Welcome back to Nashville! Rayna, Tandy, Maddie & Daphne are in New York City, gushing about all the cool things they are going to do as they kick off the second leg of the Red Lips & White Lies tour, as well as the 50 foot billboard of Rayna in Times Square that comes with her makeup endorsement deal. Meanwhile Juliette, PA Emily, Jolene, and counselor Dante are chatting as they stroll into their swanky hotel room. Juliette has a single launch coming up the next day and is to busy to sightsee or take in a Broadway show with her mom. Juliette flops on a couch and just happens to see the giant Rayna billboard. She is not a happy camper. Meanwhile Deacon and his cute vet girlfriend Stacey have been inseparable for a month, and Deacon invites her to fly out to New York with Sue & him as he resumes touring with Juliette. Stacey seems amenable.
The giddiness carries over to Scarlett and Gunnar. Gunnar surprises Scarlett with some fugly kitchen gloves. The two giggle and make out until interrupted by newbie tenant Will, a cowboy hat sporting musician from Abilene. Scarlett and Gunnar invite him to dinner and promise to tell him about the Nashville scene, and Will drops off some mail that went his way by mistake, including a bulky package from Edgehill Republic for Scarlett. Ruh roh. Awkward silence follows so it’s not clear what Scarlett has told Gunnar and what she hasn’t.
Meanwhile at South Hill Publishing, Avery waits for and finds Haley, and eagerly drops off a song he thinks would be perfect for Eric Church. Haley tells him he’s in breach of contract with South Hill Publishing and his value to them was as a performing act. Avery needs to find a new record deal or he’ll forfeit his advance.
In New York, Juliette, Jolene and Dante are doing yoga and trying to tap into their inner strength and calm. That degenerates in Juliette venting about Rayna’s big ad campaign, which is the kind of thing Juliette believes she needs to continue selling millions. Dante, a former businessman, says this is something she can change.
Back at Scarlett’s, Gunnar is yelling at Scarlett for not sharing that little tidbit about the audition/record deal offer from a month ago. Scarlett says she was covering for him at the audition and she has spent the last month trying to convince the label that they are better together. Gunnar still doesn’t get her not saying anything to him.
In New York, Rayna, Tandy and the girls are going to head out for some Chinese food, though Maddie would love to just eat catering so she can be there for Juliette’s soundcheck. Turns out Maddie wants to be a singer herself. Rayna and Tandy look concerned. As the foursome heads out of the hotel, they run into Deacon, Stacey, and Sue the pup. Awkward greetings ensue.
Meanwhile at Casa James/Conrad, Peggy has snuck in to visit Teddy, wearing nothing but a trenchcoat and some heels.
It’s nearing showtime in New York, and Rayna is getting her hair done while telling Maddie (and Daphne, who pipes in) that they are too young to sing professionally. Rayna says that once they go professional, they will have people trying to change them, and that this is the time for them to enjoy their childhood, diversify, and figure out what they want to do. Maddie is not happy about this. Tandy suggests that they go to craft services and give their mother some time. Tandy asks Rayna if she realizes the girls just want to be like her. Rayna’s fine with that but she wants them to grow up first.
Meanwhile Deacon is giving Stacey a backstage tour, and introducing her around. Juliette greets them and it turns out Deacon had told her about Stacey (and vice versa). The greeting is friendly and lacks the awkwardness of the Rayna meeting.
In Nashville, Avery has visited his old haunt the 5 Spot, trying to get booked. Problem is, he has been blacklisted by his former manager Marilyn. The manager at the 5 Spot tells him to give it time, it’ll blow over but Avery doesn’t feel like he has that time.
Scarlett, Gunnar, and Will are having an awkward dinner where Gunnar tells Will about all of Scarlett’s early success, including the record deal with Edgehill Republic. He’s on edge about it. Scarlett says it’s not a done deal yet and goes off to finish dinner.
The New York concert has begun! Rayna is performing “Stomping Ground,” cowritten by Kelly Archer, Busbee, and Natalie Hemby, while Maddie, Deacon, and Stacey watch admiring from sidestage. Deacon has his arm around Maddie and Stacey and everything is quite chummy. Meanwhile Dante and Juliette having a therapeutic session to prepare for what turns into a meeting with Marshall Evans, asking him to set up a meeting with possible corporate sponsors while they are in New York. Marshall Evans says she has turned down everybody he’s sent her way, but Juliette says that’s because she would like to partner with a company interested in attracting a 20-something audience. He says he could set something up with Keoh Electronics, who deal with smart phones and expressed interest a while ago. This makes Juliette happy, and she says she will pitch herself to show how she has grown. Rayna’s set has ended, and Deacon and Maddie congratulate her as she walks off stage. Maddie tells Deacon she loves his new girlfriend, and Rayna tells him she’s happy for him and that it seems serious. She’s not that happy for him.
