The Sweet Magnolias cast in season 2 saw many characters return, with some new stars being promoted to series regulars. The romantic drama continued to focus on Maddie, Helen, and Dana Sue, the group of friends trying to better their small community in Serenity. Sweet Magnolias season 1 finale delivered some shocking twists that were explored in season 2, above all, the car crash at the ending that saw Kyle being extracted unconscious from his brother’s car. The other passenger’s identity was left unknown until season 2 revealed it was Nellie Lewis, and she was luckily still alive.
Sweet Magnolias season 2 saw Dana Sue juggling a reconciliation with her husband Ronnie and a new relationship with farmer Jeremy. Sweet Magnolias season also showed a blossoming new relationship for Helen, who can finally explore what she feels for chef Erik. Like season 1, Sweet Magnolias season 2 was based on the book series by Sherryl Woods. Sheryl J. Anderson developed Sweet Magnolias the TV show, which focuses on the same characters but also introduced other plot twists in Sweet Magnolias season 1 like the cliffhanger ending. Sweet Magnolias season 2 furthered the stories of Maddie, Helen, Dana Sue, and their kids.
JoAnna Garcia Swisher As Maddie Townsend
Season 2 saw Maddie of the Sweet Magnolias cast finally free from the divorce proceedings from Bill, which gave her the chance to focus more on her kids like she felt she needed at the end of Sweet Magnolias season 1. Unfortunately, Maddie came to realize that her relationship with Cal may be more toxic than initially thought, as his overwhelming anger issues came to a head. JoAnna Garcia Swisher reprised her role as Maddie for season 2. Swisher’s career counts some films and many TV shows, including Gossip Girl, The Mindy Project, and Once Upon A Time.
Heather Headley As Helen Decatur
Singer-songwriter Heather Headley returned as Helen in the Sweet Magnolias cast, a fierce supporter of Serenity’s community and the rock of the magnolias, as both Maddie and Dana Sue could count on her so many times. Helen was reeling from her break-up with Ryan, but Sweet Magnolias' season 2 saw her in a love triangle with Erik and Ryan, and a surprise proposal from Ryan in the finale. Headley’s career as a musical theatre actor got her a Tony Award for her performance in Broadway’s Aida in 2000, but she could be seen more recently in Spike Lee’s She’s Gotta Have It, Chicago Med, and Respect.
Brooke Elliott As Dana Sue Sullivan
Sweet Magnolias season 1 ended with Dana Sue entering into a relationship with farmer Jeremy of the Sweet Magnolias cast, but that was threatened by her estranged husband Ronnie’s return. In season 2, Dana and Ronnie ultimately decided to give their marriage another try after she fixes up his truck as a peace offering. Brooke Elliott came back in Sweet Magnolias season 2 as Dana Sue Sullivan, energetic chef and part-owner of Sullivan’s restaurant. Elliott had a musical theatre career and a television career, and she can be recognized from Lifetime’s Drop Dead Diva and the TV movie A Country Christmas Harmony.
Justin Bruening As Cal Maddox
Justin Bruening returned as baseball coach Cal Maddox in the Sweet Magnolias cast, who continued coaching Maddie’s firstborn Tyler and his relationship with Maddie. Famous for playing April’s husband Matthew in Grey’s Anatomy, Bruening plays one of the main love interests in Sweet Magnolias, and although Maddie and Cal weren’t on the best of terms at the end of season one, season 2 saw them flourish — until his major anger issues started to show. Apart from Grey’s Anatomy and Sweet Magnolias, Bruening has an extensive career in television, including the soap All My Children and NBC’s Knight Rider, as well as the recent TV movie Reindeer Games Homecoming.
Carson Rowland As Tyler Townsend
Tyler Townsend wanted to continue focusing on baseball in Sweet Magnolias season 2, but broke his arm after a fight with Jackson in the hospital and was subsequently unable to recover by the time the new season started. Instead, Tyler of the Sweet Magnolias cast spends most of his time fostering his relationship with CeCe, reading, and playing his guitar. In the end, he admits to his dad that he doesn't want to play college baseball. Carson Rowland reprised his role as Tyler and can be recognized from Nickelodeon’s I am Frankie and HBO Max’s Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin.
Sweet Magnolias Season 2 Supporting Cast & Characters
Jamie Lynn Spears as Noreen – Spears returned as Noreen in the Sweet Magnolias cast, with her role becoming a series regular rather than a guest star. The biggest Sweet Magnolias drama with her character is that she's living with Isaac, and he hasn't told her that Bill is his father. Spears starred in Zoey 101 and All That.
Anneliese Judge as Annie – Dana Sue’s only daughter in the Sweet Magnolias cast, Annie continued focusing on school and photography in Sweet Magnolias season 2. She surprisingly struck up a relationship with Jackson, much to Tyler's chagrin. Judge also played Jessica Waters in Where’s Rose and will appear as Lexi in the upcoming short Theo.
Logan Allen as Kyle – Kyle had to deal with the aftermath of his car accident in season 2. He and Nellie's relationship grew in season 2, but unfortunately her parents won't allow her to fraternize with anyone involved with the Sweet Magnolias. Allen also starred in Talia in the Kitchen, and had a brief role as Jake in Stranger Things.
Chris Klein as Bill – Bill of the Sweet Magnolias cast continued to work on being a good dad in season 2, especially with another baby on the way with Noreen. However, one of the biggest season 2 bombshells revealed that he and Peggy are Isaac's birth parents. Klein played Cicada in The Flash season 5, and is mainly known for the American Pie series, in which he plays Oz.
Dion Johnstone as Erik – Chef Erik’s of the Sweet Magnolias cast saw more of his past uncovered in Sweet Magnolias season 2. He gave his romantic relationship with Helen a chance, but Ryan swooped in and had other plans. Johnstone starred in Departure, and briefly appeared in the TV series Jane as Andre.
Chris Medlin as Isaac – Isaac of the Sweet Magnolias cast finally figured out the identity of his birth parents: Bill and Peggy, and it has undeniable consequences as he's now living with Noreen. Chris Medlin can be recognized from Bunheads and was an original cast member of Mean Girls the Musical and Diana.