Warning: The following contains spoilers for Wednesday’s "Nashville" finale.
If we didn’t know better, we’d think ABC’s “Nashville” would go down without a fight. After the network axed the country drama, surprising the creators, cast members and fans alike, many expected the series finale to end with a whimper instead of a bang.
But this is the show that ended Season 1 with the series' one true pairing in a potentially fatal car crash, threw Kate Hudson's brother off a roof in Season 4, and almost drowned that girl from "Jem and the Holograms" in a swimming pool in a mid-season finale. Happy endings have never been the "Nashville" way.
The series reportedly filmed two endings for the episode, in hopes of attracting potential networks and streaming services to #BringBackNashville. The version that aired on Wednesday left the fate of Juliette (Hayden Panettiere) up in the air after her private jet goes missing. The alternate ending, however, reunited the country singer with the father of her child after a safe landing, ending the series on an uplifting note.
After the episode aired, Lionsgate, one of the series’ producers and primary champions for a Season 5, tweeted to the world that "There's more story to be told."
Series creator Callie Khouri also confirmed that leaving the finale open-ended was a strategic choice to better the series' renewal prospects.
"'Nashville' fans are the absolute best, and support for the #BringBackNashville campaign has been amazing,” Khouri exclusively told Deadline. “We are so grateful for our extremely loyal following. We have stories left to tell and songs left to sing.”
Lionsgate Television chairman Kevin Beggs echoed Khouri's sentiment in the same interview, intimating that fans should keep the hope alive for a potential Season 5.
"Lionsgate, ABC Studios and Opry Entertainment couldn’t have asked for better partners on 'Nashville' than ABC, as together we created a drama that has captivated viewers worldwide and turned #Nashies into a potent group of superfans," he said. "We want to thank creator Callie Khouri and showrunner Dee Johnson for their inspiration and guidance through tonight’s exciting season finale, and know that more of the 'Nashville' story is waiting to be told."
Now add your name to the #BringBackNashville Change.org petition alongside almost 100,000 other fans to let ABC know they played "The Wrong Song."
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