Rayna, an aging country music star, is upset when her record company asks her to tour as the opening act to a new up-and-coming singer named Juliette.

An investigation shines unwelcome light on Rayna's past with Deacon.

Juliette's mother shows up. Juliette calls Deacon to the studio to record the song they wrote (Undermine) in another attempt to sign him to her band. Rayna's girls perform in their school talent show. Rayna discovers information about her mother that gives her new perspective on her father, but they are still feuding. Scarlett and Gunnar go into the studio to record their demo, but things do not go smoothly.

Juliette is served for shoplifting, her PR agent sets her up with an interview on GMA to do damage control. Juliette blows it and the record label cancels her concert tour. Rayna agrees to help Teddy's campaign by playing a fund-raiser at the country club. Deacon gets into it with both Teddy and Rayna's father (Lamar). Rayna fires Deacon. Scarlett and Gunnar get a publishing deal with a record company.

Juliette's publicist sets her up with a squeaky clean rookie football player named Sean to repair her image and Juliette dislikes him sight unseen. Rayna wants a new producer and a new sound for her new song. She picks Liam, a rock 'n roller who doesn't want to work with Rayna and who the label doesn't want. Avery's band gets some interest from two promoters, but one (Marilyn) makes it clear her interest isn't just business and comes with a price.

Rayna and Juliette are forced to work together for an upcoming event. Juliette's relationship with Sean hits a bump in the road. Scarlett goes out for a night on the town with Gunnar and his girlfriend with the hopes of cheering herself up.

Teddy's secrecy about embezzling millions of dollars in the past, and the surfacing of suggestive photographs, leads Rayna to believe he is having an affair. Meanwhile, Scarlett gets an invitation be a band's lead singer and the song she wrote with Gunnar gets an option contract, prompting a passionate kiss between the two and Gunnar to dump his girlfriend and profess his love to Scarlett.

Juliette and Sean elope. Sean wants them to tell Juliette's mom on family day at rehab, but Juliette talks him into letting her go alone. Juliette and her mom continue to argue. Lamar uses Rayna's daughter to threaten her, and Teddy tells him to back off. Deacon is on the road with the new band and avoiding an interview, but not the attractive reporter. Avery tells his band that he made a solo deal. Scarlett agrees to be their lead singer in Avery's absence.

Scarlett tells Gunnar she has two passes to Deacon's concert in Austin, but Gunnar says he's making the trip because of family obligations. She convinces him to take her along saying they can work during the long drive. Cy (band leader) is jealous of the attention Deacon is getting with the press and the women, which prompts him to make a bad move and Deacon quits the band. Juliette files divorce papers, Sean files annulment papers. Rayna isn't happy with any guitarist playing in Deacon's place. The election results come in.

Rayna and Teddy disagree about how to handle the divorce right before Rayna steps on stage. Rayna is overwhelmed and for the first time in 20 years, she misses her cue. Scarlett gets a call that Rayna wants to sign her and Gunnar to her own label. Scarlett finds out Gunnar's brother is in town in violation of his parole. She refuses to let him stay with them pointing out it's harboring a fugitive, but later changes her mind. Avery is not happy with the way Dominic is changing his music. Glenn is not happy with the way Juliette is changing her music. Glenn tells the crew to run all Juliette's changes past him and he'll handle it, but when Juliette finds out she calls everyone including Glenn to a middle-of-the-night meeting to say it's her way or the highway. Glenn quits. Rayna goes out drinking with Liam. Rayna's oldest daughter overhears Teddy on the phone with Peggy and tells Rayna.

