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.

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.

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.

Scarlett's career is on a hot streak as she performs with Zac Brown; Rayna asks Deacon for help writing a hit for her new album; Jeff is furious when concert venues keep dropping from Juliette's tour.

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.

Rayna's girls meet Luke's son Colt; Juliette becomes more and more jealous; Gunnar refuses to support Will and Layla's plan; Maddie is forbidden to go to Deacon's concert.

Rayna and Luke try to set a date for their wedding. Juliette struggles with morning sickness whilst on tour and shooting a movie. Deacon finds comfort with Luke's backup singer. Layla blackmails Jeff.

Maddie shoots a mascara commercial and takes issue with the direction; Avery and Gunnar embrace life on the road; Deacon is invited to play the Opry but hesitates to answer.