We first meet mom-of-three Maddie after she’s separated from her high school sweetheart and husband, Bill (Chris Klein), and stepped back into the workforce. She’s still hurt from Bill’s cheating, but sparks fly between her and her oldest son’s ex-pro baseball coach, Cal (Justin Bruening). As Season 3 begins, Maddie and Cal’s relationship is in a crucial spot. “For Maddie, the dust feels like it’s settling a little bit after the divorce,” Swisher told Tudum in June.  

Maddie manages the spa she and her besties decide to open together, and parents her two teen boys and elementary-age daughter. Now that she’s more settled in her new role, she’s going to spend Season 3 “determining what that next chapter is really going to look like,” Swisher said. “I think the last couple of years have been putting back the pieces for her. She’s been met with this great love, and she’s got her sisterhood, and her children are somewhat back on track. Now it’s time to really figure out what the future holds for her and what that really looks like.”

Best known for her breakout TV role as daughter Cheyenne in the long-running sitcom Reba, Garcia Swisher has been a staple on television since her days on Nickelodeon’s Are You Afraid of the Dark. Other recent TV highlights before joining the Sweet Magnolias cast include iconic Disney princess Ariel in Once Upon a Time and Betty Grissom in The Astronaut Wives Club.

Career-minded Helen is an accomplished attorney — the top lawyer in Serenity, for what it’s worth. She's had romantic dalliances with longtime love Ryan (Michael Shenefelt) and Dana Sue’s star chef, Erik (Dion Johnstone), but Season 2 was an emotional one: Helen suffered a miscarriage and, in the cliffhanger finale, Ryan finally proposed. Without revealing too much, Headley says that Season 3 will see an important shift for Helen’s romantic life. “She’s just surrendered to the fact that, ‘I made the decision and this is what it is, and here it is.’ There is such an arc to her,” Headley teased in June. 

Another important fact about Helen: She’s also an incredible singer, but that’s probably because she’s played by a legendary Tony winner.

The musical theater icon took home a Tony in 2000 for her role in Aida, and originated the role of Nala in The Lion King musical. She’s also brought down the (Broadway) house in Dreamgirls and The Color Purple. Most recently she played Clara Ward in the Aretha Franklin film Respect and Dr. Jamison in the series She’s Gotta Have It.

Chef Dana Sue owns her own namesake restaurant, Sullivan’s, where she hustles to maintain a successful establishment while also serving delicious food. She’s in business with her fellow Sweet Magnolias and has a teen daughter who helps her in the restaurant. At various times, sparks have flown between Dana Sue and her friendly farm supplier, Jeremy (Chase Anderson), her old fling and silent partner Micah (Marland Burke) and even her estranged husband, Ronnie (Brandon Quinn), who is back in the picture in a big way for Season 3.

“They’re still trying to figure out where this relationship is going to land," Elliott told Tudum. In a June interview, she revealed that Dana Sue and Ronnie are taking this season to reexamine their relationship — “to re-look at how they communicate, re-look at how they take care of themselves, how they take care of each other.”

Elliott charmed TV audiences as lawyer Jane Bingham in the series Drop Dead Diva, and isn’t the only theater veteran in the cast. Like co-star Headley she’s had her own Broadway stints (in the shows Taboo and The Pirate Queen). 

The cause of much drama in Serenity, Bill is one of the town’s leading doctors, as well as Maddie's ex-husband and the father of their three kids. The two split after Bill had an affair with his nurse at Serenity Family Physicians, Noreen (Jamie Lynn Spears), who became pregnant.  

A staple of big-screen comedies in the late ’90s, Klein broke out alongside Reese Witherspoon in the dark comedy Election. He’s starred in films including the American Pie series, Just Friends and American Dreamz, and more recently in series including The Flash and Wilfred.

The other woman in Bill’s affair is a nurse who, over the course of the first season, realizes she deserves better than Bill’s philandering ways and dumps him. She grows close with Maddie and Bill’s sensitive middle child, Kyle (Logan Allen), and slowly starts to earn Maddie’s trust. Her best friend in Serenity is Isaac (Chris Medlin), one of Dana Sue’s loyal employees.

Jamie Lynn made her on-screen debut as a younger version of her older sister Britney’s character in the Shonda Rhimes–penned movie Crossroads before transitioning to television, including as part of the castr of the sketch comedy series All That and the titular lead of Nickelodeon comedy Zoey 101.

In Season 1, former professional baseball player Cal arrived in town as the new coach at Serenity High School — and a new love interest for the newly single Maddie. 

Soap opera veteran Bruening put in several years in All My Children, and has appeared in TV series as varied as the 2008 Knight Rider reboot, the young adult drama Switched at Birth (as well as Ringer, Good Behavior, Ravenswood, Hawaii Five-0 and many more).

Ty is the star pitcher on Serenity High School’s baseball team, and dreams of going pro like his mentor, Cal — or, at least, taking his talents to a top-tier college baseball program. A car accident at the end of Season 1 might have derailed those plans.

Catch Rowland in Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, episodes of the sitcom American Housewife and the Nickelodeon series I Am Frankie.

The middle Townsend child is a sensitive soul who’s interested in acting. He’s a Serenity High School drama club star with a crush on Annie.

After making his professional acting debut in the Nickelodeon series Talia in the Kitchen, Allen appeared in the independent film Bernie the Dolphin and its sequel, the horror series Creepshow, and several episodes of Stranger Things Season 4.

Dana Sue and Ronnie’s daughter, Annie spends her time helping her mom at Sullivan’s while pursuing her real hobby, photography, on the side. She’s friends with both Townsend brothers — and unaware that Kyle has a crush on her. 

Newcomer Judge made her professional acting debut in Sweet Magnolias.

Isaac, who works at Sullivan’s, knows his birth mother is from Serenity and has come to the small town to find her — and he’ll hopefully learn about his birth father in the process.

Medlin is an original Broadway cast member of Mean Girls the Musical and Diana, and he has a background in dance.

Dana Sue’s estranged husband comes back to Serenity with the goal of reuniting with his longtime love and raising their daughter together.

Children of the ’90s will recognize Quinn as Tommy from Big Wolf on Campus, and the actor has also appeared in series as varied as The O.C., Entourage, The Fosters, and Die Hart.

Dana Sue’s ultra-talented sous chef is an integral part of Sullivan’s, both because of his culinary skills and the fact that he’s taken Isaac under his wing. He’s friendly with all of the Magnolias but takes things to the next level with Helen when sparks fly between them.

The Canadian actor has dozens of holiday movies, TV series, and short films on his résumé, including the Apple TV+ kids’ show Jane and Peacock thriller Departure. 

Cal’s mother, Iris, comes to town to celebrate several important occasions with the family in Season 4.

You’ve seen her in plenty of places, but most importantly, you’ve heard her as the voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid.

Bill’s mother, Bonnie, arrives for a stay in Serenity and immediately butts heads with Maddie (and pretty much everyone else she comes into contact with).

Like some of her Sweet Magnolias co-stars, Ivey is a Tony winner with a long history in the theater. Notable film and TV credits include Designing Women, White Collar, and Women Talking.

Maddie’s artist mom has not only encouraged Maddie to pursue her dreams, she’s frequently spending time with her grandchildren to encourage their own creativity.

Theater veteran Lagerfelt has appeared on stages around the world. On-screen, you’ve seen her in everything from Nash Bridges to Minority Report.