Connie Britton will not leave ‘Nashville’ season 5, after all

For those out there who were (understandably) afraid that Connie Britton was only going to be appearing in a handful of “Nashville” season 5 episodes before taking off, we do come bearing some good news for you now: It no longer appears as though this is going to be the case anymore.

Speaking in a new interview on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (video via THR), Connie makes it clear that she is going to be around for the duration of the season. She expresses plenty of enthusiasm about the story that is ahead.

We’re glad to hear that she is staying put, if for no other reason than that trying to make some sort of transition from having her to not having her over the course of a season is rough. In keeping her aboard the series, you keep that ratings draw, and you also ensure that if season 5 is the final one for the show, you end it with many of the major characters still around. We do think that this is essential for people who want proper closure.

The next few weeks should give us a much better idea of what the future for “Nashville” could be. The season 5 premiere struggled somewhat in the ratings in a special airing last month, despite being scaled across a wide array of networks. You can make the argument that the holiday season played a factor in this, and we certainly hope that this is the case. One of the factors that could further aid the show’s future, meanwhile, could be a lucrative deal with Hulu for streaming rights. It’s a little bit harder to get some precise ratings for the show through this service, but our feeling there is that it is likely a solid performer.

Interested in getting some additional news right now when it comes to “Nashville”? Then be sure to head over to the link here now! Also, let us know how you feel about Britton staying put in the comments. (Photo: CMT.)