I Spent the Weekend With the ‘Virgin River’ Cast in Nashville. Here Are 14 Moments I Can’t Stop Thinking About

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Butt talk, tea, skeletons, and cook-offs! Country Living was in the heart of the action as the stars of Virgin River, The Way Home, and One Tree Hill hit Nashville for the first-ever Meet Cute Con. The swoony convention saw fans, writers, and actors converge at Tennessee’s charming Loveless Barn to celebrate small-town shows, films, stars, and romance. The fun kicked off with a poolside rooftop party at Virgin Hotels Nashville, before fans headed out to the countryside barn for a day of panels, sewing circles, music, shopping, meet-and-greets, and selfies. Read on for the most revealing, enchanting, and fun moments from the convention.

No butts about it

One minute we were chatting gardening and celery butts with Kandyse McClure (Virgin River’s Kaia), the next she was dishing on the butt talk currently making waves in the Virgin River cast’s group text! Members of the chat include McClure, Martin Henderson (Jack), Alexandra Breckenridge (Mel), Zibby Allen (Brie), Benjamin Hollingsworth (Brady) and Colin Lawrence (Preacher). “Martin brought up his butt early on in the group chat,” McClure, 46, spilled. “He sent a meme and started talking about his butt. I opened the group chat and it was 19 messages and it ended with Martin’s butt. My response was, ‘I’ve just arrived—is this the tone of the weekend? Got it!'”

The little show that could…

From butts to legs … Hollingsworth shared how the cast thought Virgin River would be done after one season. “We were like, ‘I think this is it. Nice to meet you. Have a good life,'” he shared during a cast panel.

The one person who knew better? Lawrence, who declared, “This thing’s got legs.”

“He was referring to his own legs,” joked Henderson.

“They are so long!” added Breckenridge, 44. “I mean, if that’s an indication, we’ve got season nine and 10! We’re going to have to speed up our timeline though because we’re aging faster than our characters.”

And the show keeps going—Netflix announced on November 13 that it has been renewed for a record-breaking ninth season, making it the longest-running original scripted series on the streamer.

All hail Jack

From Virgin River to Virgin Hotels Nashville, Henderson knows how to make an entrance. The screams were deafening as the 52-year-old Kiwi entered Friday night’s VIP party at the hotel’s 14th-floor rooftop bar and pool. “I’m a little nervous, but also excited,” he confessed to us on the red carpet, where he also raved about his native New Zealand’s national rugby team, the All Blacks, gearing up for a game the next day. “It’s nice to give back to our fans who have kept us employed for eight years. Hopefully we can make them happy and give some love back.”

There was no shortage of love—the cast couldn’t contain their mutual adoration as they reunited on the carpet. In between hugs and hysterics, they danced it up for the cameras. The lovefest continued the next day at Loveless Barn, where Henderson hit the stage encouraging the crowd’s cheers and screams. While Breckenridge apologized for her screen husband soliciting adoration, Henderson just wanted more. “I love this sound,” he said. “I think y’all are beautiful. You really are the best fans in the world.”

Music from the pond

The Way Home fans were in for a treat as actor and musician Evan Williams, who played Elliot on the popular Hallmark series (now on Netflix), performed following his panel with costar Chyler Leigh (Kat). Kicking off with Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” Williams then went into country, folksy track “I’m Not Alone,” before emotional “Rodeo,” which he wrote for his grandma, who listened to the moving song as she passed away.

The poignant scene took a turn into dinosaur fun as Williams, who releases music under his solo project Bright World, gushed about his 3-month-old son, who he was missing immensely. “It’s the first time I’ve been away from him,” he told us earlier. Since becoming parents, Williams, 41, and his singer/actress wife Rotana Tarabzouni have been writing songs for the cutie, like “Where Is My Dinosaur?” which he not only performed, but had the audience clapping, singing, and roaring along to. Even Hollingsworth joined the audience for the wild roar-along!
If that wasn’t enough, Williams then invited Leigh, 44, to duet with him on sweet, unreleased track “Real Love,” which he wrote for Tarabzouni when they wed. Swoon!

Tea and biscuits—welcome to Nashville

After Hollingsworth raved to Country Living about Loveless Café’s famed biscuits, we couldn’t resist trying the light, fluffy, buttery goodness. And he was right! The café and barn are part of a quaint complex which is a picturesque 30-minute drive from downtown Nashville. Driving in feels like entering a small-town holiday movie with its cute boutique, “Hams and Jams” country market, BBQ goodness, and jolly, joyful staff.

