Rachel Bilson & Kaitlin Doubleday Join 'Nashville' + Sneak Peek of Upcoming Episodes

Rachel Bilson (The O.C., Hart of Dixie) and Kaitlin Doubleday (Empire) are joining the cast of CMT's Nashville. The news was revealed directly to the fans on social media by CMT, Bilson and Doubleday in recognition of the Nashies' unwavering support of the series, which just aired its midseason finale.

"We welcome Rachel and Kaitlin into our incredibly talented ensemble," said Marshall Herskovitz, executive producer and showrunner. "We fondly anticipate the second half of the season filled with surprising twists and turns that make Nashville so beloved by the fans."

The news comes on the heels of record ratings. Last week's emotional episode entitled "I'll Fly Away," hit new season highs on CMT with A18-49 (1.02), W18-49 (1.39), M18-49 (.64), Total Viewers (2.2M), A25-54 (1.27) and W25-54 (1.75). The show broke records as the highest rated Original Series telecast in CMT History with A18-49, W18-49, A25-54 and W25-54 and was the most watched among P2+. Overall on CMT, original premieres are pacing up 46% among A 18-49 and 73% among W 18-49 versus year ago. Total day ratings are up 27% with A 18-49 and 31% with W 18-49.

Rachel Bilson was most recently seen as Dr. Zoe Hart in The CW's series Hart of Dixie, a fish-out-of-water story about a New York City doctor adjusting to life in a small Southern town after she inherits a local medical practice. Her film credits include The To Do List, Waiting for Forever, Jumper, L!fe Happens The Last Kiss, and New York, I Love You. She also appeared twice as a guest star on the television series How I Met Your Mother, as well as Josh Schwartz's Chuck. Bilson also became an integral part of pop culture due to her series regular role on the very popular television show The O.C. for four seasons.

Kaitlin Doubleday gained worldwide recognition portraying Rhonda Lyon on the megahit Empire. At age 17, she made her film debut opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in Steven Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can. Other notable screen credits include the cult classic Waiting, opposite Ryan Reynolds and Anna Farris; The TV Set, a satire about the entertainment business starring David Duchovny; and Accepted, opposite Jonah Hill and Justin Long.

Additionally, CMT released a first look teaser for forthcoming episodes. Check it out below.

HART OF DIXIE Preview: Welcome Back (New Night & Time)

JoBeth Williams as Candice and Rachel Bilson as Dr. Zoe Hart.
Photo Credit: Greg Gayne/The CW

The third season of HART OF DIXIE continues with a new episode ("Here You Come Again") on Friday, March 21 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.

When Zoe's (Rachel Bilson) mom (guest star JoBeth Williams) takes her on as a client, Zoe is secretly thrilled that she will finally get her mother's undivided attention. Brick (Tim Matheson) is surprised to hear that Lemon (Jaime King) is returning to town soon, so he enlists Lavon's (Cress Williams) help to throw a welcome home party for her. However, her return hits an unexpected snag and she is forced to turn to Wade (Wilson Bethel) for help. Meanwhile, George (Scott Porter) is roped into helping Magnolia (guest star Claudia Lee).

Watch a sneak peek video below:

HART OF DIXIE "One More Last Chance" Preview: All In

Reginald VelJohnson as Dash, Cress Williams as Lavon,
Karla Mosley as Elodie and Brandi Burkhardt as Crickett.
Photo Credit: Greg Gayne/The CW

The third season of HART OF DIXIE continues with a new episode ("One More Last Chance") on Monday, January 27th at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.

In a last ditch effort to stop the merger, Lavon (Cress Williams) enlists the entire town's help to try and convince the Lt. Governor (guest star Dondre Whitfield) that BlueBell should be named a historic town.

Zoe (Rachel Bilson) and Joel (guest star Josh Cooke) continue to debate where to live, but the best option lies with Zoe's relative, who does not like New Yorkers.

