‘Nashville’ Will End After Season 6

Nashville be will end after Season 6. CMT, the network that picked up the show in Season 5, confirmed on Friday that they show has been canceled. ABC originally debuted Nashville in 2012 with Connie Britton, Hayden Panettiere, Clare Bowen and Charles Esten. Britton’s character, Rayna James, was killed off of the series in Season 5 following the shows movement to CMT.

Executive producer Marshall Herskovitz said in a statement, “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.” He continued and said, “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.”

Esten, 52, who plays Deacon Claybourne on the show, thanked fans on Twitter following the news of the drama’s upcoming end after Season 6. He wrote, “Hard to express the amount of gratitude in my heart. This role, this show, and this city have changed everything for me and mine. I’ll have plenty of time to give my thanks to so many, but for now: To our incredibly loyal #Nashies all over the world: THANK YOU #NoYouNoUs.”

The sixth and final season of Nashville will premiere January 4 and the series finale will be scheduled for the summer.