Already have an account?
Get back to the

Connie Britton Says ‘Nashville’ Could “Go on Indefinitely” After Her Exit and the Show’s Season 6 Renewal!

Crank up the country music folks, because Nashville is returning for another season. Hooray! Cable network CMT has just announced the drama series has been renewed, marking the show’s sixth season overall.

During a new interview with Today, former Nashville star Connie Britton — she played Rayna Jaymes and exited the series in February 2017 — revealed the hit show could “go on indefinitely” despite her departure.

MORE Connie Britton Is Already Talking About a ‘Nashville’ Return — Get the Details!

“It was hard [for me to leave]. It was hard and sad for everybody. But people who are fans of the show love the show so much, they love those characters so much. Nashville is such a rich world that it can go on indefinitely,” she said on Tuesday, June 6.

connie britton 'nashville' getty images

Connie on Nashville.

The show’s Season 6 renewal is a total a win for Nashville fans, after they fought so hard to have the series saved from cancellation.

“The devoted Nashville fan base has generated record-breaking numbers for CMT,” CMT President Brian Philips told Entertainment Weekly. “Nashville ranks as the network’s highest-rated and most-watched show in the network’s history, averaging 2.1 million weekly viewers.”

MORE: Connie Britton Was Almost Cast on ‘Scandal’ as Lead Olivia Pope

The sixth season, however, will only run for 16 episodes which is a smaller arc compared to previous seasons. Is the show winding down? After the recent bombshell, fans have been wondering how much longer the series has left.

It’s safe to say most Nashville fans are going through the seven stages of grief right now after Rayna’s tragic death. Even Connie’s co-star Hayden Panettiere reveals it was “difficult” to say goodbye to her character.

'nashville' cast r/r
R/R

The Nashville cast.

“It’ll be tough to go on without her,” the 27-year-old told TV WEEK. “Rayna will be sorely missed.”

As a lead character, Rayna’s fatal car accident was a huge risk for the writers and has left big shoes for the next person to fill. So can the newcomers live up to the task?

MORE: ‘The Big Bang Theory’ Has Been Renewed for 2 More Seasons!

Former The OC and Hart Of Dixie star Rachel Bilson has been confirmed to appear in the second half of Season 5, while Jeff Nordling (Big Little Lies) will star in Season 6. He is set to play the owner of a successful record label, Brad Maitland.

We can’t wait to see how the season plays out!

Parts of this story originally appeared on NowToLove.com.

Check out the gallery to see the cast of Nashville then and now!