'Nashville': 'Boss' EP Dee Johnson joins ABC's new drama as showrunner

ABC's buzzed-about new drama "Nashville" is getting a new showrunner.

Dee Johnson, a veteran producer coming off Season 2 of "Boss" on Starz, has joined the show as an executive producer alongside creator Callie Khouri, pilot director R.J. Cutler and Steve Buchanan. She'll take over show-running duties from James Parriott, who was hired after the pilot but "turned out not to be a good fit," Deadline reports.

Johnson has also signed an overall deal with ABC Studios and Lionsgate, which are producing the series (Lionsgate also produces "Boss," which has finished production on its second season).

"Nashville's" pilot juggles a number of stories surrounding a country-music star (Connie Britton), her family, a young rival (Hayden Panettiere) and the city's music and political cultures. ABC wanted an experienced hand to work alongside Khouri, an Oscar-winning screenwriter ("Thelma & Louise") who is working on her first TV series.

Johnson joins the show as it's in production on the third episode of the season. Prior to "Boss," she worked as a writer and producer on shows ranging from "ER" to "The Good Wife" to the original "Melrose Place."

"Nashville," which also stars Powers Boothe, Eric Close, Charles Esten and Robert Wisdom, is set to premiere Oct. 10 on ABC.