Nashville To Return In January...But!

It's official. CMT has officially set January 5, 2017 as the premiere date for Season 5 of the TV drama Nashville. Nashville will be broadcast and streamed on CMT, and also streamed on Hulu, which currently carries the show’s previous seasons. Returning cast members include Charles Esten, Sam Palladio, Jonathan Jackson, Clare Bowen, Lennon Stella, Maisy Stella, Chris Carmack, Hayden Panettiere and Connie Britton.

But get ready for a shocker, "Nashville" fans: Britton, who plays Rayna James may not return for Season 6, according to TVLine. She is now scheduled to be on only 10 of the 22 episodes of Season 5. Sources do not know how James’ character will be written off the show. TVLine also reports that negotiations are ongoing as to the length of her participation in Season 5. Hayden Panettiere, who portrays Juliette Barnes, will be back for all 22 episodes of the new season. Her fate was left hanging at the end of Season 4 when she was in an airplane crash.

Tell you what, as a big fan of the show, I don't see how it could continue without Britton as Rayna.