodes just like its average over the past four seasons when it was still being aired on ABC.
The other principal actors of “Nashville” shall be joining Britton and Panettiere including Charles Esten, Sam Palladio, Jonathan Jackson, Clare Bowen, Lennon Stella, Maisy Stella and Chris Carmack, details TV Line.
It can be recalled that the Season 4 of “Nashville” ended in a cliffhanger when it was shown that the fate of Juliette, the character being played in the series by Hayden Panettiere, was put in limbo as her plane has gone missing. It is not clear if she is already dead or still alive.
It also showed Avery, played by Jonathan Jackson, and baby Cadence still waiting for her at the airport. They were just told that the plane carrying the country singer lost contact with air traffic controllers.
With the confirmed return of the actress for Season 5, it seems clear that Juliette will be safe and sound and would likely return to the arms of Avery and their baby Cadence in the upcoming season premiere.
A rocky year for the actress
The reports about the return of Panettiere comes after a rocky year for the actress after she left the TV series in the middle of Season 4 last year to go into a rehab and undergo treatment for postpartum depression.
She returned in January this year to shoot the final nine episodes of “Nashville” Season 4 before resuming treatment shortly after the production wrapped up.
The Season 4 finale of “Nashville” aired for the last time on ABC on May 25. Less than two weeks after ABC unloaded the TV series, CMT made a 22-episode order for Season 5 of “Nashville.”
However, the rumors going around these days are saying that Season 5 of “Nashville” might become its last given the fact that the original cast is almost set to return. Some critics believe that it could be the show’s swan song before it wraps up.
But for the fans of the show, they believe that “Nashville” would continue to go beyond Season 5 and that CMT would not be investing in the TV series if it knows or has an idea that it shall already end after one season of airing, reports Variety.
All these remain as speculations, however, pending the confirmation from both CMT and the show producers Lionsgate Television.
An ace on the show’s sleeve
Fans of “Nashville” got worried about the decision of ABC not to renew the show for Season 5 because the TV series left a huge cliffhanger during its Season 4 finale.
They are concerned that no other network or streaming service would pick up or rescue the show from cancellation and the cliffhanger would forever be left unanswered just like several TV series before it.
There were reports that ABC would not renew “Nashville” for Season 5 as early as March. But the producers of the TV series, Lionsgate Television still decided to end the 21st and final episode of Season 4 of “Nashville” with a bold cliffhanger, much to the surprise of the fans.
In a recent statement, Lionsgate Television said that it is standing by its decision to end the fourth season of the musical country drama with a cliffhanger, describing it as a little short-term pain but ultimately long-term gain.
Kevin Beggs, Lionsgate Television boss, revealed then that they are in substantive and serious conversations with multiple buyers about continuing the TV series on another platform, hinting that another network or streaming service might pick up “Nashville” for Season 5.