All About Sweet Magnolias Season 5’s Release Date, Cast and More News

In season 5 of ‘Sweet Magnolias,’ the best friend trio takes a bite out of the Big Apple

Brooke Elliott as Dana Sue Sullivan, JoAnna Garcia Swisher as Maddie Townsend and Heather Headley as Helen Decatur in Sweet Magnolias. 

Goodbye magnolia trees, hello skyscrapers — the South Carolinian besties of Sweet Magnolia are headed to the Big Apple for season 5.

When the show’s fifth installment premieres on June 11, viewers will follow the “Magnolias” — lifelong best friends Maddie (JoAnna Garcia Swisher), Dana Sue (Brooke Elliott) and Helen (Heather Headley) — as Maddie leaves the small fictional town of Serenity, S.C., and the trio navigates new heartache, tragedy and career strife in the city that never sleeps.

Still, nothing will hinder the close-knit bonds of friendship or their weekly margarita nights. The show is based on the popular novel series of the same name by Sherryl Woods. And with 11 books written, there’s still plenty of material to explore in the on-screen adaptation.

“We are thrilled to let the Magnolias take Manhattan,” showrunner and executive producer Sheryl J. Anderson told Tudum. “While it’s crucial to have true friends in day-to-day life, it’s priceless to have them supporting you when you leap out of your comfort zone.”

Here’s everything to know about Sweet Magnolias season 5, including the latest cast news and plot details.

How did Sweet Magnolias season 4 end?

Justin Bruening and JoAnna Garcia Swisher.Courtesy of Netflix

After catching up on what happened during the time jump from season 3, the Sweet Magnolias season 4 finale concluded with joyful moments: Helen’s boyfriend Erik (Dion Johnstone) proposed, Maddie married Cal (Justin Bruening) and Dana Sue opened her teaching kitchen.

But the Magnolias also experienced their fair share of shake-ups that could majorly change the friendship trio viewers have come to love — like Maddie being offered her dream publishing job in New York City.

If she accepts and moves away from Serenity, it would have a major ripple effect throughout the town.

Goodbye magnolia trees, hello skyscrapers — the South Carolinian besties of Sweet Magnolia are headed to the Big Apple for season 5.

When the show’s fifth installment premieres on June 11, viewers will follow the “Magnolias” — lifelong best friends Maddie (JoAnna Garcia Swisher), Dana Sue (Brooke Elliott) and Helen (Heather Headley) — as Maddie leaves the small fictional town of Serenity, S.C., and the trio navigates new heartache, tragedy and career strife in the city that never sleeps.

Still, nothing will hinder the close-knit bonds of friendship or their weekly margarita nights. The show is based on the popular novel series of the same name by Sherryl Woods. And with 11 books written, there’s still plenty of material to explore in the on-screen adaptation.

“We are thrilled to let the Magnolias take Manhattan,” showrunner and executive producer Sheryl J. Anderson told Tudum. “While it’s crucial to have true friends in day-to-day life, it’s priceless to have them supporting you when you leap out of your comfort zone.”

Here’s everything to know about Sweet Magnolias season 5, including the latest cast news and plot details.

How did Sweet Magnolias season 4 end?

Justin Bruening and JoAnna Garcia Swisher.Courtesy of Netflix

After catching up on what happened during the time jump from season 3, the Sweet Magnolias season 4 finale concluded with joyful moments: Helen’s boyfriend Erik (Dion Johnstone) proposed, Maddie married Cal (Justin Bruening) and Dana Sue opened her teaching kitchen.

But the Magnolias also experienced their fair share of shake-ups that could majorly change the friendship trio viewers have come to love — like Maddie being offered her dream publishing job in New York City.

If she accepts and moves away from Serenity, it would have a major ripple effect throughout the town.

Goodbye magnolia trees, hello skyscrapers — the South Carolinian besties of Sweet Magnolia are headed to the Big Apple for season 5.

When the show’s fifth installment premieres on June 11, viewers will follow the “Magnolias” — lifelong best friends Maddie (JoAnna Garcia Swisher), Dana Sue (Brooke Elliott) and Helen (Heather Headley) — as Maddie leaves the small fictional town of Serenity, S.C., and the trio navigates new heartache, tragedy and career strife in the city that never sleeps.

Still, nothing will hinder the close-knit bonds of friendship or their weekly margarita nights. The show is based on the popular novel series of the same name by Sherryl Woods. And with 11 books written, there’s still plenty of material to explore in the on-screen adaptation.

“We are thrilled to let the Magnolias take Manhattan,” showrunner and executive producer Sheryl J. Anderson told Tudum. “While it’s crucial to have true friends in day-to-day life, it’s priceless to have them supporting you when you leap out of your comfort zone.”

Here’s everything to know about Sweet Magnolias season 5, including the latest cast news and plot details.

How did Sweet Magnolias season 4 end?

