Nashville Officials ‘Incredibly Disappointed’ As ABC Drama Canceled

Here’s what Nashville Mayor Megan Barry had to say on news that ABC will not renew the TV show “Nashville.”

“We are incredibly disappointed to hear the news that ABC has not renewed the show ‘Nashville’ for another season. The show has been an enormously successful promotional tool for our city, which is why the State of Tennessee and Metro Nashville were prepared to support production for a fifth season the be filmed here. This is a loss for ABC and for the millions of fans across the world who have grown to love this show. We have enjoyed hosting the cast and crew of the show over the last four years and look forward to future opportunities for film and television production here in Nashville.”

Deadline.com reports the show’s ratings were not consistent through its four seasons, so it will not be back for a fifth.

The state’s economic development department poured millions of dollars into subsidizing production. The city also offered incentives to keep the show from being filmed elsewhere, including money from the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation.

“We would have liked to have squeezed out one more season, but all in all it has been a tremendous asset for this city,” CVC president Butch Spyridon said in a statement. “We hope the cast decides to call Nashville home. They are family to the real Nashville!”

The Season 4 finale, which looks like it will become the series finale, is scheduled for May 25.

“Nashville” is in syndication in more than 100 countries, according to Ryman Hospitality Properties, which is one of the show’s original producers. Ryman is still taking many of the cast members on a European tour that just began.

“Many of the cast members have become fixtures on the Opry stage, and we look forward to continuing our relationship with these talented artists,” Ryman CEO Colin Reed said in a prepared statement. “As a company, our focus will be on the next chapter of tourism for this wonderful city and state.”

It was like losing a group of friends, for some fans.

“I’m devastated! I watch it every single time and have since it started,” says Terri Watson. “I’m a native Nashvillian and a big fan, so it’s breaking my heart.”

But Maura Lee Albert says the show didn’t deserve the more than $40 million in financial incentives offered by state and local governments over the course of the show. As for its cancellation?

“I’m totally fine with that,” she says. “I feel like we spent a lot of public money on a soap opera. I’m fine with it.” 

Douglas Corzine contributed to this story.