Deacon hates parties and watches Old Yeller every birthday, so naturally Juliette plans a surprise party for him. Rayna tells Teddy their daughter knows about Peggy, and Rayna will not cover for him like she did with the press. Despite filing in another county, the divorce is all over the tabloids and the paparazzi are all over Rayna and her girls. A crisis manager tells Rayna not to be seen in public with any man but her dad, but Rayna defiantly has Watty take her to Deacon's party. Rayna wrote a special song and Juliette says cattily that she's going to sing for Deacon, only she has to leave when her mother gets drunk. Teddy appoints Coleman as Deputy Mayor, infuriating Rayna's dad Lamar. Avery is in the studio and tells Dominic the music isn't right, but doesn't realize Dominic's responses are recorded. . . he isn't even there. Gunnar finds a gun in his brother's bag and Scarlett hits the roof. Scarlett gets Deacon to the party (attended by music celebs) on the pretext of finally hearing her and Gunnar sing. Two detectives pick Gunnar up at the party. Juliette gives Deacon an old yeller (yellow) dog.

Everyone is in New York for the concert. Maddie tells Rayna she wants to be a singer and Rayna's not happy. Juliette invites Daphne and Maddie to party with her after the show, but Rayna says no. Juliette asks her mother's therapist (Dante) for business advice and lands a multi-million dollar deal with a company. Juliette and Dante sleep together. Avery loses his publishing contract and gets a job as a roadie for Juliette's band. Stacy asks Deacon if he is trying to sabotage them by bringing her on tour with two of his ex-girlfriends. Scarlett's new upstairs neighbor, Will, is a singer who got Scarlett's mail with her contract "by mistake". Scarlett says she's not signing the contract and Gunnar tells her Avery was the jealous one who couldn't take her success, sign. Lamar finds out Peggy leaked the story about Teddy and Rayna's divorce and blackmails her into changing Teddy's mind about the stadium. Lamar collapses at home.

Juliette and Dante are still in bed when Rayna knocks on the door to say she has to go back to Nashville for a family emergency, and may have to cancel that night. Later Avery is searching for equipment, sees Dante in bed with Juliette, and Dante fires him. Deacon gives Stacy a key to his place and plans to quit the road, then hears about Lamar. Deacon challenges Juliette about Dante and she storms off. Deacon confronts Dante and says until he hears from Juliette, Dante can't fire Avery. Jolene accuses Juliette of stealing Dante from her and realizes they're sleeping together. At the hospital, Rayna and her sister see Lamar who is less than appreciative. Watty comes to the hospital, Lamar has a fit and ends up in surgery. Rayna realizes Watty is the musician her mother was seeing, and hears her mother was leaving Lamar the night she died. Tandy finds the connection between Lamar and Peggy. Scarlett tells Gunnar he's still having nightmares. She wants Gunnar to write with her, but he says he can't. Will gets closer to Scarlett and Gunnar; he and Gunnar play chicken with a train.

Juliette and Dante go house hunting. Jolene says she saw Dante kissing the realtor (Esme) who tells Juliette they're just old friends. Dante "finds" Jolene's pills, but Juliette later realizes they're not hers. Deacon and Juliette butt heads and when Dante gives him instructions, Deacon gives notice he's leaving after this leg of the tour. Deacon tells Stacy he quit, but then they go to Rayna's concert where Stacy calls him on his feelings and walks out. Rayna and Liam kiss, he asks her to go away with him. Rayna tells Lamar she never knew about her mother's affair and they agree to make a new start. Teddy confronts Peggy about leaking the divorce and says it's over. Will gives Gunnar stage tips but then tries to kiss him. Gunnar sings his brother's song and gets a producer's interest, but says he wrote it. Scarlett gets Gunnar another shot with Rayna but he tells Scarlett he wants to keep singing solo.

Rayna and Deacon are back together. Juliette finds out Dante's embezzlement was just a start. Rayna and Juliette are both nominated for the same CMA award and the label throws them a party where Juliette gets smashed. Right before stage time Juliette lays into Deacon who quits on the spot, so Avery steps in. Teddy asks Maddie to let him take her to the Father-Daughter dance, and Rayna tells him about her and Deacon. Coleman hears more about Teddy's past and quits. Gunnar records his brother's song, but the producer isn't interested in his own work. Gunnar offers more of Jason's songs, and Scarlett learns the truth. Will takes Scarlett to the label party and uses it to get Rayna his demo.

