Connie Britton eyes early Nashville exit

Michael Ausiello
Updated
Nashville Star Eyes Exit as Premiere Date Confirmed
Nashville Star Eyes Exit as Premiere Date Confirmed

Nashville fans, start singing the blues in 3, 2, 1...

Sources confirm to TVLine that Connie Britton is poised to exit the drama's upcoming fifth season on CMT after appearing in just 10 of 22 episodes, TVLine has confirmed. It's unclear at this time how her character, Rayna James, will be written off the show. EW.com was first to report Britton's reduced workload.

RELATEDNashville After Show Eyed at CMT

A source close to the show, meanwhile, tells TVLine that negotiations with the Friday Night Lights vet on the length of her Season 5 commitment are ongoing.

Hear Connie Britton's initial reaction to the "Nashville" cancellation:

Connie Britton on the End of Nashville
Connie Britton on the End of Nashville

The cancelled ABC country-music drama will make its CMT debut with a two-hour premiere on Thursday, January 5, at 9/8c. As previously reported, Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz (thirtysomething) have taken over as showrunners.

VIDEOSFNL Shocker Video: Kyle Chandler Hints at Coach/Tami Divorce!

Meanwhile, fellow leading lady Hayden Panettiere, whose character Juliette's fate was left hanging in the balance in the Season 4 finale, is expected back for all 22 episodes. The same holds true for co-stars Charles Esten, Sam Palladio, Jonathan Jackson, Clare Bowen, Lennon Stella, Maisy Stella and Chris Carmack. Will Chase and Aubrey Peeples, who played Luke and Layla, respectively, will not be back as series regulars.

See photos from "Nashville":

Advertisement