CMT announced today that Jen Richards, a series regular on I Am Cait, is moving to Music City for Nashville's new season.

Richards will play Allyson Del Lago, "a tough but understanding physical therapist who helps a series regular through one of their most difficult challenges."

It was already reported that a trans character was joining the cast, one who was going to help Juliette (Hayden Panettiere) recover from her plane crash last season.

Richards is the Emmy-nominated writer-star of Her Story, and co-produced the docu-series More Than T. She will also appear in CBS' Doubt, which stars Laverne Cox.

This announcement marks the first trans character on a CMT show and the first out transgender actor on the network. Chris Carmack, who plays gay country singer Will Lexington, will return to Nashville when the show debuts in a special two-hour premiere, Thursday, January 5, 2017, at 9/8c.