'Nashville' Stars Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere Are Returning for CMT Revival

By
ABC

It’s going to be a full house for CMT’s revival of Nashville!

Original stars Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere will return for the 22-episode fifth season of the country music drama, a source confirms to ET.

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They’ll be joined by returning series regulars Charles Esten, Sam Palladio, Jonathan Jackson, Clare Bowen, Lennon Stella, Maisy Stella and Chris Carmack. Those who won’t be back as series regulars are Will Chase and Aubrey Peeples.

TVLine first reported the news.

Panettiere’s involvement was somewhat in question due to a major cliffhanger in what ABC billed the “series finale” on May 25, in which it seemed her character, Juliette Barnes, may have perished in a plane crash.

CMT officially revived the series on June 10, announcing a joint partnership with Lionsgate TV, Hulu -- which will stream the episodes the day after they air -- and ABC Studios.

RELATED: Connie Britton Credits 'Nashville' Fans for Bringing Show Back

On that same day, ET caught up with Britton at the ATX Television Festival in Austin, Texas, where she hinted that she would likely be reprise her role of Rayna James.

“Of course, of course!” Britton said.

In early June, Bowen was enthusiastic about Nashville’s revival, telling ET at the CMT Music Awards, “I'm really excited for whatever happens.”


Nashville
is expected to debut later this year on CMT.

RELATED: 'Nashville' Series Finale Ends on a Major Cliffhanger, Puts One Character's Fate in Limbo