At the after party for the show, Juliette greets Maddie and Daphne, and encourages them to sing and not take no for an answer. She then goes to chat with Rayna, asking when she’s going to get the girls started as singers. Rayna tells Juliette she is trying to keep them as far away from the business as possible, and Juliette tells Rayna the girls are lucky to have a mom looking out for them the way Rayna is. Rayna thanks her and encourages Juliette by noting her mom’s with her now. Juliette seems emotional about it, and agrees. Rayna tells the girls they can’t stay up and party with Juliette and that she, the girls and Tandy are going to have a slumber party upstairs. Tandy takes the girls upstairs while Manager Bucky grabs Rayna for a meeting with some people from Broadway.
Gunnar and Will are in the backyard, playing “Tough All Over,” which they’ve written while Scarlett was cooking. They are really grooving. Scarlett tells them dinner is done, but things are going so well, Gunnar asks her to bring dinner out for them. Um. Scarlett looks wistfully at the two vibing as she complies.
To DOWNLOAD “Tough All Over,” cowritten by Odie Blackmon and Jim Lauderdale and performed by Chris Carmack and Sam Palladio click HERE.
BONUS: Check out VIDEO of cowriters Jim Lauderdale and Odie Blackmon performing and discussing the song with additional comments from Nashville head writer and executive producer Callie Khouri and actor Chris Carmack:
Also check out Gary Allan’s original version of the song:
Stacey is sitting alone at the after party when Rayna walks by and greets her. Stacey compliments her on her set, and the two chat about how Stacey met Deacon and what she does. Stacey asks Rayna to confirm that she dated Deacon. Rayna said she did, but that was years and years ago. Deacon is walking in as Rayna excuses herself. Stacey asks Deacon whether he was trying to maximize the awkwardness by bringing her out on tour when he has a history with both the headliners and she had to hear about a lot of it from other people. Deacon says she’s right, but his past with Rayna is history. Stacey wonders if it is, and Deacon tries to reassure her.
Rayna and Tandy are in the hotel room, talking about the girls. Rayna knows that Maddie is going through such a hard time now with the divorce, and latching onto fantasies about big stardom a la Juliette Barnes. Tandy says the girls are idolizing their mom more than Juliette and asks what’s the harm of letting them indulge in those fantasies a little to get them through this time. Rayna is concerned because she knows she has two really talented daughters whom she doesn’t want to see messed up by the business. Tandy says the girls don’t understand that and that they just hear a parent not supporting their dreams, just like Rayna saw Lamar.
Meanwhile Juliette is sitting down with Dante and asking him to accompany her to her Keoh meeting. He resists but agrees. Jolene and Emily walk by and bid them good night, with Jolene complimenting Juliette on the show and again commenting on how they didn’t get to spend much time together. The Keoh meeting conflicts with Dante’s therapy session with Jolene. Juliette suggests that Jolene go to her band’s Group A meeting, which Dante thinks is a good idea. Juliette goes right back to strategizing with Dante.
Lamar finds Coleman at a local restaurant, and the two banter about the stadium. Lamar sneers to Coleman that he’s sure Teddy only tells him what he needs to know. Coleman wants to know why Lamar doesn’t just sell the land and donate a couple million to charity. Lamar tells him Teddy will either make good on his earlier commitment to building the stadium on Lamar’s land or wish he had. Coleman tells him to let it go and dismisses him. Lamar tells Coleman that he’ll see things differently when Teddy disappoints him, and when that happens, Coleman should come see Lamar like he used to, when he had “real” power. Ouch. Lamar walks back to his henchman, who tells him he got confirmation on who leaked details of Teddy and Rayna’s divorce to the tabloids, something that could be used as leverage.
As if Scarlett being sent back to the kitchen to bring the boys dinner wasn’t stereotypical enough, we now have Will and Gunnar talking college and pro football in the backyard while Scarlett is bored out of her mind. Scarlett excuses herself and goes to bed, Will is all gentlemanly and stands up, doffs his cowboy hat, and thanks her for a lovely dinner. Scarlett smiles and thanks him. Will and Gunnar settle in for a beer, and after Will asks why Gunnar isn’t in on that record deal, Gunnar fills him in on what happened. He admits Scarlett is right and he is wrong. Will and Gunnar toast to another day.
Back in New York, Juliette gives her best business pitch to Keoh. She acknowledges her loose cannon past and promises that she is taking responsibility and moving forward. The Keoh reps seem impressed.