HART OF DIXIE "Star of the Show" Preview: There's No Business Like Show Business

Photo Credit: The CW

The third season of HART OF DIXIE continues with a new episode ("Star of the Show") on Monday, January 20th at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW. THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL's Karla Mosley returns as Elodie.

When Brick (Tim Matheson) is asked to help with the local cabaret, he nominates Zoe (Rachel Bilson) to save the day.

Lavon (Cress Williams) feels defeated about the possible merger with Fillmore, so it is left up to AnnaBeth (Kaitlyn Black) and Lemon (Jaime King) to motivate him to put up one last fight. Lynly (guest star Antoinette Robertson) continues to become more jealous of George's (Scott Porter) close friendship with Tansy (guest star Mircea Monroe), and keeps a close on eye him.

HART OF DIXIE "Miracles" Sneak Peek

Photo: Greg Gayne/The CW

The third season of HART OF DIXIE continues with a new episode ("Miracles") on Monday, November 25th at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.

When Zoe (Rachel Bilson) finds herself treating her uncle, she takes a chance and invites him to the Hanukkah celebration that she is hosting. However, this lands her in trouble once again with Vivian Wilkes (guest star Lauren Bittner).

Lemon (Jaime King) enlists George (Scott Porter) and Lynly (guest star Antoinette Robertson) to help uncover crucial information about one of Brick's (Tim Matheson) exes before he does anything rash.

HART OF DIXIE "I Run to You" Sneak Peek

Wilson Bethel as Wade and Josh Cooke as Joel.
Photo: Greg Gayne/The CW

The third season of HART OF DIXIE continues with a new episode ("I Run to You") on Monday, November 18th at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.

Zoe (Rachel Bilson) beings to grow leery of how much time Joel (guest star Josh Cooke) and Wade (Wilson Bethel) hang out, especially when it begins to interfere with Joel's writing.

Ready to blame it all on Wade, Zoe does her best to entice Joel back into writing. Lavon (Cress Williams) is using the excuse of coaching his track team to avoid talking to AnnaBeth (Kaitlyn Black).

HART OF DIXIE "Family Tradition" Sneak Peek

Photo Credit: The CW

The third season of HART OF DIXIE continues with a new episode ("Family Tradition") on Monday, November 11 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.

Zoe (Rachel Bilson) and Joel (guest star Josh Cooke) are ready to find a more permanent place to live and find the perfect place is actually owned by a relative of Zoe's biological father's relatives. After tracking the relative down, Zoe is unsure whether she is ready to face her extended family.

HART OF DIXIE "How Do You Like Me Now?" Sneak Peek

Photo Credit: The CW

The third season of HART OF DIXIE continues with a new episode ("How Do You Like Me Now?") on Monday, November 4 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.

Zoe (Rachel Bilson) is blissfully happy when she sees how well Joel (guest star Josh Cooke) is adjusting to BlueBell, until, she learns the townspeople might have a different opinion of him. Wanting to make things better, Zoe volunteers herself and Joel to chaperon the Go Girl Tween Adventure Camp, but when Joel refuses to go along, she is left to fix the the town’s perception on her own.

Sneak Peek: HART OF DIXIE ("Help Me Make it Through the Night")

Tim Matheson and Maree Cheatham.  Cheatham played memorable
roles in DAYS OF OUR LIVES, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW and
GENERAL HOSPITAL, among others.  Photo Credit: The CW

The third season of HART OF DIXIE continues on Monday, October 28th at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.

In "Help Me Make it Through the Night," after Lemon's (Jaime King) fallout with the Belles, she is blacklisted from the Junior League Halloween Masquerade party, so she calls her Grandma Bettie (guest star Maree Cheatham) for help and lands herself a date with another of Alabama's most eligible bachelors.

Lavon (Cress Williams) has a big surprise for his anniversary with AnnaBeth (Kaitlyn Black), but when she has a health scare, she turns to Zoe (Rachel Bilson) to help her out.

