For five seasons on “Good Witch,” Cassie Nightingale (Catherine Bell) and her daughter Grace Russell (Bailee Madison) stood side-by-side as they navigated life in the fictional Hallmark town of Middleton, helping neighbors and friends however they could with their magical intuition — aka good witchery. But Madison ended up leaving the series early. The Season 5 finale said goodbye to Grace by celebrating her graduation and departure for college in an episode fittingly titled “The Graduation.”
“Good Witch” was at the height of its popularity when Madison left, which begs the question: Why would she leave a successful show that didn’t have an end in sight yet? On the same day news of her exit broke, the star shared a statement on Instagram: “So grateful for 5 amazing seasons with ‘Good Witch,’ the amazing cast and crew which have become like family and Hallmark Channel, who I’ve worked with since I was 11 years old,” her post began. “They say that life is like a beautiful book, and everyone’s story is unique to them. As one chapter ends, a new one begins which is even more exciting and unexpected than the previous one.”
Bailee Madison was 19 when she left “Good Witch” in 2019, after appearing in 55 episodes of the show. Her Instagram statement signaled that she needed a change. She also mentioned that her life often mirrored Grace’s fictional journey, and her alter ego’s storyline in the last season was all about stepping out of her comfort zone and embracing possibility and new opportunities, inspiring her to do the same. “I couldn’t be more grateful for the new adventures ahead, and to have you all along with me on the ride as my story continues to be written, it’s a thrilling one,” her statement concluded.
Bell missed Madison almost immediately
Catherine Bell and Bailee Madison naturally got close during their five seasons playing mother and daughter on “Good Witch.” They were so close, in fact, that in an Entertainment Tonight interview published just a month after Madison’s final episode as a series regular aired, Bell said she was hopeful for an on-screen reunion between Cassie and Grace. “My dream is that she gets to come back for a couple of episodes. I don’t know schedule-wise when it’ll happen, but I know that she’s working on some great projects right now,” the “Bruce Almighty” star shared.
Bell revealed that she still kept in touch with the “Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin” star. “Good Witch” was filming Season 6 at the time of the interview, and Bell said she missed Madison’s presence. “She’s such a beautiful, dear spirit. She really is. She’s like a bright light when she’s on set. She’s fun and funny and very alive,” she said. Bell went on to compare Madison to her actual daughters, noting that she was always personable and grateful to everyone.
“Good Witch” fans got the Cassie and Grace reunion they wanted in the final season of the show. Madison returned in a baby shower-themed episode that aired in May 2021 and in the Season 7 series finale, “The Wedding,” which aired in July of that year. Madison has had a robust career since she originally left “Good Witch.” In August 2026, she officially joined Adam Sandler’s “Grown Ups 3.”
