'Nashville' Season 5 is experiencing a cast shakeup after Jen Richards joins the television drama expected to see its CMT debut in January 2017. Richards, a writer, actress, activist and producer is a transgender woman who has been pushing hard for greater transgender inclusion in Hollywood.
Following the announcement made on Tuesday by the network, the transgender actress will play Allyson Del Lago in a repeating role. She will act the part of "a tough but understanding physical therapist who assists a series regular through one of their challenges," a press release from the network notes.
It is not clear which series regular will be seeing the physical therapist, though viewers will speculate that it will be Juliette Barnes, whose plane missed in a cliffhanger that closed Season 4.
Richard is an Emmy-nominated writer, actress and producer. She will be the first out transgender actress to make a debut on the CMT, and Allyson Del Lago will be network's first transgender character.
According to Taste of Country, this is seen as an awesome and important move for the CMT network. The move promotes inclusivity and, hopefully, will help to raising transgender visibility on TV in addition to paving the way for more transgender actors and actresses to join the network.
In addition to "Nashville," Richards's credits include co-writer, star, and producer of the Emmy-nominated web series "Her Story;" series regular on "I Am Cait;" a role on upcoming CBS drama "Doubt;" co-producer of documentary series "More Than T;" a role on Logo's "Beautiful As I Want to Be;" and on appearance on AOL Originals show "True Trans with Laura Jane Grace," Bustle reported.
"Nashville" was originally canceled by ABC at the conclusion of last season, but the Tv series was brought back to life by CMT after fans expressed their views for the show to go on. Charles Esten, who acts Deacon Claybourne, could not be more ecstatic.
"For me, honestly, the biggest feeling that keeps running through me, is that feeling of gratitude," Esten notes adding that he have been an actor for a long time. And he had, maybe at his age, given up thinking he would get a role like that or a show like "Nashville." He said, "in fact, I did not even know such a thing existed, it did not really until "Nashville." I think there was a certain magic in it."
The former ABC television show is slated to make its CMT debut with a two-hour episode on Thursday, on Jan. 5 at 9 p.m. ET for its fifth season.
Watch a video of "Nashville" Season 5 Episode 1 here: