Sweet Magnolias
Three South Carolina women, best friends since childhood, shepherd each other through the complexities of romance, career, and family.
Sweet Magnolias is an American romantic drama television series developed by Sheryl J. Anderson, based on the Sweet Magnolias novels by Sherryl Woods. It stars JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Brooke Elliott, and Heather Headley as three best friends navigating life in Serenity, South Carolina. The series premiered on Netflix on May 19, 2020, and was canceled after five seasons in September 2026, with its fifth and final season released on June 11, 2026.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Romantic drama
- Developer
- Sheryl J. Anderson
- Based on
- Sweet Magnolias series, Sherryl Woods
- Music
- James Jandrisch
- Opening theme
- "Destination" by Nickel Creek
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Seasons
- 5
Facts from the source article.
Cast and characters
JoAnna Garcia Swisher plays Maddie Townsend, a recently separated woman with three children in Serenity, South Carolina, trying to get back in the workforce while going through a divorce from her husband, Bill. Brooke Elliott is Dana Sue Sullivan, a chef and owner of the restaurant Sullivan's, best friends with Helen and Maddie as part of the Sweet Magnolias. Heather Headley plays Helen Decatur, an accomplished attorney who bought a mansion and converted it into The Corner Spa with Maddie and Dana Sue. Logan Allen plays Kyle Townsend, Maddie and Bill's younger son, a freshman at Serenity High School with a talent for acting. Anneliese Judge plays Annie Sullivan, Dana Sue's daughter, an avid photographer who is friends with the Townsend brothers. Carson Rowland plays Tyler 'Ty' Townsend (seasons 1–4), Maddie and Bill's eldest son, a junior and star pitcher on his high school baseball team. Justin Bruening plays Cal Maddox, Ty's baseball coach and Maddie's new love interest, a former professional baseball player. Chris Klein plays Bill Townsend (seasons 1–3), Maddie's ex-husband and a family doctor at Serenity Family Physicians. Jamie Lynn Spears plays Noreen Fitzgibbons, Bill's pregnant fiancée, a nurse in his office who became his mistress. Dion Johnstone plays Erik Whitley (seasons 2–5; recurring season 1), the sous chef at Sullivan's and a mentor to Isaac. Brandon Quinn plays Ronnie Sullivan (seasons 2–5; guest season 1), Dana Sue's estranged husband and Annie's father. Chris Medlin plays Isaac Downey (seasons 3–5; recurring seasons 1–2), a member of the kitchen staff at Sullivan's who moved to Serenity to find his birth parents, later revealed to be Peggy and Bill. Bianca Berry Tarantino (seasons 1–2) and Ella Grace Helton (seasons 3–5) play Katie Townsend, Maddie and Bill's youngest child. Frank Oakley III plays Harlan Bixby, assistant coach of the Serenity High School baseball team.
Production
On September 27, 2018, Netflix gave the series a first season order of ten episodes, based on the Sweet Magnolias book series by Sherryl Woods, with executive producers including Woods, Sheryl J. Anderson, and Dan Paulson. Anderson served as showrunner. Production companies included Daniel L. Paulson Productions. Norman Buckley directed six episodes and served as co-executive producer. On July 23, 2020, Netflix renewed the series for a second season. On May 4, 2022, Netflix renewed for a third season. On October 19, 2023, Netflix renewed for a fourth season. On April 23, 2025, Netflix renewed for a fifth season. On September 18, 2026, Netflix canceled the series after five seasons. On May 20, 2019, Monica Potter, Brooke Elliott, and Heather Headley were announced as leads. On July 1, 2019, Chris Klein, Jamie Lynn Spears, and Justin Bruening joined as series regulars. On August 1, 2019, JoAnna Garcia Swisher was cast as Maddie Townsend, replacing Potter. On May 4, 2021, Dion Johnstone and Brandon Quinn were promoted to series regulars for the second season. On June 9, 2023, Ella Grace Helton joined in a recasting, replacing Bianca Berry Tarantino for the third season. On July 22, 2025, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Janice Wesley, Courtney Grace, John Gabriel Rodriquez, Aidan Merwarth, Austin Woods, and Iman Benson were cast in undisclosed roles for the fifth season. Principal photography began on July 8, 2019, in Covington, Georgia.
Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season has a 78% approval rating based on 9 reviews, with an average rating of 6.2/10. The second season has an 80% approval rating based on 5 reviews, with an average rating of 8/10. The third season holds a 57% approval rating based on 7 reviews, with an average rating of 6.3/10. The fourth season has a 100% approval rating based on 5 reviews, with an average rating of 7.2/10. In its first 30 days on Netflix, season 2 was watched globally for 161.3 million hours.
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