^Britton was only credited in the main cast for episodes 5x01 to 5x11.
^Scoggins recurred from 5x01 through 5x13 before being credited in the main cast from 5x14.
^Doubleday was credited in the main cast from 5x14.
^Nordling was credited in the main cast from 6x06.
Recurring
Characters
Main
Recurring
The following characters of Nashville may or may not be particularly significant to the story of the series; each was introduced in one season and would usually appear in subsequent seasons to a greater or lesser extent.
Judith Hoag as Tandy Hampton (season 1–3), Rayna's sister, the daughter and protégé of Lamar Wyatt, who plays referee to Rayna and Lamar. She leaves Nashville after accepting a job in San Francisco.
Kimberly Williams-Paisley as Margaret "Peggy" Kenter (seasons 1 & 2; 20 episodes), Teddy's former co-worker[2] at the credit union who helped him hide his embezzlement. They begin dating after Teddy and Rayna separate and marry after she lies to Teddy that she is pregnant. She is shot and killed while someone was attempting to kill Teddy.
David Alford as Bucky Dawes, Rayna's long-time seasoned and caring manager.
Ed Amatrudo as Glenn Goodman, Juliette Barnes's protective and reliable manager, often tasked with cleaning up the messes that Juliette leaves behind. In the fourth season Juliette refers to him as "the man who has been like a father to me" and "my lucky charm."
Sylvia Jefferies as Jolene Barnes (season 1,3,5-6; 17 episodes), Juliette's overprotective & overbearing mother; a drug addict who later commits a murder-suicide.
Michiel Huisman as Liam McGuinnis (seasons 1 & 2; 13 episodes), Rayna's new music producer, who also has a brief fling with Rayna and Scarlett.
Chaley Rose as Zoey Dalton (seasons 2–4), Scarlett's childhood best friend who moves to Nashville, who starts dated Gunnar. She eventually gets a job as a backup singer for Juliette.[3][4] She later breaks up with Gunnar and leaves Nashville to pursue a solo singing career in Los Angeles.
Laura Benanti as Sadie Stone (season 3), a country star who gets an offer to sign with Edgehill but later signs with Highway 65. She and Rayna become good friends. She leaves Nashville after shooting and killing her abusive ex-husband.[5]
Brette Taylor as Pam (season 3), as Luke's new backup singer, and has a brief fling with Deacon.[6]
Alexa Vega as Kiley Brenner (season 3), Gunnar's first love who is now a struggling single mother. She lied to Gunnar saying that her 9-year-old son was Gunnar's but his brother Jason actually is.[7]
Derek Hough as Noah West (season 3–4), an actor who lands a role about a famous country singer.[8]
Christina Aguilera as Jade St. John (season 3), a pop singer who is trying to make it in country music.
Jay Hernandez as Dante Rivas (season 1; 6 episodes), Jolene's sober companion and Juliette's lover, who, after attempting to blackmail Juliette, is killed by Jolene in a murder-suicide.
Charlie Bewley as Charles "Charlie" Wentworth (season 2), a married confident business man, who owns a radio stations across the country, and had an affair with Juliette.[9]
Christina Chang as Megan Vannoy (season 2), Deacon's lawyer at the beginning of season two; Deacon and Megan were in a romantic relationship in season two until Deacon found out that she cheated on him with Teddy.
Todd Truley as Marshall Evans (season 1; 11 episodes), former president and CEO of Edgehill Republic Records. In the beginning of season two he gets fired by the board of Edgehill Records and is replaced by Jeff Fordham.
JD Souther as Watty White (season 1; 6 episodes), legendary country music producer, radio personality, and songwriter who counsels Rayna Jaymes.[10]
Kourtney Hansen as Emily (seasons 1–6; 60 episodes), Juliette's assistant and friend.
Tilky Montgomery Jones as Sean Butler (season 1; 5 episodes), professional football quarterback and Juliette's ex-husband.
Rya Kihlstedt as Marilyn Rhodes (season 1; 8 episodes), Avery's former manager and lover.
Wyclef Jean as Dominic King (season 1; 5 episodes), the head of Avery's former label.