Sneak Peek: HART OF DIXIE ("Take This Job and Shove It")

Photo Credit: The CW

The third season of HART OF DIXIE continues on Monday, October 21st at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.

In "Take This Job and Shove It," trying to avoid a confrontation with Brick (Tim Matheson), Zoe (Rachel Bilson) begins discreetly seeing patients in BlueBell again. But her plan goes awry when George (Scott Porter) informs her she has a non-compete clause in her contract that prevents her from practicing for a year in the town.

Lavon (Cress Williams) is thrilled at the chance to bring a minor league baseball team to BlueBell, but needs Brick's help to woo the team's owner.

HART OF DIXIE "Friends in Low Places" Preview

Photo Credit: Robert Voets/The CW

The third season of HART OF DIXIE continues on Monday, October 14th at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.

In "Friends in Low Places," trying to be hospitable to Joel (guest star Josh Cooke), who is visiting BlueBell, Lavon (Cress Williams) and AnnaBeth (Kaitlyn Black) invite him and Zoe (Rachel Bilson) over for a quiet dinner, but when Lemon (Jaime King) meets Alabama's most eligible bachelor, Carter Covington (guest star Ryan McPartlin, PASSIONS), she invites herself along with Carter to the soiree. However, when some unexpected guests show up to the party, Lemon's ruse with Wade (Wilson Bethel) risks being exposed.

PREVIEW: HART OF DIXIE ("Blue Christmas")

Rachel Bilson as Dr. Zoe Hart. Photo: Greg Gayne/The CW

The second season of HART OF DIXIE continues on Tuesday, December 11 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.

In "Blue Christmas," Zoe (Rachel Bilson) finds herself anxious that her ever-critical mother will be visiting BlueBell soon for the holidays. In order to avoid spending quality time with her mother, she busies herself with a patient but potentially ruins Christmas Eve for the whole town. Trying to fix the problem, Zoe upsets Wade (Wilson Bethel) by turning to his dad (guest star Christopher Curry).

PREVIEW: HART OF DIXIE ("Achy Breaky Hearts") With Guest Star Mary Page Keller

Jaime King as Lemon and Rachel Bilson as Dr. Zoe
Hart — Photo: Greg Gayne/The CW

The second season of HART OF DIXIE continues on Tuesday, November 27 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.

In "Achy Breaky Hearts," both Zoe (Rachel Bilson) and Lemon (Jaime King) are having a difficult time accepting Lavon (Cress Williams) and Ruby's (guest star Golden Brooks) new relationship, so they decide to find out Ruby's true intentions. Wade (Wilson Bethel) agrees to supervise a Little Ranger's camping trip to avoid a potentially awkward conversation with George (Scott Porter.) However, when George unexpectedly shows up on the trip, Wade has nowhere to hide, and their talk makes him see his relationship in a different light.

PREVIEW: HART OF DIXIE ("Baby, Don't Get Hooked on Me) With Guest Star McKaley Miller

Rachel Bilson as Dr. Zoe Hart, McKaley Miller as Rose and McKayla
Maroney as Tonya — Photo: Greg Gayne/The CW

The second season of HART OF DIXIE continues on Tuesday, November 20 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.

In "Baby, Don't Get Hooked on Me," After Zoe (Rachel Bilson) treats the high school football team, she learns that Max (guest star Nicholas Podany), who happens to be Rose's (guest star McKaley Miller) new crush, has become infatuated with her instead. Eager to nip his crush in the bud, Zoe learns that Max is prone to overreacting to heartbreak and is encouraged by the town to wait until after the big game, as they are counting on him to win. Lemon (Jaime King) decides to start a catering business and asks AnnaBeth (guest star Kaitlyn Black) to join, but Lemon is taken aback by her answer.

PREVIEW: HART OF DIXIE ("I Walk The Line")

Photo: The CW

The second season of HART OF DIXIE continues on Tuesday, November 13 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.

