ABC/Bob D'AmicoIs Nashville about to sing its last note?!
While Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere's soap has a dedicated fanbase and some seriously juicy storylines, ABC has yet to renew the drama for a third season. However, star Eric Close, who plays Mayor Teddy Conrad, isn't too worried about the show's future.
"I haven't heard yet, but we're supposed to know May 15. But I got to tell you, I'd be really shocked if it doesn't go another year," Close told us while promoting his and his wife Keri's fundraiser that is taking place at their home on Saturday (May 3) for The Africa Foundation.
So why is Close so confident? The show's word-of-mouth, as even some of his closest friends have come to him for fan-related favors!
"I had breakfast with a friend of mine and his friend lives in Austin and he said, ‘Would you do me a favor and just say hello to her? She's a big fan,'" he explained. "So I called her up in Austin and she got on the phone and she said, ‘My husband and I have gone to Nashville numerous times now because of your show and we've introduced all of our friends to the show.'"
He continued, "What I've noticed over the last year is that a lot of fans are really interested in introducing the show to their friends…I think we have a great following that's growing and the shows are interesting."
Speaking of interesting, that's what things are about to become on the sudser heading into the final two episodes of the season.
While last year's finale was action-packed, with Rayna and Deacon getting into a serious car accident, Close said fans can expect "a very emotional" affair.
"We're doing more of an emotional cliffhanger where you're seeing people just emotionally on edge and having to make some tough decisions," he dished. "A lot of blame being thrown around." And of course, fans can expect to see a lot of that blame directed at Teddy, as Close said with a laugh, "Always!"
And before the finale, Nashville fans can expect to see First Lady Michelle Obama make a guest appearance in the penultimate episode, airing on May 7. Of the buzzed-about cameo, Close previewed, "They recorded her at the White House, but she spoke on the big screen at the concert we're filming, where she talks to the troops and thanks Rayna [Connie Britton] and everybody for including her. It's really cool."
Nashville airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on ABC.