Justin Bruening and JoAnna Garcia Swisher.Courtesy of Netflix

After catching up on what happened during the time jump from season 3, the Sweet Magnolias season 4 finale concluded with joyful moments: Helen’s boyfriend Erik (Dion Johnstone) proposed, Maddie married Cal (Justin Bruening) and Dana Sue opened her teaching kitchen.

But the Magnolias also experienced their fair share of shake-ups that could majorly change the friendship trio viewers have come to love — like Maddie being offered her dream publishing job in New York City.

If she accepts and moves away from Serenity, it would have a major ripple effect throughout the town.

How did Sweet Magnolias season 4 end?

Justin Bruening and JoAnna Garcia Swisher.Courtesy of Netflix

After catching up on what happened during the time jump from season 3, the Sweet Magnolias season 4 finale concluded with joyful moments: Helen’s boyfriend Erik (Dion Johnstone) proposed, Maddie married Cal (Justin Bruening) and Dana Sue opened her teaching kitchen.

But the Magnolias also experienced their fair share of shake-ups that could majorly change the friendship trio viewers have come to love — like Maddie being offered her dream publishing job in New York City.

If she accepts and moves away from Serenity, it would have a major ripple effect throughout the town.

Will there be a Sweet Magnolias season 5?

Dion Johnstone and Heather Headley.Courtesy of Netflix

Netflix has confirmed that Sweet Magnolias will return for season 5.

Anderson told Tudum that she’s excited to explore the implications of Maddie’s choice to move away from the comfort of Serenity.

“The reason we even raised the question here at the end of season 4 was because we feel so many women are confronted with, ‘Am I allowed to put myself first this one time?’ “

She continued, “And how complicated it is for somebody like Maddie, with a new marriage, with kids still in the house, with dear, dear friends that you have seen every day your entire life. She’s so deeply woven into the community. Does that mean she has to say no to a dream?”

Who is in the cast of Sweet Magnolias season 5?

The cast of ‘Sweet Magnolias’.Courtesy of Netflix

All of the leads will be returning for season 5 of Sweet Magnolias, and the cast already expressed their excitement for the show’s next chapter.

Headley told Parade that she wants to see her character get “the wedding of all weddings for Serenity.” This isn’t asking a lot, considering that fans have waited four seasons to watch Helen and Erik get together.

In addition, new characters will enter the mix, according to Tudum.

Jamie-Lynn Sigler will play a writer named Nell Winters, who becomes a new friend of Maddie’s in N.Y.C. Meanwhile, Janice Wesley will join the cast as Miss Eustice, a “town matron” in Serenity.

Courtney Grace will play Ronnie’s new business partner Courtney Sinclair, and John Gabriel Rodriquez joins Serenity’s township as Clark Bellson, a rival business who “complicates life for the Magnolias.”

Aidan Merwarth will portray the Whartons’ grandson, Noah, and Austin Woods will star as Blake Monaghan. Tudum said both of these characters cause trouble for the Mini Magnolias.

As for the last new member, Iman Benson, joins the crew as Jessica Whitley, Erik’s niece, who brings “unexpected news to Erik and Helen.”

Who isn’t returning to Sweet Magnolias?

Sweet Magnolias took viewers on a wild ride for its fourth season with the untimely death of Bill, Maddie’s ex-husband played by Chris Klein. So while the series’ primary ensemble cast will return for new episodes, Klein will most likely not.

“First of all, we love Chris,” Anderson told Deadline in February 2024. “This was purely story-driven, and I explained that to him. He was very gracious and understanding. We were looking for an event where we could literally track the ripples through all of his friends and family and reset their journeys accordingly.”

Carson Rowland will also be leaving the cast of Sweet Magnolias for season 5, PEOPLE has confirmed. For the past four seasons, Rowland has played Ty, Maddie’s oldest son.

What will Sweet Magnolias season 5 about?

Brooke Elliott, Heather Headley and JoAnna Garcia Swisher.Courtesy of Netflix

Anderson told Tudum that “chasing your dreams” will be the theme of season 5 as the trio explores the Big Apple — and it’s not just Maddie chasing her dreams, but the whole cast.

“In everybody chasing their dreams, somebody’s catching them, some people are finding they were changed, and some people are just stumbling,” she said. “We like having the three ladies in different places every season.”

One of those dreams include’s Helen’s long-awaited wedding. “It’s been years in the making,” Headley told Parade. “So I think it would be a beautiful celebration … And because it’s Helen, and she’s the one who likes the clothes and all that kind of stuff, it should be quite the wedding.”

In addition, Anderson said that she’s excited to explore the Magnolia’s relationships as they navigate this new chapter. “Not only is this adventure huge fun, but it’s also an opportunity to explore the facets of their relationships in a new context.”

A trailer for Sweet Magnolias season 5 shares a preview of what’s to come for the friend group.

When will Sweet Magnolias season 5 be released?

The cast of ‘Sweet Magnolias’.Courtesy of Netflix

Season 5 of Sweet Magnolias will be released on June 11, 2026.

All four seasons of the series are available to stream on Netflix.