After seven years away, Lori Loughlin is back in two beloved Hallmark franchises — and she couldn’t be happier to be home.
The actor, who played Abigail Stanton, a close friend of Elizabeth Thornton (Erin Krakow), on When Calls the Heart from 2014 to 2019, returned to the popular series in Season 13 and is back for six episodes of Season 14.
She is also reprising her role as Jennifer Shannon in the 17th installment of her mystery series. The latest movie, Garage Sale Mysteries: Murder Takes the Stage, involves solving a Lizzie Borden-inspired murder. The new movie premiers on Saturday, September 19, on Hallmark Channel.
“It’s been seven years since I’ve worked on either of these projects, which is a long time,” Loughlin exclusively tells Parade. “But in many ways, it feels like no time has passed, and that I’ve never left because of the joy of reuniting with friends and castmates.”Related: Hallmark Channel’s Fall Movie Premieres: Mysteries, Romance, and Lori Loughlin’s Big Comeback
Lori Loughlin, in the Hallmark movie, Garage Sale Mystery: Murder Takes the Stage. Photo Credit: ©2026 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Allister FosterA Mystery Seven Years in the Making
Loughlin has appeared in 16 Garage Sale Mysteries movies, which ran from 2013 to 2019. In Murder Takes the Stage, Jennifer Shannon’s true-crime book club is participating in a reenactment of the infamous Lizzie Borden case when a member is murdered.
The Hallmark whodunit also stars Sarah Strange, Steve Bacic, Kevin O’Grady, Connor Stanhope, and Eva Bourne. For Loughlin, the movie offered another chance to reunite with familiar faces while diving into a fascinating piece of history.
Related: Lori Loughlin Announces Long-Awaited Return of Beloved Hallmark Franchise After 7 Years
The actor’s initial interest in Garage Sale Mysteries came from an unexpected source: her mother. “My mother loves mysteries. It’s her favorite thing in the world,” Loughlin says. “I remember my agent telling me about the first film and thinking I was going to pass. But I read it and thought, ‘Oh, my gosh, my mother would love this movie. This is right up her alley.’”
Her mother’s favorite television mysteries included Columbo, Murder, She Wrote, and Dick Van Dyke’s Diagnosis: Murder.
“I thought the script was good, and I liked the characters. But most of all, I knew it would appeal to my mom, so I knew I had to do it.”
Loughlin also considers herself an “amateur detective,” although her investigative work is generally a little closer to home.
“I’m really good at uncovering stuff,” she says, particularly missing keys and other misplaced household items. “I find all of that stuff. I just have a knack for uncovering and getting to the bottom of things.”
Lori Loughlin, in the Hallmark movie, Garage Sale Mystery: Murder Takes the Stage. Photo Credit: ©2026 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Allister FosterHallmark Media
With a career spanning 47 years, Loughlin recognized early on that Garage Sale Mysteries had the potential to become more than a one-off movie. She has enjoyed watching the franchise grow — and delving into the real-life cases that inspire its stories.
While preparing for Murder Takes the Stage, she researched the Lizzie Borden case online and was surprised to learn that Borden was acquitted of the 1892 murders of her father and stepmother.
Related: Brooke Shields on Her Joyful Return to ‘When Calls the Heart’: ‘It Felt Like Coming Home’ (Exclusive)
Back in Hope Valley
Returning to When Calls the Heart has been just as rewarding. Loughlin describes rejoining the cast and crew in Hope Valley as “the happiest reunion,” much like returning to the Garage Sale Mysteries family.
“I really feel that they are my friends and family,” she says. “We spend a lot of time together trying to make some fun television and entertain people, but it’s great to do it with people who you love and adore, who make you laugh, you know, and are talented and bring their talent and ideas and collaboration to the projects.”
Related: ‘Hope Valley: 1874’ Stars Bethany Joy Lenz & Benjamin Ayres Reveal Why the Prequel Will Be the Hearties’ New Obsession (Exclusive)
Stepping back into Abigail’s shoes was surprisingly easy.
“Honestly, once I put on the costume, I was back in that western town and feeling like Abigail,” she says. “I really liked how they brought me back at the end of Season 13. And I have had the most delightful scenes to play in Season 14. It has been an absolute joy.”
