Nashville Rayna death
Rayna (Connie Britton) died in “Nashville” Season 5, episode 9, but that will not be her final appearance on the drama. CMT

Rayna Jaymes is no longer the leading lady on “Nashville.” In Season 5, episode 9, Rayna died after a car accident left her with serious complications. She met her end with her daughters and husband Deacon by her side, but that isn’t the last we’ve seen of her. Star Connie Britton revealed she’ll return to the series.

“I do pop back in in after Episode 9,” Britton told TVLine. “And ‘Nashville’s’ always going to be important to me, so I’m totally open to whatever as time goes on. But it is really hard to say goodbye to this character.”

Rayna’s death in episode 9 shocked many viewers, even those familiar with the rumors that Britton would be leaving. In August, reports surfaced that she had only signed on for 10 episodes after the drama moved from ABC to CMT. Viewers figured they at least had until the tenth episode to say goodbye to Rayna.

However, many fans believed she’d stay. Britton told Ellen DeGeneres that she was “in for the duration.” The “Friday Night Lights” alum revealed that she hadn’t expected the question and made up the answer on the spot. After all, she couldn’t just spoil Rayna’s death.

“I was really [put] on the spot and I had to protect the story,” she explained. “My commitment has always been to the show. But I’m not a good liar! [Laughs] So, ‘I’m in it for the duration,’ in my mind [means] I’m in it for the duration of… what I perceived to be this character. But of course, I understand why it was construed in the way it was. That was a very difficult moment for me.”

Entertainment Weekly reports that Britton will play Rayna in some flashbacks in episodes to come, but the outlet couldn’t reveal much about why she left. Britton kept her reasons vague. “Let me just say there were a lot of reasons. Some of them were personal and some were creative, and I’m probably not going to get much more detailed than that,” she said.

Rayna is dead, but the show will go on. The singer was killed in episode 9 of a 22-episode season.

“Nashville” Season 5 airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. EST on CMT.

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