‘Nashville’ Begins Filming Season 3

The hit ABC drama 'Nashville' has begun filming Season 3 in Nashville, Tenn.

The show, which had once considered filming in another location, including Georgia or Texas, began taping for the upcoming season last week.

The Los Angeles-based writing staff returned to Nashville to write for the third season, which included meeting with Sara Evans and Mayor Karl Dean, as well as trips to the Grand Ole Opry and the Bluebird Cafe, among other locations.

Filming for the show began on July 17. One of the first shots was in the sound stage replica of the Bluebird Cafe, which is where many of the scenes are held.

The show, which stars Connie Britton, Hayden Panettiere, Charles ‘Chip’ Esten and Clare Bowen, ultimately remained in Middle Tennessee thanks in part to increased tourism since the show began in 2012.

“It’s been an overwhelmingly good thing for the city," Mayor Dean says. "We have a strong tourism economy and a strong convention economy, but this just adds to it in a way we would never be able to do on our own.”

The third season will premiere on Sept. 24 at 10PM ET on ABC.