The upcoming sixth season of Nashville will be the show's last, CMT has announced. The show debuted on ABC in 2012 and then leaped to the cable channel last year. The nighttime drama was inclusive from the start, but the move to CMT saw the addition of several more LGBT characters and storylines.

“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,” said executive producer Marshall Herskovitz (30something). “And 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.”

“After more than 120 episodes of unforgettable television, we believe that creatively it is time for the series to come to its triumphant close at the end of the upcoming season,” said Lionsgate Television's Kevin Beggs, who thanked fans "who propelled the series to an incredible run. We owe it to them to make the sixth season the most exciting and memorable of all.”

Premiering January 4, the final season features 16 episodes aired in two parts. The season finale will likely air in summer 2018.

Last season, fans said goodbye to Rayna James (Connie Britton) and gay singer Will Lexington (Chris Carmack) was on the rocks with his Silicon Valley boyfriend, Zach (Cameron Scoggins).