By Lillie Liska
Hearties, we have some exciting news for you. Lori Loughlin will return to Hope Valley in WHEN CALLS THE HEART Season 14 as her beloved character, Abigail Stanton.
The announcement comes ahead of Season 13’s January premiere.
Set to begin filming in 2026, Loughlin’s character will grace the small screen again in 2027, the first time nearly seven years after her final WCTH appearance in Season 6.
Related: Lori Loughlin Declares ‘God Does Have a Plan’ at Movieguide® Awards
“Since the series’ debut in 2014, the character of Abigail Stanton was a fan favorite and beloved by the Hearties,” Michelle Vicary, Hallmark Media’s head of programming, told PEOPLE. “At its core the Hallmark brand is about hope, positivity and connection, which is also the central theme of When Calls the Heart. We felt that season 14 was the right time to continue Abigail’s story with her return to this beloved series.”
Fan favorites Erin Krakow, Kevin McGarry, Jack Wagner, Chris McNally, Pascale Hutton and Kavan Smith will also return for Season 14.
Loughlin’s character was written out of the show in 2019 following the college admissions scandal the actress was embroiled in.
Stanton’s character was one of the first widows on the show, moving to Hope Valley after husband and son died in a mine explosion.
“She had a brief relationship with town official Billy Murray (Jack Wagner) in Season 2 and Paster Frank Hogan (Mark Humphrey) in Seasons 3 and 4. In Season 3, she adopted an orphan named Cody and his older sister Rebecca ‘Becky’ Hastings who were runaways,” Soaps reported.
At the time, WCTH explained Stanton’s sudden absence with a voice-over from Krakow’s Elizabeth: “We never know how life will turn. It’s been a week since Abigail got word that her mother had taken ill back east. True to her nature, Abigail wasted no time in rushing off to care for her.”
Are you excited for Abigail’s return to Hope Valley?
But the cast and crew always hoped Loughlin would return.
“What I can say is that there are good conversations happening,” creator Brian Bird hinted at Loughlin’s possible return in 2023. “We can’t guarantee anything, but there are good conversations happening around this topic.”
Krakow signaled her support in November, saying that she “sure hopes so” when asked about Loughlin reprising Abigail.
“I love Lori Loughlin, and I love the character she created, Abigail Stanton,” she told US Weekly.
While fans will have to wait until 2027 to see Abigail again, the next season of WCTH is just weeks away. Season 13 premieres on Jan. 4, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on the Hallmark Channel and will stream the next day on Hallmark+.
Read Next: What’s Ahead for Elizabeth and Nathan in WCTH Season 13?
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