Everything to Know So Far About Season 3 of Netflix’s ‘Sweet Magnolias’

Pour it out! Nearly three months after Sweet Magnolias debuted its cliffhanger-laden season 2 finale, Netflix announced its renewal.

“We're going back to Serenity, y'all! 🌸 We are so thrilled to share we have a Season 3 of Sweet Magnolias. Can't wait to welcome y'all home, 🌸” the series’ official Instagram account wrote in May 2022.

Sweet Magnolias became an instant hit on the streaming platform following its May 2020 premiere. Based on Sherryl Woods’ book series of the same name, the Netflix drama follows three childhood best friends in small-town South Carolina as their lasting bond guides them through adulthood, romance, career and parenthood. JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Brooke Elliott and Heather Headley star as besties Maddie Townsend, Dana Sue Sullivan and Helen Decatur, respectively.

Season 2 answered many fans’ burning questions about the previous season before dropping even more bombshell surprises.

“I was, like, left with cliffhangers. I was like, ‘Oh, my God,’” the Drop Dead Diva alum exclusively told Us Weekly in February 2022 ahead of the season 2 premiere. “I was really in it with everybody else. Oh, I hope everyone else will be in it just as much. I can’t imagine they wouldn’t. It’s so good.”

[sendtonews type="float" key="a8G6slBLjd-2836805-14453"]

While Elliott’s character, Dana Sue, eventually reconciled with estranged husband Ronnie (played by Brandon Quinn), the season’s bigger mystery divulged the paternity of her employee Isaac (Chris Medlin). Isaac enlisted lawyer Helen (Headley) to help search for his birth parents, which eventually led them to newspaper editor Peggy (Brittany L. Smith). After a one-night stand at a model UN conference, Peggy gave Isaac up for adoption when she was a teenager. In the finale, viewers learned that Maddie’s ex-husband, Bill Townsend (Chris Klein), is the father.

“I think that she has really made her decision and put it to rest,” Swisher exclusively told Us of the paternity shocker. “I think that this season, in particular, there is no turning back, and I think that offers an opportunity for Bill to kind of explore — like, go find yourself, Bill, turn this ship around. Because if there was that nagging sort of, like, possible forgiveness, I don’t think it would lend itself to that growth. And I think it just is important for Maddie, too, to just [say], ‘This is not happening anymore.’”

Much like devoted fans, the cast is equally enthused about returning to Serenity for even more drama, friendship and margaritas.

“It’s official,” Anneliese Judge, who plays Annie Sullivan on the show, gushed in a May 2022 TikTok video. “Sweet Magnolias was officially renewed for a season 3. I’m so excited. Thank you guys so much.”

Scroll below for everything we know so far about the new episodes:

[podcast_block]

Pour it out! Nearly three months after Sweet Magnolias debuted its cliffhanger-laden season 2 finale, Netflix announced its renewal.

“We're going back to Serenity, y'all! 🌸 We are so thrilled to share we have a Season 3 of Sweet Magnolias. Can't wait to welcome y'all home, 🌸” the series’ official Instagram account wrote in May 2022.

Sweet Magnolias became an instant hit on the streaming platform following its May 2020 premiere. Based on Sherryl Woods’ book series of the same name, the Netflix drama follows three childhood best friends in small-town South Carolina as their lasting bond guides them through adulthood, romance, career and parenthood. JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Brooke Elliott and Heather Headley star as besties Maddie Townsend, Dana Sue Sullivan and Helen Decatur, respectively.

Season 2 answered many fans’ burning questions about the previous season before dropping even more bombshell surprises.

“I was, like, left with cliffhangers. I was like, ‘Oh, my God,’” the Drop Dead Diva alum exclusively told Us Weekly in February 2022 ahead of the season 2 premiere. “I was really in it with everybody else. Oh, I hope everyone else will be in it just as much. I can’t imagine they wouldn’t. It’s so good.”

[sendtonews type="float" key="a8G6slBLjd-2836805-14453"]

While Elliott’s character, Dana Sue, eventually reconciled with estranged husband Ronnie (played by Brandon Quinn), the season’s bigger mystery divulged the paternity of her employee Isaac (Chris Medlin). Isaac enlisted lawyer Helen (Headley) to help search for his birth parents, which eventually led them to newspaper editor Peggy (Brittany L. Smith). After a one-night stand at a model UN conference, Peggy gave Isaac up for adoption when she was a teenager. In the finale, viewers learned that Maddie’s ex-husband, Bill Townsend (Chris Klein), is the father.

“I think that she has really made her decision and put it to rest,” Swisher exclusively told Us of the paternity shocker. “I think that this season, in particular, there is no turning back, and I think that offers an opportunity for Bill to kind of explore — like, go find yourself, Bill, turn this ship around. Because if there was that nagging sort of, like, possible forgiveness, I don’t think it would lend itself to that growth. And I think it just is important for Maddie, too, to just [say], ‘This is not happening anymore.’”

Much like devoted fans, the cast is equally enthused about returning to Serenity for even more drama, friendship and margaritas.

“It’s official,” Anneliese Judge, who plays Annie Sullivan on the show, gushed in a May 2022 TikTok video. “Sweet Magnolias was officially renewed for a season 3. I’m so excited. Thank you guys so much.”

Scroll below for everything we know so far about the new episodes:

[podcast_block]

Season 3 was officially greenlit in May 2022, nearly three months after the previous season dropped on the streaming platform.

In addition to jumpstarting Dana Sue’s new old relationship with Ronnie and the Townsends dealing with the realization that Isaac is a member of the family, the second season of Sweet Magnolias also saw Helen struggle in the wake of her miscarriage. At the same time, Maddie’s relationship with Cal (Justin Bruening) hit a snag after learning of his anger management struggles and past assault charges.

While the show has not officially confirmed the season 3 cast list, it’s likely that Swisher, Elliott and Headley will return, alongside the actors playing their respective love interests and children. Jamie Lynn Spears also stars in the first two seasons.

“There are a lot of plans happening and preparations happening in that we would be ready to hit the ground running when Netflix [makes the renewal announcement,” the Privileged alum told Entertainment Tonight in February 2022. “At this point, I'm completely addicted to the drama. I'm like, 'Bring it on. What else can we do?' I just want all of it to be 10 times more insane and emotional. I tasted the other side, like, so let's get crazy!”

Swisher told the outlet that she thought the new episodes would likely resume “close to where we left off” at the end of season 2.

“Dark hair for the summer can only mean 1 thing..... NOREEEENNNNN💁🏻‍♀️,” the Zoey 101 alum captioned a July 2022 Instagram snap, alongside a "season 3" hashtag.

All 10 episodes of season 3 drop on Netflix on July 20.

The trailer dropped in July 2023, featuring brief glimpses of Maddie, Dana Sue and Helen’s love life troubles.

"Forgiving Ronnie for his mistakes means forgiving myself, too. We’re still finding our footing,” Dana Sue (Elliot) confesses in the footage, shortly before Maddie (Garcia Swisher) proclaims that new challenges are “good for the soul.”