General Hospital
Jonathan Jackson Interview: His New Role On Nashville Gives GH Favorite A Chance To Showcase His Many Talents!

Courtesy/ABC
Five-time Daytime Emmy winner Jonathan Jackson will finally debut this Wednesday, October 10th (10PMEST/PST) in ABC’s highly touted new dramatic musical series, Nashville!
After needing a break from playing the day in and day out emotional ringers of General Hospital’s Lucky Spencer, Jonathan decided to leave GH at the end of last year, and quickly was cast in the new ABC primetime series as aspiring singer/songwriter, Avery Barkley! Now anyone who has followed Jackson’s career knows that not only does he act, but he is indeed a singer/songwriter, and has his own very popular band, Enation. So with Jonathan being cast in this most buzzed about of new series, television fans nationwide will get to see the many talents of this young star.
On-Air On-Soaps caught up with Jonathan to get his thoughts on: his new character, getting the opportunity to sing in the primetime series, if he will share screen time with another soap alum, co-star Hayden Panettiere, and taking a brief stroll down memory lane to the red carpet at the 39th Annual Daytime Emmys this past June.
Soap fans are looking forward to seeing you and Hayden Panettiere (Juliette Barnes) together on-screen in Nashville. In the pilot episode, you two literally bump into each other! Will the two of you have more scenes together as the first season of Nashville progresses?

Courtesy/ABC
JONATHAN: I think that is somewhat inevitable, and our characters do bump into each other in the pilot. We had shot the pilot a while ago, obviously, and then started filming all-new episodes on August 3rd. But in terms of the long term projectory, I don’t know where the two are headed. It’s pretty mysterious right now.
You have said in interviews that your character of Avery Barkley is not a good guy, nor a bad guy. Any change in that philosophy?
JONATHAN: One of the things that Nashville creator Callie Khouri is good at is character development, and having the characters have complexities and contradictions. I think there are going to be a lot of surprises thrown at us as actors through the season … who are these characters and what is going to come out of them in certain situations and with certain other characters. So I am just really excited to be a part of that. I am interested to see if he is a gray character, and not black nor white, or not!
So I hear you and the cast are performing some Elvis Costello tunes in Nashville?
JONATHAN: Yes. They are all originals. These are all songs Elvis Costello wrote, but they had never been recorded before, and T-Bone Burnett is producing the music. It’s pretty crazy!

Courtesy/Enation
Would you try to get a song from your band, Enation on Nashville, or the soundtrack for the series?
JONATHAN: Well, only God knows, right? But they are open to hearing some stuff. I am trying to schedule a day in a studio in Nashville to record some demos, because some of the songs that I think would fit with the show I haven’t demo’d … ever. I have a lot of songs that I have written that I had not recorded with the band that I could send to them. Hopefully, I will get a couple of days to record some of them and see if something can fit for Nashville!
It has been so cool to watch your career. You started out as a very young boy with this knockout performance on General Hospital as Lucky Spencer, left the show to do feature films, your music, your writing, came back to GH to reprise the role of Lucky and won two more Daytime Emmys for it to add to your collection. Nashville seems, on paper, like the perfect storm for you … acting and music colliding in a big way, where both your passions come together in a role on a major network television series!
JONATHAN: It’s amazing to do this type of show, and for me it’s incredible! I have had conversations with my brother, and even my father who said to me a few years ago, “You know, what if there were a show about a young musician? And you guys should write that!” And I said, “Yeah, that would be great. But … do you have any idea how hard it is to get a show on the air?” And then, this show happened. It’s crazy!
So you and Lisa and the kids moved to Nashville? Everyone is moving to Nashville: Steve Burton (Jason, GH), Scott Reeves (Steven, GH) has home in Music City, etc.

Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
JONATHAN: We did make the move to Nashville. We are renting a house, and we are on blow-up mattresses! (Laughs) It’s an adventure.
When I last saw you, it was at the 39th Annual Daytime Emmys and we were on the red carpet doing our interview, and all of a sudden we heard all of this commotion. We turned around and saw an alligator (thanks to Jack Hanna) coming at us, among other things! Have you seen the video interview? It is really quite funny!
JONATHAN: No. I haven’t, but I wanted to see it! I just couldn’t believe how close Jack Hanna was getting to us. He was bringing these animals towards us! And, I am not an animal expert. I don’t know what they are going to do! I am a human being here. (Laughs) I thought, “What the heck is this?” Wasn’t it a porcupine and an alligator that went by us? Oh, man! (Laughs)
So soapers, will you be tuning-in to see Jonathan in his new role on Nashville? Are you looking forward to seeing him sing on the series as well? And, would you like to see him return for a guest stint on General Hospital? Let us know!
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Jonathan Bennett Receives 3 ‘Critics Choice Real TV Awards’ Nominations for Hallmark Series, ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’
Many things are coming up roses for Jonathan Bennett! On the heels of the news that he is set to debut this month in the role of Joe Fitzpatrick on General Hospital, who is rumored to be a new love interest for Lucas Jones (Van Hansis), comes the news that Bennett’s reality series, Finding Mr. Christmas has received 3 nomination for the Critics Choice Real TV Awards.
Bennett’s Hallmark Channel series finds itself in tough competition alongside fellow nominees: RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV), Squid Game: The Challenge (Netflix), Survivor 50 (CBS), Top Chef (Bravo) and The Traitors (Peacock). In addition, Jonathan himself is nominated for Best Show Host and the series participants as the Best Ensemble Cast in an Unscripted Series.
The Critics Choice Association (CCA) revealed the nominees for the eighth annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards on Thursday, which recognize excellence in nonfiction, unscripted and reality programming across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. Winners will be announced online at CriticsChoice.com on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 9:00am PT/12:00pm ET.

Photo: Hallmark
Taking to his Instagram to celebrate the nominations, GH’s Bennett, enthused, “3 Critic Choice Nominations! I’m so proud of the FINDING MR CHRISTMAS and to be in the company of all the legends in all these categories is so surreal! Congrats to Hallmark Channel and to our nominated cast and nominated show and everyone who made this magical show possible. This is crazy! This gives FMC 6 Critics Choice nominations in 2 years. Not bad for a little show on Hallmark Channel. What are your thoughts on our show?” Jumping first into the comment thread was one of his new GH co-stars, Dominic Zamprogna (Dante) who expressed, “Yeah buddy!!!🔥🔥”
In the series, Bennett, the host and co-creator spends eight weeks guiding 10 aspiring actors through a series of “festive face-offs” and acting challenges alongside actors like soap opera notables, Hunter King (ex-Summer, Y&R) and Alison Sweeney (Sami, DAYS). Along the way, they develop their skills and a bond with one another. The show, which is available on Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Plus, highlights LGBTQ+ representation with openly gay contestants vying to be the next Hallmark star.
It should be noted that Traitors received the most Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations with 6 nods, followed by Dancing with the Stars with 4.
Bennett is very familiar to daytime fans having started his career as JR Chandler on All My Children in 2000-2001, before landing the part of Aaron Samuels in the motion picture, Mean Girls in 2004 starring Lindsay Lohan, which would become his breakout performance.
You can check out the full list of Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations here.
So, excited for Jonathan Bennett’s General Hospital debut this month? Have you ever watched Finding Mr. Christmas on Hallmark? Let us know via the comment section below.
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General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Kelly Thiebaud on Britt and Cassius Sibling Drama, But Who Will Ultimately Blow His Cover?
On the April 30 episode of General Hospital, Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) had some choice words and warning for her brother Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey) who has been masquerading as his twin, the very dead, Nathan West.
As the story has unfolded, viewers learned that Britt knew all along that when “Nathan” showed up in Port Charles seemingly resurrected with a missing 7 years of his life unexplained, that Cassius was taking his place.
Now in developments on today’s GH, Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) is figuring out that this guy pretending to be Nathan is someone else, and Cassius learns from Britt, that Joss is not just a ditzy sorority girl as he claimed, but a WSB agent! The moment stuns Cassius. Are the walls about to close in on him and his charade?

