Nashville stars react to cancellation

UPDATE: Nashville star Connie Britton is also among the now-canceled ABC drama’s stars expressing her gratitude to the cast and crew of the show, as well as its viewers. On Instagram, Britton said, “the place of Nashville in my heart is deep and permanent.” See her message to fans and coworkers below.

EARLIER: Nashville fans aren’t the only ones surprised and sad that ABC is canceling the show after four seasons. Cast members expressed their disappointment on social media after ABC announced the cancellation on Thursday.

On Twitter, Charles Esten, who plays Deacon Claybourne, wrote, “So grateful to so many for the dream that has been #Nashville. Not always easy to be Deacon. But to play him? An absolute joy and honor.”

Nashville has been on the bubble for renewal since its first season, but oddsmakers predicted the musical drama would be picked up in the fall. The cancellation is a shock, as ABC even had new showrunners lined up for a potential fifth season; Marshall Herskovitz and Ed Zwick (thirtysomething, My So-Called Life) were expected to take over.

Aubrey Peeples, who plays Layla Grant, wrote on Twitter, “I’m so thankful I was part of a special show; I wish it was handled with more care. thank you to every fan who kept us going #Nashville.”

Chris Carmack, who plays Will Lexington, expressed his shock on Twitter, writing, “#Nashville will be cherished by so many…Trying to wrap my head around it…”

Stars Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere (who announced Thursday that she is taking “time to reflect holistically on my health and life” following continued difficulty with postpartum depression) have not yet weighed in on the show’s cancellation. Nashville creator Callie Khouri wrote on Twitter, “With a heavy heart, I thank all of our incredible fans for all of your love, huge thanks to the city of Nashville. See you on down the road.”

The mayor of Nashville, Megan Barry, said in a statement she was “incredibly disappointed” to hear about the show’s cancellation.

“This is a loss for ABC and for the millions of fans across the world who have grown to love the show,” she wrote. “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.” Read the entirety of her statement here.

Nashville joins a number of high-profile shows cancelled by ABC on Thursday, including Castle, The Muppets, Agent Carter, and Galavant. The finale of Nashville airs May 25 on ABC.