In late March 2008, it was announced that Hughes would make a return to "General Hospital". Hughes reappeared on April 25, 2008, and concluded her return stint on May 7, 2008. Days later, it was announced that Hughes would soon join the cast of "The Young and the Restless" and was slated to begin airing on June 19, 2008. At the time, Hughes was not contractually obligated to ABC, so accepted the four episode guest stint. However, Michael Logan of "TV Guide" later reported that ABC pressured Hughes into dropping out of the role in favor of a "big" storyline for the summer on "GH". Hughes who was scheduled to start taping on May 28, was never actually replaced and her character was never introduced onscreen. On December 11, 2011, "TV Guide" confirmed that Hughes would return to "General Hospital" starting in mid January and would reappear just in time for February Sweeps. Hughes first airdate was slated for the week of February 13, 2012. On April 6, 2012, executive producer, Frank Valentini announced on Twitter that Hughes had been placed on contract with the series.