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.

The label throws a party to celebrate the success of "Wrong Song" and Rayna is courted by another label. Juliette is unhappy with her mother's attendance and behavior at the party. Deacon holes up at home and battles his addiction. When Juliette finds him, he asks how she can have so much concern for him and none for her mother when they are fighting the same battle. Scarlett asks Gunnar to consider playing with Avery's old band. Avery ignores Marilyn's advice on negotiating his contract for a better deal and signs the first offer.

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.

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 Teddy embark on new paths as their divorce becomes final.

Death changes lives forever as a mystery arises; Scarlett and Gunnar receive an offer from Kelly Clarkson; a video adversely affects Juliette's reputation; Rayna is under intense pressure to succeed.

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, "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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Teddy embark on new paths as their divorce becomes final.

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.

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 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.