'Nashville' renewed for Season 6

April 11 (UPI) -- The country-music drama Nashville has been renewed for a 16-episode, sixth season to debut in early 2018.

Rachel Bilson and Kaitlin Doubleday will join the ensemble in the second half of Season 5, which is to kick off on CMT June 1. Jeff Nordling will also play a recurring role.

"The mid-season premiere picks up 10 weeks after the events that unfolded in the mid-season finale," CMT said in a press release. "Deacon helps Daphne with a school project, but Daphne feels unmotivated. Juliette gives Maddie unsolicited advice about a song. Scarlett and Gunnar receive news about the baby."

Nashville stars Hayden Panettiere as Juliette Barnes, Clare Bowen as Scarlett O'Connor, Chris Carmack as Will Lexington, Charles Esten as Deacon Claybourne, Jonathan Jackson as Avery Barkley, Sam Palladio as Gunnar Scott, Maisy Stella as Daphne Conrad and Lennon Stella as Maddie Conrad.