Grey’s Anatomy has been renewed for season 18, with star Ellen Pompeo renewing her contract to play Meredith Grey for at least one more year. The wildly popular ABC hospital drama has been one of the most-watched shows on television for nearly two decades, and its lauded run isn’t over yet. Grey’s Anatomy season 17 is currently running, with the finale scheduled to air on June 3.

Created by Shonda Rhimes, Grey’s Anatomy first premiered in 2005 with an ensemble cast led by Ellen Pompeo, Patrick Dempsey, Chandra Wilson, and Sandra Oh. Since then, the series has gained and lost numerous characters – often in oddly gruesome ways – including Dempsey’s beloved Dr. Derek Shepherd and Oh’s Dr. Cristina Yang. It was recently announced that longtime star, Jesse Williams, who debuted the character of Dr. Jackson Avery all the way back in Grey’s Anatomy season 6, will be the next to leave after season 17 concludes.

Related: What Patrick Dempsey Has Done Since Grey's Anatomy

Through all those cast rotations, Pompeo has remained in the lead role of Meredith Grey, and she’ll be sticking around for at least one more season. Per TVLine, Grey’s Anatomy has been officially renewed for a season 18 at ABC following Pompeo’s renewal of her contract. Grey’s spinoff series, Station 19, was also renewed for a fifth season on the network, and both will continue to be led by showrunner, Krista Vernoff. According to recent ratings reports, the two shows remain ABC’s most-watched scripted series.

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While the extension will surely be celebrated by many of Grey’s Anatomy’s diehard fans, it doesn’t necessarily guarantee a long-term future for the show. Pompeo’s new contract apparently doesn’t ensure more than one additional season, which means that the series could still end at the end of season 18. Pompeo herself previously discussed the possibility of season 17 being the show’s last, so the idea of wrapping up Grey’s in the near future is almost certainly still on the table.

No matter how much longer Grey’s Anatomy remains on the air, however, it’s already cemented its legacy as one of the most successful shows in modern TV history. The series shot Shonda Rhimes to superstardom in Hollywood, launched the careers of many beloved performers, and gathered a massive fan base that’s stuck with the series through numerous changes. Whatever’s in the future for Grey’s Anatomy, it will be powered by the years of stories and fan support of its past.

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Source: TVLine