Courtesy/ABC
Daytime Emmy winner, Kelly Thiebaud spoke to Soap Opera Digest, about the story point and getting the opportunity this time back at GH to work with Ryan Paevey, when she hadn’t had the chance to before.
BROTHERLY LOVE?
Thiebaud expressed on sharing scenes with Ryan Paevey, “It’s just been so wonderful to have him back and to actually work with him! When he first came onto the show (as Nathan at the end of 2013) I was kind of heading out — it was right towards the end of my contract, so we didn’t actually work together a ton. It’s been really refreshing and so much fun to really spend time together and get to know each other and work together. I think we have really great on-camera chemistry and banter with each other. I really enjoy working with him.”
With the stakes at an all-time, Thiebaud explained how she views her on-screen alter-ego’s involvement with her more hot-to-temper sibling and why Britt revealed the truth about Josslyn to him. “People finding out about Cassius would expose what she’s involved in and what she agreed to do,” explains Kelly “And now Josslyn is digging around, and she’s connected to Carly (Laura Wright) to Jason (Steve Burton) and that whole dynamic! It’s messy!”
BRITT’S MURKY FUTURE
Britt has currently also reached her breaking point with Jason being carted away by the WSB, Rocco (Finn Carr), the child she gave birth to, shooting Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) to protect her and Jason, Marco (Adrian Anchondo) being killed after trying to help her, and Cullum holding over her head getting her Huntington’s disease medication to control her symptoms, while blackmailing her into finishing the research on her father, Cesar Faison’s, final project. Thiebaud summed it up best for Britt right now, sharing, “It’s been a really tough time for her.”
So, who do you think will be the person to blow Cassius’ cover? Will it be Britt herself? Josslyn? Liesl? Brennan? Nina? Lulu? Rocco, Maxie, Cullum or someone else? Let us know your pick in the comment section.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Michael Reveals His Plan to Set Up Chase and Willow to Have an Affair
After the Wednesday, April 29 episode of General Hospital, it’s clear outside interference and other circumstances are set to blow Chase (Josh Swickard) and Brook Lynn’s (Amanda Setton) marriage sky high, as Michael (Rory Gibson) reveals his plans to entrap Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) and use her relationship with Chase to do it!
In story, Michael dropped by unexpectedly to Carly’s (Laura Wright). A plotting Michael reveals his plan to nudge Willow and Chase into having an affair. Michael hopes it would create both a political and personal scandal, where Willow would lose her seat in congress. In the scenario, she would be having an affair with her ex-husband, while taking care of her supposed disabled husband, Drew (Cameron Mathison), who cannot speak and is confined to a wheelchair, which in turn will look horrible for Willow’s character.
Carly asked does he really want to destroy his cousin, Brook Lynn’s life in the process? Michael goes in on Chase’s holier than thou attitude, and says he is going to set-up the circumstances that would lead Chase and Willow to betray their spouses, and hit the sheets together. Michael swears to Carly what the two of them do is up to them, but he’s going to go on the offense with this.
MICHAEL HAS BACK-UP
Later, Jacinda (Paige Herschell) is talking with Charlotte (Bluesy Burke) at Crimson and how much she dislikes Willow because of what she has done to Michael. Just then, Michael shows up and tells Jacinda privately, he’s figured out a way to fight Willow. Looks like Jacinda might work with Michael to bring down Willow and use Chase as the person to do it!
At the hospital, Lucas (Van Hansis) tells Josslyn (Eden McCoy) that Carly is cheating on Jack, but he doesn’t know with who. Josslyn suddenly flashes back to the moment she found her mother harboring a fugitive, Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart), in her attic, and as figured out that her mother is sleeping with him. She heads out.

