Oh no they didn’t! Nashville is pulling out all the stops in Season 4. During the episode “Please Help Me I’m Fallin'” on Wednesday, Oct. 28, the ABC drama killed off one of its longtime characters.
Warning! Spoilers ahead!
Oliver Hudson’s slimey character, Jeff Fordham, will no longer be working for country superstar Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere). In a crazy twist, the music manager fell to his death while trying to help Barnes come off the edge of a building’s roof. Barnes was contemplating suicide after her husband, Avery Barkley (Jonathan Jackson), filed for divorce.
In addition, Barnes has been suffering from postpartum depression since welcoming a baby girl last season. In real life, Panettiere — mom to 10-month-old daughter Kaya — is seeking treatment for PPD and is taking medical leave from the series.
Hudson’s goodbye, meanwhile, may have been due to his work schedule. The actor, Kate Hudson’s younger brother, currently stars on Ryan Murphy’s Fox horror comedy Screams Queens. He replaced Joe Manganiello in the role of Wes Gardner before production began back in March.
“What can I say about Jeff Fordham other than perfect human.. His selflessness was only rivaled by his compassion and his love of squirrels,” Hudson teased via Instagram on Thursday, following the explosive episode. “We will remember him for his smile, his charity work, his ability to hold his breath for a long time.. But most of all we will remember him for his love making, very loud and very quick, just like he lived his life.. #RIPfordham.”
Tell Us: What did you think about the dramatic ending?
Nashville airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.
