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For Melissa Gilbert, some goodbyes truly are a Hallmark moment.
The Emmy-nominated actress, who appeared on several episodes of the Hallmark Channel series "When Calls the Heart," revealed she won't be returning for the show's new season in an Instagram post Thursday, July 16. Gilbert, 62, played forensic investigator Georgie McGill on the romantic drama, which follows schoolteacher Elizabeth Thornton (Erin Krakow) as she ditches city life to work in the small coal-mining town of Hope Valley.
"Many people have asked if I will be returning to 'When Calls the Heart' this coming season," wrote Gilbert, who appeared in five episodes on Season 13. "The answer to that is no I will not."
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Gilbert said her exit stems from "budget issues" on the Hallmark show, which has been on the air since 2014. The actress wished her costars and "all my sweet friends in Hope Valley a wonderful and successful Season 14."
"I will be eternally grateful to my dear friend [show creator Michael Landon Jr.] for giving me the chance to bring Georgie McGill to life," Gilbert added in the post's caption. "It was a lovely couple of seasons, but it's time to say farewell. When one door closes, another one opens. Looking forward to whatever comes next."
Season 14 of "When Calls the Heart" is expected to air in 2027.
In a statement to USA TODAY Friday, July 17, Hallmark Channel confirmed Gilbert's exit, sharing that her character's storyline "concluded in Season 13."
"We adore Melissa and are always grateful when we get to work with her," the network said.
Gilbert, best known for her role as Laura Ingalls Wilder on the period drama "Little House on the Prairie," joined the cast of "When Calls the Heart" for Season 12 in 2025. Her character Georgie strikes up a romance with former forensic investigator Bill Avery (Jack Wagner) and in the following season, Georgie helps Bill investigate a mapmaker involved with Pioneer Electric.
Gilbert's departure from the series also comes months after her husband, actor Timothy Busfield, was indicted on child sex-abuse charges.
Busfield was charged Jan. 9 with child sexual abuse and arrested soon after in connection with allegations of abusing minors on the set of Fox's "The Cleaning Lady." A New Mexico grand jury indicted him Feb. 6 on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a child.
The actress and former child star addressed the allegations against Busfield in an April interview on "Good Morning America," calling her husband's legal troubles "the most traumatizing experience of our lives." She added that Busfield was the "last person in the world who would hurt a child."
"Our life, as we knew it, is done," Gilbert told "GMA" anchor George Stephanopoulos. "We are grieving what we had. All of our plans, all of our dreams, all of our ideas, all of our projects — for Tim, it's done. He's canceled. Even if he's exonerated, he will always be that guy."
This story was updated to add new information.
Contributing: Anthony Robledo, Anna Kaufman and Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Melissa Gilbert reveals future of 'When Calls the Heart' role