Susan Misner as Stacy (season 1; 5 episodes), a veterinarian and Deacon's ex-girlfriend.
Burgess Jenkins as Randy Roberts (season 1; 3 episodes), a long-time friend and music producer for Rayna Jaymes.
Afton Williamson as Makena (season 1; 3 episodes), Juliette's press agent who manages her career and fosters her reputation.
David Clayton Rogers as Jason Scott (season 1; 3 episodes), Gunnar's brother, who got convicted to an 8-year sentence after armed robbery. He is beaten to death after Gunnar throws the gun he has acquired, illegally, in a river. He taught Gunnar to play the guitar.
Derrick Worsley as School Principal (season 3; episode 4), Radio Station Employee (season 2; episode 20), Background Singer (season 2; episode 14), and Police Chief (season 2; episode 11)
J. Karen Thomas as Audrey Carlisle, Coleman's wife (season 1; 4 episodes).
Derek Krantz as Brent McKinney (seasons 1 & 2; 12 episodes), Brent is an openly gay former marketing and public relations employee for Edgehill. He once dated Will.
Nick Jandi as Dr. Caleb Rand (seasons 3–4; 19 episodes), a doctor who Scarlett and Deacon meet when Deacon comes down with liver cancer. Scareltt initially grows close to him as she is worried about Deacon, but the two form a romantic relationship. She breaks up with him in season four when she realizes she has feelings for Gunnar lingering.
Moniqua Plante as Natasha, (season 3; 10 episodes), a prostitute who Jeff uses to grow close to Teddy (without telling Teddy who she really is) and uses to blackmail Teddy. She eventually begins working with the police through a wire to incriminate Teddy to take down Tandy.
Gunnar Sizemore as Micah Brenner, (season 3; 12 episodes), Kiley and Jason's son, Gunnar's nephew for who Kiley lies to Gunnar and tells is his son which leads to a custody battle.
Keean Johnson as Colt Wheeler, (seasons 2–4; 25 episodes), Luke's son who dates Maddie.
Brette Taylor as Pam York, (season 3; 5 episodes), a backup singer on Will's tour who has a fling with Deacon and helps him through the grief that he is going through when Rayna rejects his proposal.
Mykelti Williamson as Terry George, (season 3; 9 episodes), a homeless man who Scarlett befriends and helps get back on her feet when she asks him to help her write music.
Christina Aguilera as Jade St. John, (season 3; 3 episodes), a pop singer who wants to make a country album.
Scott Reeves as Noel Laughlin, (seasons 3–4; 20 episodes), Scarlett and Gunnar's manager who is never written for due to lack of knowledge of in seasons five and six.
Rex Linn as Bill Lexington, (seasons 3–4; 3 episodes), Will's homophobic dad who believes Will killed his mother.
Kyle Dean Massey as Kevin Bicks (seasons 3–5; 14 episodes), An openly gay country music singer-songwriter who collaborates with Will on his music. He later becomes Will's boyfriend.[11]
Riley Smith as Markus Keen, (season 4; 6 episodes), a hotshot member of a newly broken up band who Rayna spends millions to sign and is a trouble to work with. He leaves when he finishes his record and his band gets back together.
Cynthia McWilliams as Gabriella Manning, (season 4; 5 episodes), Luke's assistant who helps him learn the workings of a record label. She and Will have a fling but she leaves when he refuses to accept Will in the public eye.
Michael Lowry as Kenneth Devine, (season 4; 5 episodes), Luke's assistant for his new label.
Scout Taylor-Compton as Erin, (season 4; 6 episodes), a roadie for Juliette's tour who has a fling with Gunnar.
Katie Callaway as Christel, (season 4; 5 episodes), Luke's intern for his new label.
Mark Collie as Frankie (season 4; 14 episodes), a failing bar owner who Deacon buys out to start The Beverly who ends up hurting the family.
Jessy Schram as Cash Gray, (season 4; 12 episodes), Frankie's daughter who poison's Maddie's opinion of her family and helps her get emancipated and launch a solo career.
Rhiannon Giddens as Hallie Jordan (seasons 5–6; 20 episodes), a church woman who saves Juliette after her plane crash and eventually Juliette gets signed to Highway 65.
