‘Chesapeake Shores’ Star Jesse Metcalfe Teases Season 3 Storylines, Songs And Soundtrack

Hallmark Channel’s summer series “Chesapeake Shores,” starring Jesse Metcalfe (Trace) and Meghan Ory (Abby), is a couple episodes into its third season, and the small-town drama is already in full swing. Trace is back in town, trying to balance both his budding music career and his relationship with Abby, but it’s not going to be without its challenges.

International Business Times spoke with Metcalfe all about their relationship this season, what songs fans will hear this season and if there will ever be a “Chesapeake Shores” soundtrack.

International Business Times: What can fans expect from Season 3 as a whole?

Jesse Metcalfe: This season, we really feel like we’ve created the best season yet. [We feel like] this season really pushes the network forward, as a whole. This isn’t your grandma’s Hallmark anymore. This is the series that I think, especially this season, could compete with any other network television series.

IBT: Trace was gone on tour, but now he’s back with Abby. What will their relationship be like this season?

Metcalfe: They’re going to [reset] their expectations of the relationship. They’re just going to enjoy the time that they’re spending together. But with a love like that, things really escalate quickly. And considering that she has two young daughters and Trace is spending a lot of time with them and playing that stepfather role, those expectations sort of rear their ugly head again. And rightfully so. Abby wants consistency for her girls. She wants a partner that’s gonna be there. And Trace is trying to balance both worlds, which, I know personally, can be challenging.

IBT: Will Trace’s growing fame start to cause a rift with Abby?

Metcalfe: It remains to be seen if it’s going to create a rift. The audience is gonna have to tune in to find the answer to that question. But I think it definitely presents some challenges and heightens [issues] that are already there.

I love the storyline this season. I think it’s just so real. So grounded. I was lucky enough to be able to give my input on the storyline, coming from a similar experience, and I think the storyline is a lot more — a lot stronger and a lot more grounded for it.

IBT: So, you were able to give a lot of input when it came to your storyline?

Metcalfe: Absolutely. Before we started filming and throughout filming. I’m lucky to have a very collaborative production core on the show. I’ve been with the show right from the very beginning. I was the first actor attached to the project, and I’ve been pretty hands-on with the creative, particularly for my storyline, and I’m just really proud of what we’ve done as a team. I think the stories just keep getting richer and the show just keeps getting better.

IBT: Most of Trace’s scenes are with Abby or the band, but which character do you wish he had more scenes with?

Metcalfe: I’d say I probably work the least with Bree [Emilie Ullerup] and Jess [Laci J Mailey]. The one time last season, it might’ve even been Season 1, that I got to have one-on-one scenes with Bree, Emilie and I had a lot of fun. She’s got a great sense of humor and brings a lightness and a comedic timing to everything she does that I really enjoy. I really think that the actors that play Bree and Jess, Emilie and Laci, are incredibly talented. They’re a lot of fun to watch. They really bring the comic relief to “Chesapeake Shores.” So, I guess I’d like to have more scenes with them.

IBT: Will there be new original songs this season? What can we expect from Trace’s music?

Metcalfe: The Trace Riley Band is really kicking off. They’re playing bigger venues to bigger crowds. And we bring back a lot of the songs from Season 1, Season 2. So people will get to hear those again. And there’s two new original songs. One’s called “More Where That Came From” and the other’s called “Timeless.” And they’re both amazing. They’re incredibly well-written songs. I, unfortunately, did not write either of them, but I do my rendition of both of them, and I think [people] will love these songs and will be clamoring for these songs. Just like they’re really wanting “Freefall” and some of the other songs to be available, either on iTunes or Spotify. And to speak to that, I can say we’re working on a soundtrack as we speak. I know it’s long overdue, but it’s coming.

Catch new episodes of “Chesapeake Shores,” which is based on the novels of the same name by Sherryl Woods, on Hallmark Channel on Sundays at 9 p.m. EDT.