Nashville fans have something to cheer about today as CMT will be the new home of the Country music-driven series recently cancelled by ABC. Season four finished up on May 25, 2016 with an episode that left fans clamoring for more, and CMT, Hulu, Lionsgate, and ABC Studios have responded by announcing the fifth season will air first on CMT (which seems like a perfect fit for the show) before being made available on Hulu. The fourth season drew in more than 8 million viewers and, according to CMT, is ranked 20th among broadcast dramas since 2012.
“CMT heard the fans. The wave of love and appreciation they have unleashed for Nashville has been overwhelming,” said Brian Philips, President of CMT. “Nashville is a perfect addition to our evolving line-up of big music specials, documentaries, and original series. We see our fans and ourselves in this show and we will treasure it like no other network. Nashville belongs on CMT.”
“CMT and Hulu are the perfect combination for our iconic and beloved series Nashville and we want to thank the incredible fans for their unwavering support–#Nashies, you helped make this possible,” said Kevin Beggs, Chairman of the Lionsgate Television Group. “We also want to extend our appreciation to the State of Tennessee, City of Nashville, and Ryman Hospitality for their unending support. They have been a key ingredient to the continued success of this show and we’re thrilled to extend our partnership for a fifth season.”
“We always had faith that we would find a way to bring Nashville back to its devoted fans, and we’re very proud to be in partnership with CMT and Hulu to extend the life of this series,” said Patrick Moran, Executive Vice President, ABC Studios.
The Plot: Nashville is set against the backdrop of the city’s music scene and follows Rayna Jaymes and Juliette Barnes. Both women face personal and professional challenges as they navigate their paths as artists and individuals. Surrounding them and often complicating their lives are their family, friends and, in some cases, lovers, as well as the up-and-coming performers and songwriters trying to get ahead in the business. Music City can mean so many things to different people. In Nashville, musicians and songwriters are at the heart of the storm driven by their own ambitions. Some are fueled by their creativity and passion for fame. Others struggle to cope with the pressures of success and are doing everything in their power to stay on top. The cast of Nashville includes Connie Britton, Clare Bowen, Hayden Panettiere, Charles Esten, Jonathan Jackson, Sam Palladio, and Chris Carmack.
