Entertainment

This 'One Tree Hill' Star's Headed to E!

by Alanna Bennett

It's probably been a while since anyone asked you to remember that One Tree Hill was a show that existed, but that time has come, because one of its former stars is heading to a new show. Bethany Joy Lenz will be headlining E!'s new scripted drama Songbyrd. Wait... E! has scripted dramas?!

It does now. E! is launching two scripted shows, and Lenz is all set to star in the first. Lenz will play Lauren Byrd, a hit writer of love songs, and the show will also feature her staff (including her sister), who according to Deadline ,"enable and manage her eccentric yet wildly successful process. But when her ex-fiance reveals himself to be less than the man she remembers, she realizes that she can no longer live in the past and must find a new, true inspiration for her sake and those around her."

The show was created by Grey's Anatomy writer/producer Krista Vernoff (she's also produced on Charmed and Wonderfalls) and successful songwriter Diane Warren (whom Byrd is loosely based on) is also on board. It's executive produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who produced the film adaptations of Hairspray and Chicago.

Lenz, who recently had an arc in Dexter, showed off her singing chops back in her One Tree Hill days — her character's storylines often go in a musical direction. In fact, we have to say it: As fraught as our relationship with One Tree Hill was over the years, it was always a pleasure to hear Lenz bust out her musical talents.

We're generally iffy over the idea of E!'s brand mixing with scripted drama, but hey, if it all goes to hell in a well-styled hand basket, we'll probably at least get some more music out of it.