Hilton, too, encouraged conventiongoers to grab a bite at the celebrity hot spot. “The Loveless Café is really cute,” he said. As a former Nashville resident, Hilton also had other recommendations for meet-cute moments in Music City. “Getting a couple of bird scooters and riding around downtown over the bridges is a really cute, romantic thing to do,” he said.

As for what the other stars got up to during their downtime, Henderson visited friends in Franklin, while Hollingsworth checked out local restaurants but kept finding himself back at the rooftop pool at Virgin Hotels Nashville. “I actually wanted to sleep up here!” he told us. Allen sampled local hibiscus tea from award-winning Cottage Hill Flower Farm, then updated us on her own tea project. “I’m working on bringing my loose-leaf infusion to people because the response has been massive,” she said while rocking Friday’s red carpet in a mustard-colored sweater, chic brown shorts and black heels. “Much to my surprise, people are very interested, which is great.”

Every small town needs a decent cuppa!

Brie and Brady forever

We can’t get enough of Brie and Brady, but Allen and Hollingsworth’s real-life friendship is just as adorable. After their red carpet reunion ignited ear-piercing screams on Friday night, Hollingsworth, 42, gushed about Allen, 46, at Saturday’s panel. “There wouldn’t be Brie and Brady without how terrific of a performer Zibby is,” he said. “I hit the scene partner jackpot and I’m forever grateful. The chemistry we have is because of her commitment and her wonderful soul. I lucked out.”

Of course, the question on everyone’s lips is whether Brady will survive his motorcycle accident to see the couple’s love story through. “I was really lonely shooting season eight without Ben,” Henderson cheekily teased. However, Hollingsworth quietly let it slip to us that as soon as the season eight trailer drops, fans will know Brady’s fate. Suddenly we’re scared of this trailer … no news is good news?

Real-life Romeo

As if we weren’t swooning enough! When asked about the best meet-cute moments she’s shared with Hollingsworth during their 14-year marriage, the actor’s gorgeous wife Nila dished how delightfully old-school the father of three is. “He’s very traditional in that he comes home with flowers and always tells me I’m beautiful,” she told us. “He’s always complimenting me in front of the kids, he holds doors open, he rubs my feet. It’s not necessarily about big grand gestures—it’s more little things in our day-to-day life, like bringing me coffee.”

Where do we find our own Prince Hollingsworth?

Our kind of council meeting

One Tree Hill star Tyler Hilton performed a special, intimate set including fan favorites from the series like his John Waite cover “Missing You” and “When the Stars Go Blue,” plus tracks like “Driving to Your House” from his latest album The Calling Hours. “I feel like I’m playing a town banquet,” he laughed about the barn’s intimate town hall feeling. “Or like someone let me into the council meeting.”

Afterward, Hilton told us about his most memorable meet-cute—with ex-wife Megan Park, who he starred with in 2007 film Charlie Bartlett. “Our first scene together was the first time we ever met and it’s on camera – my character taking hers on a date,” recalled Hilton, who took time out from The Calling Hours World Tour to attend the convention. “It’s cute that our meet-cute on camera was our meet-cute in real life, and now we have two kids together!”

While their marriage may have ended, the two have continued happily co-parenting. “The kids have been living with Megan in New York because she’s filming there, and I just filmed something for Fox there, so we were all in New York,” said Hilton, 42. “Even though we’re not together, we’ve been living nearby and I’ve been hanging with the kids a bunch which has been really cool.”

Skeletons in the cenote

Remember that beautiful moment when Jack and Mel leaped into a cenote during their Mexico honeymoon? For adventurous Henderson, who grew up on the beaches of Auckland, New Zealand, it was a dream scene. “I got paid to jump 12 feet into a freshwater cenote in the middle of Mexico—it was cool!” he enthused. But Breckenridge was “terrified” and painfully chilly. “We were in there for hours and it was freezing cold,” she recalled during the Virgin River panel. “We were doing this romantic scene, just trying to try to tread water. Then we found out later there were actual skeletons in that cenote, at the bottom. They didn’t tell us until after—well, particularly me.”

Added Henderson: “We knew she wouldn’t get in [if she knew]!”

Happily ever after?

As for whether Jack and Mel’s family dreams will finally come to fruition, Henderson and Breckenridge couldn’t say too much about the fate of Mel and Jack’s adopted newborn, who was rushed to the hospital with a heart condition in the season seven finale. But Breckenridge did say this. “Regardless of whatever happens at the end of season seven, they will have a family. They will forge ahead and have a family no matter what happens. They’ll find a way. Mel and Jack are going to have a family!”

“Finally,” added Henderson. “I think y’all have been waiting a long enough time to see these guys raise some kids in that beautiful Virgin River cozy style.”

Yes, chef!

When Lawrence was asked if he’s as good in the kitchen as Preacher, he declared, “I am better.” Hollingsworth then asked whether Lawrence might release a cookbook.
“That is an excellent question,” replied Lawrence, 56. “If I did do a cookbook, I would reach out to the fans and say, ‘Send me your recipes,’ then work on the recipes in the book.”

At this, Breckenridge chimed in, “I’m just gonna be here waiting for my dinner invitation,” before Hollingsworth questioned if she’s a better cook than Lawrence.

Cue a cast cook-off!

“I could cook circles around y’all,” declared Breckenridge, who has previously done Instagram Live sessions with Henderson while they bake sourdough together. “I think we should have a cook-off.”

Sign us up as judges!

‘Tis the season—for merry meet-cutes

Our favorite Virgin River couples are about to have some competition for hottest chemistry on Netflix. The show’s writers, Erin Cardillo and Richard Keith, have penned a new holiday rom-com, Guarding Stars, about a bodyguard who starts faking a relationship with the film star she’s protecting. While speaking with Country Living, Cardillo and Keith said Gossip Girl‘s Leighton Meester and Supernatural‘s Jared Padalecki made a fantastic pairing as the film’s leads. “They’re a couple with incredible chemistry,” Cardillo said. “They have an enemies-to-lovers arc in the movie. From the first moment, she’s got him on the ground [beating him up] which is amazing!”

The film also stars The Way Home’s Andie McDowell and Noah LaLonde from My Life with the Walter Boys, while country singer Walker Hayes makes his acting debut in the movie, out on November 18. “It’s got elements of The Proposal, Notting Hill, and The Family Stone,” said Keith. “It’s a really fun combination.”

Meanwhile, The Christmas Ring—a holiday movie which Hollingsworth filled us in about during its theatrical release—has just premiered on Great American Family. During a panel fronted by Hollingsworth and Karen Kingsbury (who wrote the book the movie’s based on), Kingsbury shared how all the background actors were retired or active military members. “I put out a request to my readers and they came forward in their own uniforms to be a part of the movie,” she said.

Storytime with Bethany Joy Lenz

There’s nothing like story time to ooze more cozy small-town vibes! One Tree Hill star Bethany Joy Lenz did a reading from her new book The Betrayal of Cora Wexford, a romantic psychological suspense set in London during the Jack the Ripper murders. Lenz, 45, shared that she’d love for the book to be adapted into a series and would be down to play Cora, but wouldn’t insist on it. “It depends on what’s going on in my life,” she said. “I would love to play Cora, but there are so many variables that go into a cast. If I was handing over rights to a production studio, there’s so many cooks in the kitchen.”

In the meantime, she’s busy starring in Hallmark’s When Calls the Heart spinoff Hope Valley: 1874—alongside her 15-year-old daughter, Maria, who plays Vivian. “She’s so talented and having a lot of fun and learning so much.”

Love at first sight—then on-screen!

It was love at first sight for Lawrence and his wife Lucia Walters. Asked about the best meet-cute moment of his life, the actor promptly recalled the moment he laid eyes on Walters, an actress. “I think what was so meet-cute about it was when I saw her for the very first time, I knew she was the one,” Lawrence gushed at Friday’s party. “I just knew. It was a look, it was a feeling, and I said, ‘That will be my wife.'”

While some stars find it challenging dating fellow actors, the couple have not only made it work, but even starred together on Virgin River—as love interests! Walters played Preacher’s aikido instructor girlfriend Julia. “That was a lot of fun,” Lawrence said. “A lot of people have ups and downs working with their partner, but we have a good relationship. The chemistry was amazing and we had a really good time.”

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