(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.
Nashville was one of my favorite shows on ABC and I was very disappointed when it was cancelled. I was happy that CMT picked it up even though I don’t have CMT with
my Comcast subscription. That didn’t deter me though, I found a way to see season 5 and am almost finished with Season 6 ” on demand”. It’s a shame that this is the final season. I’m hoping the show will go on our at least have an ending to it.
Nashville is one of my favorite shows and I’ve followed it all these years. We have WAY too many reality shows!! Poor decision by CMT!
This is the only show I felt was worth my time to watch. There are so, so many shows out there. The choices are boggling. I don’t understand cancelling a very successful show. I love it and always looked forward to new episodes that never fail to excite. Please keep this show on!
Pretty please keep this show going … DO NOT CANCEL. Why keep all the crap shoes and cancel all the good ones? Of course the ratings are going to go down if people can’t find the channel the show was switched to. Can’t tell you how many people who were surprised that season 6 even existed.
Do not cancel this show, I love all the characters and the music. It is a refreshment enjoying a show that is not a crime show.
Don’t cancel! Love the characters, the music and they have touched so many important issues of life. It’s been great and I really look forward to every show. Don’t cancel as they have so much to give and tell us. Music City isn’t near as interesting! Keep Nashville!!!!
Please “DO NOT CANCEL”, I am truly not a lover of country music, but this show has shown me to appreciate country music and I have looked forward each week to watch this up lifting and learning more how the industry works.
As musician, I enjoy this show very much. There are plenty of other types of shows. Nashville is very entertaining to me as it is something up my alley. Please don’t cancel the show. I hope you can see that this a one of a kind show.
Don’t canncel this show. Best one on tv. If you have to cancel it don’t leave it with a cliff hanger finish the show. BUT DONT CANCEL THE BEST SHOW ON CMT. Great show
Don’t cancel this show !!!!!!
Don’t cancel again/ Great show with great music. Really touches the heart. Let Hulu take it over
This is the only thing I still watch on CMT. I will not be tuning in again since they are cancelling Nashville. Goodbye CMT!!!
Loved this show right from the beginning and still do. I’m sad to see it go. It would be great if Hulu would pick it up. Whatta ya say, Hulu?
This is hard news to take in. I know that this is just a TV show but I feel that it helps many people, in many different ways depending on what they are going through. There is so much more to see and experiment with, with the storylines that are already in place. It would be a shame to see it all just end now.
I had not realized it was canceled which really sucks this is a wonderful show I am very disappointed and CMT is losing a viewer.
I have watched this show from the beginning. It is unique. The story lines are moving. We have music and people we care about. CMT is the perfect place for this kind of show. I don’t care for the unscripted reality show called Music City. Please keep Nashville on!