General Hospital’s Kirsten Storms Takes Extended Break, Nicole Paggi Recast Maxie Amid Tennessee Move

Kirsten Storms, longtime star of General Hospital as Maxie Jones, is taking an extended hiatus from the show due to her relocation from Los Angeles to Tennessee with her daughter. Despite the move, Storms has expressed a strong desire to continue her role and has received support from General Hospital's executive producer Frank Valentini and ABC network executives to accommodate her time off while keeping her contract. Nicole Paggi has temporarily stepped in as Maxie during Storms' absence, including episodes airing through mid-August 2025. Storms filmed her final scenes for the year by late June but hinted she may return to the role as early as November or December after settling into her new home. She has shared her excitement about the move and plans to document this new chapter on social media, assuring fans that the storyline on the show during her absence will be compelling. Overall, Storms remains committed to the show and looks forward to reprising Maxie once she is settled in Tennessee.