'Nashville' Has a Return Date -- Find Out When It'll Debut on CMT!

By
ABC


Nashville
officially has a return date.

The country music drama, led by Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere, will make its CMT debut on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, at 9 p.m. ET/PT, the network announced on Wednesday. The upcoming fifth season will consist of 22 episodes.

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

Britton and Panettiere will reprise their roles as Rayna James and Juliette Barnes, respectively, along with series regulars Charles Esten, Sam Palladio, Jonathan Jackson, Clare Bowen, Lennon Stella, Maisy Stella and Chris Carmack.

CMT rescued Nashvillein June, just weeks after ABC canceled the series after four seasons, announcing a joint partnership with Lionsgate TV, Hulu -- which will stream the episodes the day after they air -- and ABC Studios.

ET caught up with Britton at the ATX Television Festival in Austin, Texas, where she praised Nashville fans for keeping the show alive.

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

"That was an example of fans being really enthusiastic and we really owe that all to the fans," Britton said in June. "The same [happened] with Friday Night Lights and Nashville is experiencing the same good fortune."

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

In addition to Nashville, CMT will roll out the new season of Still the King, starring Billy Ray Cyrus and Joey Lauren Adams, in the spring, and the premiere of civil rights drama Million Dollar Quartet, led by Chad Michael Murray, in March.

RELATED: 'Nashville' Is Back From the Dead -- on CMT!