Dante sends Juliette a blackmail demand. Juliette asks Avery to help with her new song. Gunnar goes on a radio show; Scarlett doesn't like what he says and gives him a piece of her mind. Will uses information from Scarlett to crash Rayna's auditions. Will and Gunnar get in a bar fight and Gunnar misses Scarlett's debut at the Grand Ol' Opry, but Avery makes it. Scarlett tells Gunnar she can't be with him the way he is now. Rayna has Deacon over for dinner with the girls and Teddy objects. He serves Rayna a restraining order and Rayna seeks Lamar's advice. Tandy goes to the board of Lamar's company over the leadership. Maddie goes through Rayna'a papers and finds the family secret. Dante changes his demands. Jolene buys drugs and contacts Dante.

Rayna tells the girls she's dating Deacon. Deacon gives Juliette his condolences on Jolene's death and she blasts him. Maddie tells Deacon she thinks he may be her father. The US Attorney's office notifies Teddy they're investigating the Cumberland deal. When Teddy contacts Peggy he hears surprising news. Scarlett and Avery meet for a meal. Gunnar brings flowers home and tells Scarlett he came clean about the music to the producer. Scarlett says flowers won't fix what's wrong and leaves to go hear Avery play. At the CMA awards, Juliette lashes out backstage and is horrified by what she said. She leaves. Deacon confronts Rayna backstage about Maddie's parentage, they argue, and he winds up in a bar. Rayna goes home where she and Teddy try to calm a hysterical Maddie. The morning of the funeral Glen brings Juliette her award. Rayna comforts Juliette at the funeral. Juliette arrives home where the mail includes a letter from Jolene. Tandy quits her job. Gunnar proposes to Scarlett. Rayna flips the car with her and Deacon inside.

The accident leaves Rayna in a coma. Deacon takes the blame for the accident and is sent to jail, but a fierce lawyer is set to find out the truth. Juliette decides to make the best out of the situation for herself. Gunnar moves together with Will while Scarlett prepares for her record deal.

Edgehill's new chief is determined to put the label back on top.

Teddy proposes to Peggy and tries to keep it a secret.

Rayna wants to obtain the rights to her music.

Rayna sets the record straight during an interview with Robin Roberts; Juliette runs into Charlie Wentworth; Scarlett turns to Avery for advice on the changes to her life.

Maddie feels lost as Teddy and Peggy's wedding day approaches; Juliette angers a lecherous but influential DJ; Deacon discovers an unexpected ally as he tries to find his way back to music.

Deacon confronts Rayna about putting too much pressure on Scarlett; Jeff battles Rayna for control of the album she made with Liam; Gunnar struggles as he attempts to write a song for a major artist.

When Maddie wants to spend time with Deacon, Teddy starts to feel he's being replaced; Lamar asks Rayna to get Tandy to commit to being a character witness; Juliette worries about Layla's career stealing her spotlight.

Fan blowback against Juliette brings down her performance at the Music City Festival; Rayna wants to buy herself out of the Edgehill contract; Deacon and Gunnar decide to put on an unauthorized show.

Jeff is expecting Juliette to formally apologize for her behavior during her Grand Ole Opry ceremony, but at the last minute she has a change of heart and decides to standby the choices she's made. Luke introduces Rayna to a power player that could help her get her distribution deal off the ground, and then surprises her with a NASCAR that is wrapped in Rayna Jayme's graphics. Deacon is discovering his record deal might not be what he expected and Scarlett's collaboration with Liam gets off to a rocky start. Will and Layla discover they aren't all that different and find comfort in one another's company and Teddy will stop at nothing to reveal Lamar's connection to Peggy's death.

Juliette's new song catches a high-powered producer's ear; Rayna takes control in the aftermath of recent events; Scarlett confides in Liam.

Juliette's new song, "Don't Put Dirt on My Grave Just Yet," catches the ear of a high-powered, hit-making producer, Howie V (Michael Chernus, "Orange Is the New Black"). He wants to make her a superstar and brings her to Los Angeles to record, but marginalizes Glenn in the process. Meanwhile, Rayna takes charge with stoicism in the aftermath of recent events, and Scarlett feels lost and alone but finds Liam to be a receptive confidante.

