CMT is now getting close to a deal with Lionsgate, ABC Studios, and Opry Entertainment to extend the fifth season of Nashville. A Hulu streaming element is part of the deal. The other seasons of Nashville can be found on Hulu.

This is good news for fans who watched the cliffhanger last week in the season 4 finale. Avery Barkley (Jonathan Jackson) waited for the return of his baby’s mother, Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere), after she went missing in an unexpected plane crash. Panettiere and actress Connie Britton have not both made it clear if they will star in the CMT version of the show. Kevin Briggs, Lionsgate TV Chairman, said the actors are needed in order to continue the series. There is no final deal yet, but new showrunners Marshall Herskovitz and Ed Zwick are likely to stay for the cable release.

The hashtag #NashRewind has sparked the internet during the virtual viewing party of Nashville’s pilot last week. More than 171,000 signatures have been received on the fan’s Change.org petition to keep the show going.