Joseph David-Jones as Clayton "Clay" Carter (season 5; 14 episodes), Maddie's bipolar rough boyfriend.
Christian Coulson as Damien George (season 5; 9 episodes), a hotshot music video director who works with The Exes. Scarlett has feelings for him and he eventually ends up being the father of her deceased baby.
Katrina Norman as Polly (season 5; 3 episodes), a stunning-road manager who wants Avery to leave Juliette.
Linds Edwards as Carl Hockeny (season 5; 6 episodes), Rayna's stalker who indirectly causes her death.
Ben Taylor as Flynn Burnett (seasons 5–6; 9 episodes), a love interest for Daphne.
Odessa Adlon as Liv (season 5; 6 episodes), a homeless girl Daphne befriends.
Jordan Woods-Robinson as Randall St. Claire (season 5), Rayna's intern who is obsessed with her.
Murray Bartlett as Jakob Fine (season 5-6), a fashion designer who wants Will to leave Kevin.
Josh Stamberg as Darius (season 6), the president of a cult in Nashville who propositions Juliette and brainwashes her to work for him and leave her family while quitting music.
Jake Etheridge as Sean (season 6), a recent military veteran suffering from severe PTSD who has yet to embrace his talent and passion for music. Scarlett meets him at the horse farm and grows close to him.
Rainee Lyleson as Alannah (season 6), a newcomer to the Nashville music scene, and a beautiful singer-songwriter who starts out as a backup singer but will soon be discovered for the star that she actually is meant to be when she joins Avery, Will, and Gunnar's band. Gunnar and Alannah have a fling.
Nic Luken as Jonah Ford (season 6), a famous male pop star who is very handsome, extremely confident, and charming. He and Maddie date.
Dylan Arnold as Twig (season 6), a childhood friend to Jonah who has feelings for Maddie.
Ilse DeLange as Ilse de Witt (season 6), a female coach on a talent show Daphne joins.
Mia Maestro as Rosa (season 6), a dedicated follower of Darius’ cult who now is having doubts about her role in it.
Ronny Cox as Gideon (season 6), a crusty, frustrated, would-be musician and recently reformed lifelong alcoholic who resented his son Deacon's success.
^Kristobak, Ryan (19 April 2014). "First Lady Michelle Obama to Appear on Nashville". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
^Nellie Andreeva (August 29, 2012). "Kimberly Williams-Paisley Joins 'Nashville', '666 Park Ave' & 'Royal Pains' Book Actors". Deadline.com. Retrieved August 30, 2012.
^Raferty, Liz. "Nashville: Which New Characters Will Shake Things Up in Season 2?". TV Guide. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
^Roots, Kimberly (July 23, 2013). "'Nashville' Season 2 Cast — Chaley Rose as Scarlett's Friend Zoey". TVLine. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
^"Laura Benanti Joins ABC's 'Nashville'; Benjamin Ciaramello In 'Secrets & Lies'". Deadline. July 30, 2014. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
^Samantha Highfill (August 11, 2014). "Brette Taylor joins third season of 'Nashville'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
^The Deadline Team (August 11, 2014). "Alexa Vega & Brette Taylor Join 'Nashville'". Deadline. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
^"DWTS Vet Derek Hough Joins Nashville Season 3 for Multi-Episode Arc". TVLine. August 14, 2014. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
^Richenthal, Matt. (August 14, 2013). "Charlie Bewley to Romance Juliette on Nashville Season 2." TVFanatic Casting News.
^Gold, Adam (May 17, 2012). "Music City goes prime-time with Nashville, a new series premiering this fall on ABC". Nashville Scene. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
^"Nashville Adds Broadway Star as Openly Gay Country Singer". TVLine. January 23, 2015. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
^"Luke Bryan to film 'Nashville' scenes during 'GMA' appearance". Retrieved 10 August 2014.
^"Michael Ray Dives into Acting with an Appearance on 'Nashville'".
^"Michael Ray Dives into Acting with an Appearance on 'Nashville'".
^@MichaelAusiello (27 March 2018). "#Nashville Exclusive: Grammy Winner @SteveEarle to Counsel [Spoiler] in Final Season via…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.