Rayna welcomes an exonerated Lamar home from prison but Tandy is suspiciously aloof. When Rayna confronts her, Tandy unloads her suspicions about their father. Juliette hides out at Avery’s house, avoiding the fan backlash and enjoying their new relationship. But when Deacon hires Avery to be his engineer for his upcoming recording of a live concert at the Bluebird, Juliette is home alone and not loving it. Meanwhile, Scarlett is fired up with creativity and pills.

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

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.

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.

Rayna and Deacon face a new normal. The shocking news about Juliette creates a wave of emotions throughout Nashville. Rayna sets off on a journey of discovery.

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 at an AA meeting, and Scarlett becomes more enmeshed with Liam.

In The Aftermath of the death of someone in their circle, lives are changed forever in the world of "Nashville," and a new mystery arises. Kelly Clarkson guest stars as herself and makes Gunnar and Scarlett a once-in-a-lifetime offer. Juliette's reputation takes another body blow as creative video editing seems to show her proclaiming there is no God, further fueling her detractors. Rayna's bought herself out of Edgehill, but the the pressure to succeed is greater than ever, and Deacon struggles to write during his sobriety and relative stability and finds help from Maddie and Daphne.

Rayna and Juliette are both nominated for CMA Awards and Edgehill Records hosts a party in their honor. Meanwhile Teddy worries about his relationship with Maddie, Juliette copes with new challenges, Scarlett is concerned about Gunnar, and tension grows between him and Will.

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. 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.

With Deacon and the artists of Highway 65 taking a stand, Zach sends a message. Maddie and Juliette's conflict comes to a head. Daphne goes to a pool party. Gunnar returns from Avery's tour.