As for what viewers can expect from the much-anticipated new season, Loughlin promises a little bit of everything.
“It’s a well-rounded season,” she says. “We definitely have some romantic aspects, some dramatic moments, and some touch-and-go moments. And then we have some really fun and funny episodes where the cast is just letting their hair down and having fun as a community, and being silly. They’ve touched on everything this season.”
Lori Loughlin and Erin Krakow in the Hallmark series, When Calls the Heart. Photo Credit: David Dolsen/HallmarkA Baby Boom in Hope Valley
One of the sweetest parts of filming When Calls the Heart has been the growing number of babies on set.
Chris McNally and Julie Gonzalo welcomed their second child, a daughter. Kevin McGarry and Kayla Wallace also welcomed a baby in May. And Krakow and Ben Rosenbaum, who play Elizabeth Thornton and Mike Hickam, became first-time parents to baby Marlo in April.
Related: Chris McNally Teases a Rocky Road Ahead for Lucas and Edie on ‘When Calls the Heart’ (Exclusive)
“All of them bring the babies to set, and they are all so adorable,” Loughlin says. She is especially close to Krakow, whom she has known for more than a decade. “Erin and I are extremely close friends, so of course I love her baby. Marlo is the cutest and sweetest child ever,” she says. “Before they were married, I got to see the amazing evolution of their relationship. When we met, she was 26 years old, the same age as my oldest daughter now. And now she’s this amazing new mom. I’ve known her more than a decade.”
Related: Kevin McGarry Says a Big Burning Question is Coming for Elizabeth in ‘When Calls the Heart’ (Exclusive)
Hallmark Fans Are Family, Too
Hallmark fans—especially the fiercely loyal Hearties—have their own special way of welcoming Loughlin back.
Lori Loughlin and Steve Bacic in the Hallmark movie, Garage Sale Mystery: Murder Takes the Stage. Photo Credit: ©2026 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Allister FosterThe actor says she recently received a surprise greeting from an unexpected fan while traveling. “I believe that Hallmark is a really safe, happy place for our fans, especially the Hearties,” she says. “I recently took a commercial flight, and as I was leaving the plane, the pilot approached me and said, ‘I am so glad that Abigail is back on When Calls the Heart. It is so exciting.’”
Loughlin says she is accustomed to being approached by female Hallmark fans, but her return to both franchises has broadened the audience she encounters. “With Garage Sale Mysteries and When Calls the Heart, I feel we have a whole new demographic,” she says.
Related: ‘When Calls the Heart’ Star Kavan Smith Opens Up About Leland Becoming a Foster Parent (Exclusive)
A New Instrument and More Hallmark Adventures
When she isn’t filming, Loughlin is challenging herself in a completely different way: piano lessons. She has owned a baby grand piano for years but had never learned to play. “I won this piano in a contest, and I have brought it with me to every place I have ever moved,” she says. “I decided I am going to take piano lessons and learn an instrument.”
Professionally, she is looking forward to future Garage Sale Mysteries projects, as well as Seasons 14 and 15 of When Calls the Heart.
Photo: Sarah Strange and Lori Loughlin, in the Hallmark movie, Garage Sale Mystery: Murder Takes the Stage. Photo Credit: ©2026 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Allister FosterRelated: ‘When Calls the Heart’ Star Pascale Hutton Teases Rosemary’s Bold New Role: ‘She’s in Her Prime and Glory’ (Exclusive)
For now, however, she is excited for fans to see Murder Takes the Stage—and she has a few compelling reasons to tune in.
Why You Should Watch Murder Takes the Stage
“This is really one of our better Garage Sal Mysteries,” Loughlin says. “It’s our way of paying tribute to Agatha Christie and Knives Out. It’s a fun whodunit — the reenactment of a murder that turns into a murder.”
The new movie offers a fresh twist on the familiar formula while keeping the humor and beloved characters that fans have come to expect.
“It’s a different plotline than we normally do, but we maintain the same humor,” she says. “It is great to see all of these characters again. And if you’ve never seen a Garage Sale Mystery before this, it’s fine because each one stands alone.”
Garage Sale Mysteries: Murder Takes the Stage premieres Saturday, September 19, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Hallmark Channel and streams the next day on Hallmark+.
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