T Bone Burnett Leaves ABC’s ‘Nashville’

It became one of the most-watched prime time TV shows, thanks in part to its diverse music, but now Season 2 of 'Nashville' will have another executive music producer at the helm. T Bone Burnett -- who helped find the eclectic songs for the ABC drama, as well as co-produced the show's two soundtracks -- has parted ways with the series.

"His slate of other film, television and recording projects would have made it impossible for him to return for a second season," Burnett's manager explains (quote via The Hollywood Reporter). "He became close to many of the actors on 'Nashville,' and wishes all of them -- as well as the show's producers, writers and crew -- all the best with the coming season."

The prime time show will still be in good hands. Renowned songwriter and producer Buddy Miller, who worked closely with Burnett for the show's first season, will take over as the executive music producer in the fall.

The 65-year-old cites other production jobs, including working on the Coen Brothers film 'Inside Llewyn Davis,' which stars Justin Timberlake and Carey Mulligan, as part of the reason why he chose not to return to the hit TV show. But chances are the songwriter isn't leaving on bad terms, since he is married to the show's creator, Callie Khouri.

"T Bone's schedule this year is so overwhelming with the Llweyn Davis movie coming out and several other producing projects that he has -- Elton John's record and so on," Khouri explains. "We're going to do 'Nashville''s second season with Buddy and some of the other producers that we worked with. T Bone set the gold standard for the show. His commitment to the quality of the music, the sound for the characters and all of that was something that we were very lucky to get him for."

'Nashville,' which stars Hayden Panettiere and Connie Britton, will air on Wednesday nights on ABC this fall.