Avery is busking when his old bandmate JT drops by. Avery tells him he is free to gloat. JT tells him he is headed back to Ohio, that Avery was right and not everybody can make it in Nashville. He tells Avery he should go home too and take a job with his father. Avery tells him he can’t go back to the guy who told him he was wasting his life, and that music is all he knows. JT gives him contact info for a guy who can hook Avery up on a roadie gig. Avery thanks him.
Juliette walks in and giddily shares news of her new multimillion dollar sponsorship deal with Keoh Electronics with her mom. Jolene wishes that Juliette could start feeling for her a fraction of what she feels about her career and business ventures, and walks off to the tour AA meeting.
Scarlett wakes up Gunnar, and tells him she’s not taking the Edgehill Republic deal, because before he came into her life, she was just writing poems.
Back in New York at the Barclays Center, it’s time for another soundcheck. Rayna explains to her girls that she believes in their talent but just wants them to have every advantage that time & experience can give them. But as a sweet surprise, she gives them the stage for soundcheck. Maddie and Daphne are thrilled, and deliver a really wonderful version of “Ho Hey.” Everybody’s impressed, including Marshall Evans, who jokingly wants to know if they’re going to be the second act on Rayna’s label. Rayna jokingly tells him to back off.
To DOWNLOAD “Ho Hey,” cowritten by Jeremy Fraitz and Wesley Schultz and performed by Lennon Stella and Maisy Stella click HERE.
Back at Casa James/Conrad, Peggy has gotten comfortable on the sofa when Lamar walks in. Lamar tells Peggy that she should use her creative accounting savvy to change Teddy’s mind about the stadium location, and wonders how Teddy would feel if he knew that she had leaked all those lies about Rayna and Teddy’s divorce to the tabloids. Peggy tells him he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
At the Barclays Center, Juliette is introducing her new single. She dedicates it to her mom, whom she says has been an amazing influence on her recently. Jolene is standing front row, and really appreciates the gestures. Juliette starts to sing “Hypnotizing,” which will also be Nashville‘s new single to radio.
To DOWNLOAD “Hypnotizing,” the new radio single from Nashville, cowritten by Cary Barlowe, Steve Robson and Caitlyn Smith and performed by Hayden Panettiere click HERE.
After the show, Rayna passes by Deacon and again and tells him she really likes Stacey and is really happy for him. This time, she seems to mean it.
Meanwhile in Nashville, Gunnar tells Scarlett that she has to sign the record deal. He tells her that he wasn’t mad because Scarlett got an opportunity he didn’t but because she didn’t have enough respect for their relationship to tell him about this chance. He says he’s not Avery, and that he loves her and couldn’t take it if he saw Scarlett waiting tables instead of doing what she’s meant to do. Scarlett tells him she loves him too, and is emotional to receive his support.
Peggy suggests to Teddy that he reconsider Lamar’s land as a stadium site since it does have more room for expansion. He doesn’t want to be tethered to Lamar, but Peggy goes all Lady Macbeth, saying she wants to see Teddy in the governor’s mansion and keeping Lamar as an ally might be a good way to facilitate that.
Meanwhile Avery packs up for New York City, where he is joining a tour as a roadie. Gee, I wonder which one?
Meanwhile Juliette thanks Dante for his help with everything, and, as seems to be her habit with every guy who shows her the kind of understanding she needs & deserves, she kisses him. *sigh* Dante kisses her back but then says he can’t because of the obvious complexities involved. Not for long though, because they wind up sleeping together.
Deacon returns to his hotel room, where Stacey has dozed off and poor Sue is locked up in a dog carrier. He wakes Stacey up and tells her that he’s starting to think he’s had a good run on the road but it’s time to settle down in Nashville. Stacey tells him that he doesn’t have to do that for her, but Deacon says this is what he wants too.
Rayna and Tandy have a friendly sitdown and chat about having worked things out with the girls. Rayna teases Tandy that comparing Rayna to Lamar was a low blow, but Tandy reminds Rayna that she used to think their dad “hung the moon.” Rayna denies it, and it’s not clear where this conversation is going until we see Lamar having a triumphant drink in his dark mansion and Dr. Evil armchair back in Nashville. He chats with henchman Albert about getting Peggy in line. But suddenly, he appears to have a heart attack. Oh noes!
BONUS: Check out video of Clare Bowen and Sam Palladio performing “If I Didn’t Know Better” and “When The Right One Comes Along” at 3rd & Lindsley last night as part of the Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival! JD Souther (aka Watty White on Nashville) accompanies.
Clare Bowen performs “Looking For A Place To Shine”
Hayden Panettiere performs “Telescope” at 3rd & Lindsley as part of the Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival, with an assist from singer/songwriter Kate York and JD Souther!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6H8H-jenKA
Charles Esten performs “Sideshow” and “I Climb The Walls” at 3rd & Lindsley as part of the Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival with an assist from JD Souther.