After performing her manifesto song at her Opry induction, major pop labels are vying to sign Juliette, overwhelming Avery, who can barely afford to take her to dinner. Rayna has major money troubles of her own, since Tandy's been bouncing checks around town for Highway 65, affecting Rayna's ability to sign new artists. Deacon finds that life on the road is filled with temptation when he runs into an old friend, Ruth Bennett (Charlotte Ross) at an AA meeting, and Scarlett becomes more enmeshed with Liam.

Juliette has a design on how she would like to announce her new deal with Highway 65, however, Rayna has a calculated roll out plan in mind. Juliette's emotions get the best of her at a label party when she starts to feel that she is being upstaged by Rayna's up-and-coming talent. Will offers Deacon an opportunity of a lifetime though he finds the excitement short-lived after noticing Megan's strange behavior. Teddy is at odds with Maddie when he finds out she is fixated with her music, and Will is concerned about his past catching up with him so he makes Layla an offer she can't refuse.

Maddie's news goes viral and stirs a media frenzy including being a "Hot Topic" on "The View," and the real-life ladies of "The View"--Whoopi Goldberg, Sherri Shepherd, Jenny McCarthy and Barbara Walters guest-star as themselves. Rayna tries to manage the fallout by going on "Good Morning America" and real-life anchor Robin Roberts guest stars as herself. When Juliette faces more empty seats on her tour, she reaches out to Charlie Wentworth (Charlie Bewley) for a favor, and Scarlett's mother, Beverly (Dana Wheeler-Nicolson), surprises her daughter in Chicago, IL, but things do not go well.

As Will Lexington's album climbs the chart with the help of Jeff Fordham's deep pockets, Rayna enlists Teddy's help to plan a huge, free concert at LP Field to draw attention to her Highway 65 debut. She will perform with Luke Wheeler and duet with Juliette before thousands of fans. Zoey, Avery and Gunnar rock out at a benefit for Deacon's favorite charity, Sober House, and Avery plans to serenade Juliette with a song he wrote for her. But when he attempts to sing it, he doesn't understand why she is not present. And Scarlett makes a decision about her future in Music City.

On the season premiere, a torn Rayna must choose not just between two men, but two directions that her life could take. Juliette, struggling to repair her relationship with Avery, auditions for the leading role of a film biopic. Meanwhile, Scarlett, determined to start fresh, embarks on a road trip home and bonds with an unexpected stowaway, and Will and Layla manage the fallout from his on-camera confession.

After Will's debut album bumps Rayna's to second place, she's more determined than ever to make Highway 65 and her record a hit. In turn, she decides to pursue some new and unexpected opportunities for publicity, including a visit to "Good Morning America" where her friend Luke Bryan surprises her on stage. Layla becomes especially disgruntled about her fleeting career and pressures her husband Will, Edgehill Records' new number 1 artist, to help her rebuild it. Meanwhile, Juliette deals with some life-changing news and prepares for a big audition.

Scarlett finds Deacon passed out in his hotel room. Has Deacon reverted to drinking? Avery struggles to be around Juliette. Revelations upset Gunnar's relationship with Micah.

Rayna's daughters - and Luke - don't take the news of the canceled wedding very well; Avery and Juliette encounter a few bumps as they adjust to married life; Sadie purchases a gun; Deacon gets bad news about his condition.

When Deacon and Rayna are ambushed by paparazzi after their intimate wedding rehearsal dinner, Deacon's hot-headed reaction casts a pall on their plans and forces a change of venue.

Rayna makes a last-ditch effort to protect her oldest daughter from the perils that befall young artists, while Juliette reunites with her "Shenandoah Girl" co-star on the Oscar campaign trail. Elsewhere, Scarlett grows wary of Gunnar's budding friendship with Autumn Chase, and Layla fears falling into obscurity before her career takes off.

A legal dispute threatens to break apart the family; Juliette demands to perform at the CMT Music Awards; Will and Zach are drawn closer together.