Three Nashville stars gathered onstage Friday afternoon (June 10) at the CMA Music Festival to spread the word that the popular TV series has a new home on CMT.

Earlier in the day, CMT, Hulu, Lionsgate and ABC Studios announced that the critically acclaimed and fan favorite Nashville will return with a brand new season on CMT. Hulu will continue to bring fans the series by making all Nashville episodes available to stream the day after they air on CMT.

Thousands of fans in downtown Nashville for the CMA Music Festival had been too immersed in nonstop country concerts to have heard the news until Nashville star Charles Esten's performance on the Riverfront Park stage.

With castmates Clare Bowen and Chris Carmack joining Esten onstage, the fans were ecstatic CMT personality Cody Alan shared the update while a banner rolled out to proclaiming the hashtags #NashvilleSaved and #NashvilleCMT.

"The fact that you guys welcomed us with open arms in 2012 when we did the pilot was one thing," said Bowen, who portrays Scarlett O’Connor on the series. "But the fact that you called us back with the roar of lions is another."

Carmack, who is cast as Will Lexington, shared Bowen's sentiments.

"I just wanted to say how grateful we are to find a home on CMT because they have been so wonderful to us since the very beginning and are such an integral part of this town," he said. "We feel like a part of this town. … Thank you to Nashville, thank you to the fans. Thank you for giving us new life."

Esten, best known as Deacon Claybourne in the series, kept his fellow cast members onstage to perform "A Life That's Good," a popular song from Nashville's second season.

"In our hearts, this is the deepest thank you we can give to the fans of Nashville, to the city of Nashville, to the crew, to CMT, to Hulu … you have given us a life that's good," Esten told the crowd. "It's what we wish for all of you and country fans everywhere."