In "I Walk The Line," with the upcoming Mayoral election looming, Lavon (Cress Williams) and Ruby (guest star Golden Brooks) continue to be tied in the polls, leaving Lemon (Jaime King) no choice but to use some creative methods to win. Elsewhere, George (Scott Porter) and Wade (Wilson Bethel) are also tasked with trying to secure some last-minute votes, but run into a problem when Wade's ex-wife Tansy (guest star Mircea Monroe) refuses to cooperate with their scheme.

PREVIEW: HART OF DIXIE ("Suspicious Minds") With Guest Star Laura Bell Bundy

Photo: Greg Gayne/The CW

The second season of HART OF DIXIE continues on Tuesday, October 23 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW. GUIDING LIGHT alum Laura Bell Bundy guest stars.

In the episode, titled "Suspicious Minds," while Zoe (Rachel Bilson) tries to keep things casual with Wade (Wilson Bethel), she becomes jealous after she sees him with another woman. Zoe decides to two can play at that game, and sets up a date with Ruby’s (guest star Golden Brooks) cousin. Reluctantly, Lavon (Cress Williams) agrees to let Lemon (Jaime King) be his campaign manager, but he unexpectedly becomes part of a town scandal when he takes the fall for her, a move which could end up costing him the Mayoral race.

PREVIEW: HART OF DIXIE ("If It Makes You Happy") With Guest Star Laura Bell Bundy

Photo: Greg Gayne/The CW

The second season of HART OF DIXIE continues on Tuesday, October 16 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW. GUIDING LIGHT alum Laura Bell Bundy guest stars.

In the episode titled "If It Makes You Happy," when Zoe (Rachel Bilson) reads about her fellow classmates' accomplishments in her Alumni magazine, she is upset that they list her as "retired" and invites the reporter to BlueBell for an interview. However, Zoe has a hard time convincing the reporter that she actually has a thriving medical practice in BlueBell - that is, until she comes across a rare and potentially serious disease.

Trying to be considerate of Lemon's (Jaime King) feelings, George (Scott Porter) informs her that he is going out on a date, making her feel that she too needs to find a date.

PREVIEW: HART OF DIXIE ("Always On My Mind")

Photo: Greg Gayne/The CW

The second season of HART OF DIXIE continues on Tuesday, October 9 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.

In the episode titled "Always On My Mind," Zoe (Rachel Bilson) is trying hard to stay away from Wade (Wilson Bethel), but when Rose (guest star McKaley Miller) enlists her help in throwing the first BlueBellapalooza, she is forced to ask Wade to convince his old band mate to be the musical act on short notice. Wade convinces George (Scott Porter) to start playing the field and agrees to be his wingman, but when Wade stands him up, he decides to follow the seemingly questionable advice solo.

Meanwhile, Brick (Tim Matheson) tries to trick Lemon (Jaime King) into working for him, but she is determined to keep her waitressing job, that is until one of her customers ends up needing medical attention.

Watch a sneak peek below:

PREVIEW: HART OF DIXIE Season 2 Premiere

The second season of HART OF DIXIE premieres on Tuesday, October 2 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.

In the episode titled "I Fall to Pieces," after George confesses his feelings to Zoe (Rachel Bilson), she finds herself having to make a tough decision between George (Scott Porter) and Wade (Wilson Bethel), leaving the two guys at odds on how to handle the situation. In search of some much needed girl advice, Zoe makes a new fast friend in former BlueBell resident Ruby Jeffries (guest star Golden Brooks), who no one is excited to see.

Lemon (Jaime King) decides it’s time to get her own apartment and a job, but it’s tougher than she thought. Continuing to forge ahead with her new life, Lemon proceeds to return the wedding presents, but a sudden detour to Zoe’s while holding a cake knife creates a stir with the townspeople.

Watch a sneak peek below: