Sweet Magnolias Season 5 Loses Original Cast Member 8 Days Before Netflix Release

One of the stars of Sweet Magnolias has exited the series just as Netflix is getting ready to release a brand-new season of the romantic drama.

According to People, Carson Rowland, who has played Ty Townsend in every single episode of Sweet Magnolias, has left the show and will not be appearing in the upcoming fifth season, which arrives on Netflix on June 11. As of this writing, it’s not clear if Rowland made the choice to leave himself or if it was a production decision.

Rowland last posted on Instagram on May 28 after an almost-five-month social media break, assuring his fans that he was alive. The comments section included several fans expressing their disappointment and devastation over Rowland’s exit from Sweet Magnolias, even though the actor had not mentioned anything about the news.

Image via Netflix

Before being cast on the Netflix romantic drama, Rowland had appeared in I Am Frankie, American Housewife and Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin. Following Sweet Magnolias season 4, the actor went on to projects like The Queen’s Jewels and The Beauty. He also served as a co-executive producer on the Golden Globe-nominated film The Testament of Ann Lee.

Sweet Magnolias debuted in 2020 as Netflix began adapting Sherryl Woods’ book series of the same name. The show centers around Maddie Townsend, Dana Sue Sullivan and Helen Decatur, three best friends from South Carolina collectively known as the Sweet Magnolias, who lean on each other through the highs and lows of their lives, including family drama and relationships.

Rowland’s character, Ty, is one of Maddie and Bill Townsend’s children. His storylines have revolved around the aftermath of his parents’ divorce, playing for his high school baseball team at Serenity High, and navigating a relationship with Dana Sue’s daughter, Annie Sullivan. Ty and Annie were good friends as kids but eventually developed feelings for each other.

During Sweet Magnolias season 4, the two lovebirds opened up about their feelings for one another, but their individual plans for the future (like Annie going to college and Ty going on tour in Europe) could put a wrinkle in their desire to be with each other.

With Rowland no longer on the show, it’s not known yet how this will impact Ty and Annie’s romantic storyline during the upcoming Sweet Magnolias season 5. Since Ty had planned to leave the country to go on tour with his band, that could be an easy way for the writers to explain his absence, at least in the short-term.

The actor’s co-stars on Sweet Magnolias include JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Brooke Elliott, Heather Headley, Logan Allen, Anneliese Judge, Justin Bruening, Jamie Lynn Spears, Dion Johnstone, Brandon Quinn and Chris Medlin. Joining the returning cast members for season 5 is Jamie-Lynn Sigler as a character named Nell Winters, who becomes friends with Maddie during her venture in New York.

Sweet Magnolias season 5 premieres Thursday, June 11 on Netflix.

Release Date

May 19, 2020

Network

Netflix

Showrunner

Sheryl J. Anderson

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  Brooke Elliott

  Dana Sue Sullivan

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  JoAnna García Swisher

  Maddie Townsend

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