An actor who appeared in “Without a Trace” has joined an ABC drama project, TVLine.com reports. Signing on with the pilot “Nashville” is Eric Close.

The new project, written by Callie Khouri and directed by R.J. Cutler, focuses on the country music business, with Hayden Panettiere playing a rising star. Close will play the husband of an older country singer who joins forces with Panettiere’s teen sensation.

Also in the cast are Jonathan Jackson ("General Hospital") and Powers Boothe ("Deadwood"), the story notes.