Entertainment

‘Nashville’ cast hitting the road, heading to NYC

In a classic “What took them so long?” move, several stars from ABC’s prime time musi-soap “Nashville” are going on a three-city mini tour that hits New York’s Best Buy Theater (1515 Broadway) on May 6. Tickets go on sale April 4 at axs.com.

Before you get too excited: Neither Connie Britton (fading country queen Rayna Jaymes) nor Hayden Panettiere (troubled crossover star Juliette Barnes) is participating, meaning no “Wrong Song” for us.

But everyone else who matters will be there.

First we have the show’s four main guys, starting with Charles Esten, who plays our favorite recovering alcoholic-slash-cult guitarist, Deacon Claybourne.

Chris Carmack (closeted hunk Will Lexington) is the closest the show comes to delivering an actual Music City-style hunk. And like several of his co-stars, Carmack’s already proved he can actually handle the Grand Ole Opry.

Jonathan Jackson’s Avery Barkley has undergone such a dramatic personality transplant between series 1 and 2 that it qualifies as a medical miracle. What hasn’t changed is Avery’s sweet, sweet guitar-playing, which he demonstrates by backing pretty much everybody on the show — including tourmate Sam Palladio (pompadoured Gunnar Scott).

Tamping down the testosterone is Clare Bowen (simpering artiste and budding pill-head Scarlett O’Connor), possibly the show’s most annoying character — though blessed with an angel’s voice. Scarlett may have thought a number like the rowdy “Crazy Tonight” was beneath her, but it was great to see her perk up for a change.

Joining them for the New York date only is Will Chase (mega-popular country star Luke Wheeler), an actor with extensive stage experience — in musicals. Chase has scruffed up very nicely for “Nashville,” taking to his adopted genre’s tight pants and black hats with impressive ease.

Too bad we haven’t heard all that much from Luke yet.

Maybe he’s saving his new material for New York.