Courtesy/ABC
BRENNAN IS ABOUT TO LEARN ABOUT CARLY
Next thing you know, Josslyn has showed up inside Jack’s (Chris McKenna) hotel room at the Metro Court and when he enters his room, he is shocked to find her there. He lays into her for not keeping his distance and that Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) will have no problem killing her if he knows she’s WSB. Josslyn fires back that he is only concerned about that because his relationship with her mother depends on her being safe. But then, she lays the boom, and tells Jack, Well, you’re too late. You already lost her.”
LULU GETS A GLIMPSE OF CASSIUS’ TEMPER
In addition, Lulu (Alexa Havins) sees a different side of “Nathan.” Since she is unaware that the man before her is his twin, Cassius Fasion (Ryan Paevey), he tells her that Rocco (Finn Carr) blabbed that he shot Cullum to Britt (Kelly Thiebaud), and now he thinks they should send him away to stop him from talking to everyone else. This concerns Lulu, who rails at Nathan for telling her what to do with her son and that she isn’t going to abandon him. With “Nathan’s” outburst at her on the matter, will she finally get a clue this is not the man she thinks it is?
So, what do you think of Michael’s plan to push Willow and Chase into an affair? Will it work or backfire? Do you think Joss will reveal that Valentin is the man sleeping with Carly to Brennan, which will send him in a rage? Will Lulu continue to be clueless about “Nathan?” Weigh-in via the comment section below. But first, take a look at the GH video tease for today’s April 30 episode.
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Awesome interview! But I’m a little confused b/c I read in the Washington Post that JJ did in fact already record a song he wrote for Nashville and they are going to use it on the show. Maybe that happened after this interview took place?
I’ve been very excited about seeing Jonathan on Nashville plus we get the bonus of watching him sing. I’ve been a long time fan of his and have missed watching him on gh so as long as gh gives him a great storyline I hope he’s able to return for a short time. He’s one of the best actors I seen in a long time and he so deserve any success that comes he’s way.
He is an awesome actor. Ever since I saw him in “The Deep End of the Ocean” I have followed him. He was fabulous in that. Can’t wait to see him in Nashville.
Not watching.Boycotting ABC except for GH.Been on another network would have checked it out.Sounds like a copy of Country Strong.
Ditto for me Mary
Jonathan is an incredible actor and singer and the guys in Enation are absolutely sweet and down to earth and their music is inspiring and really really good. I’m so happy that Jonathan finally found something that clicks with him. The people at GH should be ashamed of themselves for not giving Jonathan what he needed. He came back to GH and I started to watch again, hoping that we would get our LnL2 reunion, but was disappointed with TPTB, who ruined it for us, thank God, they have new writers and producers. Thank you Jesus!
Great interview with J.J. I wish him the best on his new acting adventure! “Lucky” him to perform two of his loves, acting and singing in one of this years hot new soaps Nashville.
Johnathan: I love you! I simply love you.
Now listen up. I hope your head doesn’t get to big and you blow up on this show and forget about General Hospital, your historic character and heir to Luke and Laura. Yes, I want you to be a BIG STAR big as they come. In fact, some of the bigger star’s being paid BIG BUCKS you can RUN CIRCLES AROUND, acting. You should have long… gone BIG-TIME in Hollywood. Here’s the deal: Please always save time and space for your role of Lucky Spencer. That character is a ” heir ” to an IMPT legacy on the show-greater than NONE OTHER in Daytimes ” Rich” history. So if Genie Frances comes back, PLEASE PLEASE and PLEASE, come back to the show (even if you have to pre-tap scenes) and complete the Luck, Laura, Lucky, Lulu family. You can do this for along time IF they (the writer’s) know how to make it work with your other job, Nashville. The pleasure as YOU, (a grown Lucky) with Lulu, Luke, Laura, and YOU ALL being on the canvas for a long period of time, hasn’t been. Please Johnathan Jackson, give that to us providing Genie Frances comes back. If we see you as a Spencer ( four ( 4) times out the month, that’s BETTER than NOT seeing you at ALL. We love you Johnathan Jackson. And you will be more loved for this. Good Luck on Nashville and I hope to see on General Hospital (here and there) but as long as I see you.
Thank you in advance.
Michael said: So soapers, would uyou like to see him return for a guest stint on General Hospital? Let us know!
1love says: No Michael, I would NOT like to see Johnathan return for a guest stunt. I would like to see him return on a permanent, less than half time basis. Like 4 times a month. Go to the Gh set twice a month and shoot his scenes for the whole month. Thats what I would like, given Genie Frances return.
Nice interview with Jonathan, Michael. He is one of the most talented actors ever. I hope this show does well by him. I know I will be watching! Good luck..Lucky…
very excited. will definately watch.
It’s so nice to see Jonathan on Nashville. He can do no wrong acting wise. I like the show so far and hope he will be the break-out star as the show continues. Actually, the show is really a soap in night time.It’s too bad GH couldn’t do the same……