Deacon gets a chance to fulfill a lifelong dream. Juliette makes a crucial decision. Daphne preps for the final round. Alannah confronts Brad. Avery, Gunnar, and Will discuss their future.

Rayna tries to help Deacon, but her efforts backfire. Meanwhile, Scarlett prepares to open for Rascal Flatts, but her past problems make her fear performing again. Layla grows confused about her relationship with Jeff and Sadie winds up in danger.

Rayna and Deacon face a new normal with Maddie now back home and Highway 65 is struggling financially. The shocking news about Juliette creates a wave of emotions throughout Nashville and sets Rayna off on a journey of discovery.

Scarlett’s breakdown is driving everyone to point fingers at who might be responsible for her condition. Deacon is blaming Rayna for pushing her too fast, Rayna is blaming Juliette and for forcing her on stage and Beverly thinks Rayna is only interested in seeing her label succeed. It always feels like everyone has an axe to grind with Juliette so she turns to Avery, only to find him preoccupied with Scarlett. During her moment of weakness, she is driven right into the hands of her nemesis. Meanwhile, Layla tries to convince Will to join her in a reality show.

Rayna approaches Deacon about making a concept album together, Scarlett can't trust Gunnar and Juliette seeks out her guardian angel.

After his collapse while performing at the late night show, Will recovers in the hospital and frets about his future. Brad gets a restraining order against Deacon, fueling conflict between Deacon and Jessie. The media get wind of Juliette’s extended stay in South America and begin harassing Avery about it. Maddie gets caught up in the fast lane lifestyle of Jonah Ford.

Deacon and the girls grow worried when Gideon starts leaving the house. Juliette confronts Darius. Twig tries to keep Jonah's secret from Maddie. Brad's behavior is not limited to Alannah.

Rayna resorts to drastic measures when she learns that Maddie has crossed paths with a duplicitous figure from her past. Juliette must choose how to publicly reckon with the truth of Jeff Fordham’s death—a decision that directly affects Layla. Scarlett and Gunnar consider parting ways as bandmates, and Will finally decides to do what he should have done long ago—step up as the leader of a cause and a community.

Rayna joins Scarlett on the road for her first tour date with Luke Wheeler and is blindsided when Deacon confronts her about putting too much pressure on Scarlett too soon. Jeff goes to war against Rayna on control of the album she produced with Liam, and Juliette makes a decision about Charlie Wentworth. Gunnar struggles to write a song for a major artist, and gets help from Scarlett-sparking an idea for Rayna that could potentially be liberating for her and life-changing for Gunnar.

Scarlett's career is on fire as she sings "Free" in concert with Zac Brown, but the demands of fame are burning her out. Rayna asks Deacon to help write a much-needed hit for her new album, and it's like old times--perhaps too much. Concert venues are dropping from Juliette's tour and Jeff, her label head, is furious, and Zoey is bruised by Gunnar's inattention when he gets an invitation to co-write from Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts.

A health scare sees Juliette asking Avery if he wants to be a part of the baby's life.

Rayna makes a last-ditch effort to protect her oldest daughter from the perils that befall young artists. Juliette reunites with her “Shenandoah Girl” co-star Noah West on the Oscar campaign trail, where she meets Kesha, who guest stars as herself. Elsewhere, Scarlett grows wary of Gunnar’s budding friendship with Autumn Chase; Layla fears falling into obscurity before her career even takes off; and Will suffers a devastating loss.

Juliette suffers a bout of anxiety about her upcoming first major performance after the plane crash. Bucky and Zach are at odds.

Maddie and Clay get pulled over by a police officer. Juliette searches for a hit to relaunch her career. Damien George returns to Nashville with a grand plan for Scarlett.

Juliette continues to be plagued by her injuries and Avery gets a taste of independence. Scarlett and Gunnar shoot a national commercial. Deacon plays a benefit for charity.

After a public meltdown, Juliette seeks to change her life from an unlikely source. Scarlett and Maddie take a trip. Maddie meets Jonah Ford, a famous pop star. Scarlett struggles to find herself. Will coaches Gunnar. Deacon deals with loneliness.

Daphne struggles with the idea of Deacon dating. Juliette introduces Avery to Darius. Maddie and Jonah record a song, but Maddie finds Jonah’s life a little too public. Will learns news about Zach and find ways to enhance his appearance.

Juliette discovers that Darius Enright’s Movement is not the happy utopia that it seemed to be. She demands to leave, but they won’t let her. The tension in the group too much to bear.

A visitor from the past comes into Deacon's life -- his father, a very unpleasant surprise. With Alannah out of the picture, the band flounders and the guys have to consider whether it's worth continuing.

Rayna increases her publicity by singing on "Dancing With the Stars" and having a reporter follow her, but she then soon misses her privacy. Juliette finds it hard to deal with single parenthood.

Rayna and Teddy's relationship is tested when Rayna performs with Deacon at Teddy's campaign fundraiser and a woman from Teddy's past (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) shows up with a secret. Meanwhile, Juliette tries to burnish her image with an appearance on "Good Morning America" and is interviewed by Robin Roberts; Gunnar makes a connection with his publisher's assistant, Hailey; and Teddy and Coleman agree to take the moral high ground during the campaign -- but will it last?

Rayna thinks about moving on when Deacon sets boundaries in their relationship; as Juliette struggles with her mother's addictions, Deacon is reminded of difficult moments in his past; tension between Gunnar and Avery puts pressure on Scarlet.

After the crash, Rayna is in a coma and Deacon is left to wait on his pending jail sentence. Teddy is still shell-shocked about Peggy's pregnancy and struggles to understand where he belongs... Is it by Rayna's side with his daughters? Meanwhile, Maddie grapples with the revelation that Deacon is her father and, feeling alone, turns to Juliette, unwittingly revealing the details of what happened before the traumatic crash. And Gunnar and Scarlett's relationship becomes even more complicated after the proposal, so they turn to their friends, Will and Zoey, for support.

Rayna has to choose between two men and two directions her life might take.

Rayna attempts to use some new publicity opportunities to promote her album and the record label.