(Mark Levine / CMT)
It seems the fat lady is warming up. While it is not technically “cancelled,” CMT has announced its Nashville TV show will end with the upcoming sixth season. The country music cable network originally picked up the drama, when ABC cancelled it after four seasons. Although the exact release date has not yet been set, CMT has announced the sixth and final season of Nashville will premiere in January of 2018.
A CMT original series, Nashville stars Hayden Panettiere, Charles Esten, Clare Bowen, Sam Palladio, Chris Carmack, Jonathan Jackson, Lennon Stella, and Maisy Stella. Connie Britton exited the starring role of Rayna James, during season five. The drama centers on the lives and careers of country music superstars, including Juliette Barnes (Panettiere), as well as the up-and-coming performers and songwriters trying to get ahead in the business.
Nashville: A Look at the Ratings
The fifth season of Nashville averaged a 0.19 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 815,000 viewers. Compared to season four on ABC, Nashville was down by 80% in the demo and down by 81% in viewers. Still, it was the highest rated scripted TV series on CMT.
Nashville to End with Season Six as CMT Moves to Unscripted TV Series
Today, CMT also cancelled its Still the King TV series. The cable channel is abandoning its fledgling scripted programming slate, in favor of unscripted originals, as parent company Viacom tweaks the focus of several of its networks. Deadline reports:
…Nashville became an outlier at CMT, which shifted its programming strategy in the Viacom restructuring earlier this year, focusing on unscripted fare, which is significantly cheaper than scripted. Nashville, produced by Lionsgate TV, Opry Entertainment and ABC Studios, is the only scripted series on CMT. One of its biggest champions, CMT head of development Jayson Dinsmore who orchestrated the pickup after the cancellation by ABC, recently left the network. CMT is already prepping an unscripted Nashville successor with the upcoming docu-series Music City.
“All of us on Nashville are so incredibly grateful to the show’s fans, who convinced CMT to give us a chance to keep telling the story of these remarkable characters,” said executive producer Marshall Herskovitz. “And we want to return the favor with a final season that celebrates all the joys and passions, twists and turns — and amazing music! — that made Nashville such an exciting journey for the last six years.”
[…]
“After more than 120 episodes of unforgettable television, we believe that creatively it is time for the series to come to its triumphant close at the end of the upcoming season,” said Kevin Beggs, Chairman of the Lionsgate Television Group. “We’re very proud of our incredibly talented cast and crew, the creative brilliance of our showrunners, and the loyal support of our great partners at CMT, Hulu and ABC Studios. Most importantly, we owe a special debt of thanks to the Nashville fans who propelled the series to an incredible run. We owe it to them to make the 6th season the most exciting and memorable of all.”
What do you think? Is the sixth season the right time to end the Nashville TV series’ run? Should CMT have cancelled or renewed Nashville for a seventh season? Sound off, below.
Do not cancel Nashville !!! This show is great, love the characters , great actors and the awesome music !!!
Don’t cancel!!!! I love this show!!!!
I don’t know why it is every time a really good show is on someone thinks a reality show can take its place. I am over reality shows I just want a feel good show, and Nashville is that for me
Love Nashville! Please keep it going!
Please DON’T Cancel Nashville. It is such an awesome show…..
Nashville should not be cancelled. It’s the only scripted series that I still watch. There are too many unscripted series on tv right now. Please rethink this decision.
Please continue with a season 7. The show is the only show worth watching. It is so interesting versus all the silly shows they have. Your late night shows suck so I guess we do not need televisions anymore.
They ought to keep it and at the same time bring back Last Man Standing with the same cast.
I love this show -Nashville is a great still watching it so please do not cancel it!!
will really miss this show very sad it is ending
Please don’t cancel Nashville. Love the actors and their lines. Also why isn’t Scarlett pregnant? She was at end of 5th season?
She lost the baby when she and Gunnar got attacked by some punks outside a convenience store.
I am so disappointed. One of my favorite shows ever. I sincerely hope that it is saved, for I enjoyed all the talent.
This is such a huge disappointment! This is a great show that everyone loves! But I guess the people who watch don’t matter to anyone in the tv business because the bottom line is about lining their pockets! Shame on all of the greed! Television would rather run disgusting shows that sensationalize drugs, murder, rape etc! God forbid there be a good wholesome show that everyone wants to watch and loves! Why bother watching tv shows at all because lately if they are good shows chances are it will be cancelled! If Netflix or Hulu were smart they would grab… Read more »
Why are you people so dumb dumb. Nashville is the best show. Every time there is something good you all spoil everything. Leave the show on.
I have enjoyed this show for its’ entire run on on ABC and CMT. While I realize it had turned more and more into a soap opera, the characters were all so likeable and talented. Hopefully, the entire run on both networks will be released as a box set. I’d love to own it all.