The Best Episodes Written By Marcie Ulin

Juliette is the main act at Teddy’s first annual Music City Festival, but the blowback by the fans and press over the Wentworths throws her for a loop and drags down the event. She demands that Glenn find out who leaked career-killing gossip to the tabloids so she can get ahead of the bad press by calling them out. Rayna is determined to buy herself out of her Edgehill contract once and for all, even though Tandy and Luke counsel otherwise. Should she risk all her assets on Highway 65? Deacon and Gunnar find themselves marginalized at the Festival and team up to to put on an unauthorized show, and Scarlett is freezing out Zoey and Gunnar but drawing closer to Avery.

Rayna is feeling conflicted about leaving the children behind to go back on tour. Sadie runs into a former partner.

Rayna begins to settle into the tour when she discovers that Deacon has joined Juliette's band on the road, and she can't help but think that maybe the time has come to make some hard decisions. But will a heart to heart with Deacon help ease the sting of the revelation? Meanwhile Juliette is tired of her bubble gum pop success and is interested in exposing who she really is, though her team is convinced that will damage her commercial success. And Scarlett is counting pennies to keep her head above water -- until Gunnar makes her an offer she can't refuse.

Edgehill has appointed a new chief, Jeff Fordham. He’s powerful, sexy and on a mission to place the label back on top. That means it’s time to reveal his vision for the future. The question is -- who will be part of it? Rayna has returned from her hiatus and the plan includes her own label, with Will and Scarlett attached. Though Jeff seems supportive, he has a different agenda. Juliette meets with the chief to discuss her new mature sound and look. She details her passion to grow and her natural desire to be taken more seriously as an artist. Jeff could care less. In the meantime, a reality show vixen is the talk of the town and posing a new threat to Juliette’s career.

Juliette is back on top following her performance high above highway 65 while Deacon’s cancer diagnosis becomes public and he and Rayna grapple with what the future holds.

Rayna pushes back on Layla’s romantic relationship with Jeff, and Markus pushes back on his producer, Avery — which does not go well. Maddie joins Colt on Luke’s tour, giving the teens opportunities for more freedom than Maddie can handle. She turns to Juliette for advice and shocks Luke with the results. Meanwhile, Deacon and Scarlett head to Natchez despite their falling-out, and Gunnar enlists Kevin and Will’s help as “wingmen” in an effort to pick up a new woman.

The Exes find navigating their newfound fame tricky business when they go out on the road with Autumn Chase. Meanwhile, back in Nashville, Maddie continues to grow closer with Cash, causing tension with Deacon as he questions her motives and interest in his daughter. Juliette misses her manager, Glenn, and devises a plan to get him back while Will finds himself working with Kevin again.

Liam invites Rayna to run away with him to finish her album, and Deacon is surprised by his own reaction, as well as Stacy’s accusations; Jolene warns Juliette about Dante’s loyalty, which only drives the two women further apart; Teddy faces off with Peggy about the leaks, and in the wake of her father’s illness, Tandy proposes a new alliance to Coleman. Meanwhile Gunnar tries out some new music, and Avery and Scarlett reconnect.

When the mutants devise a plan to take down Sentinel Services, Eclipse seeks out an old friend from his dark past in order to obtain some useful information. Meanwhile, Lauren and Andy attempt to combine their powers in order to help the group.

Cassie is forced to work with a surprising new ally as she reconsiders all that’s happened since Bangkok. Meanwhile, Megan’s life begins to implode when her husband faces consequences for her actions.

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

Juliette hits a career high, including singing a duet with Steven Tyler, but her personal life plummets; Avery takes care of baby Cadence at his parents' home in Texas; Rayna deals with the aftermath of Deacon's liver transplant.

Rayna wants to change her sound and seeks out the help of a highly successful music producer, Liam McGuinnis; Juliette goes on a sham date with a squeaky-clean NFL quarterback as a PR move for her tarnished image; meanwhile, Lamar's plan to delay Coleman with a police traffic stop on his way to an important photo op for both candidates works too well, and Scarlett's relationship with Avery gets rocky.

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.

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.