Nashville

10 Best Episodes of Nashville - Season 3

The lives and tragedies of rising and fading country music stars in Nashville, Tennessee.

Written by Sophie and last updated on nov 20, 2022.

PS: The following content contains spoilers!

PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!

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Nashville - S3E11

#15 - I'm Not that Good at Goodbye (Season 3 - Episode 11)

Now that Rayna has cancelled their wedding, Luke is not going quietly, and Rayna's own daughters don't take the news well, either. Juliette and Avery adjust to married life with a few bumps along the way, and Gunnar fights for custody of Micah. Sadie tries to take control of her own problems with her ex by buying a gun, and Deacon gets dire news about his medical condition.

The episode was rated 7.62 from 281 votes.

Nashville - S3E9

#14 - Two Sides to Every Story (Season 3 - Episode 9)

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Rayna continues to pull out all stops in self-promotion, this time by agreeing to do a televised Christmas special from her home for charity, with Luke and the children. But when she invites Deacon to join in, things get awkward fast. Her magazine cover story has reverberations for her personal life. Meantime, it’s Nashville’s Winterfest and Zoey, Gunnar and Avery have an opportunity to perform. With Scarlett’s coaching, Terry sings for the crowd and blows them away, but cannot handle the limelight. Will and Layla go to Winterfest and each find solace, but separately.

The episode was rated 7.65 from 356 votes.

Nashville - S3E7

#13 - I'm Coming Home to You (Season 3 - Episode 7)

Rayna's campaign to raise Highway 65's sales and profile finds her performing her latest single on "Dancing with the Stars." But when she agrees to be shadowed by a reporter all weekend for the cover of a magazine, just as Luke hopes to rekindle the romance, she realizes she may have pushed her public access too far. Juliette struggles to prepare for motherhood alone, and Will and Layla brace themselves for the premiere of their reality show.

The episode was rated 7.67 from 374 votes.

Nashville - S3E13

#12 - I'm Lost Between Right and Wrong (Season 3 - Episode 13)

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Rayna learns about Jeff's plan to sign Maddie to Edgehill. Luke and Gunnar come up with some revenge songs.

The episode was rated 7.68 from 292 votes.

Nashville - S3E21

#11 - Is the Better Part Over (Season 3 - Episode 21)

Juliette is back in the news – and back to feeling like her old self -- following her rooftop performance high above Highway 65, but while she enjoys the attention, her team has growing concerns that she may be suffering from postpartum depression. Meanwhile, Will is surprised with an unexpected visit from his father, and learns his private life is about to become public when a tabloid obtains photos of Will and Kevin together. With Deacon’s cancer diagnosis no longer a secret, he and Rayna grapple with the future and the real possibility that their time together will be cut short.

The episode was rated 7.70 from 326 votes.

Nashville - S3E16

#10 - I Can't Keep Away from You (Season 3 - Episode 16)

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Rayna refuses to let Deacon wallow in his condition, but her support only frustrates him and pushes him away. Meanwhile, Avery, Gunnar and Scarlett are opening for Rascal Flatts on tour, but, when her past public meltdown haunts her on social media, Scarlett becomes wary of performing again. Meanwhile, Jeff and Layla continue to blur the lines of business and pleasure, sending Layla into a state of confusion. Will is enjoying his new writing partner Kevin, but hits a bump in the road when Kevin is mysteriously no long available. Then, Sadie finds herself in a dangerous situation with her relentless ex-husband.

The episode was rated 7.71 from 344 votes.

Nashville - S3E6

#9 - Nobody Said It Was Going to Be Easy (Season 3 - Episode 6)

After a health scare, Juliette decides to ask Avery if he wants to be a part of her life as the baby’s father. Then, Gunnar deals with some recent life changing news and seeks advice from Scarlett. Meanwhile, Rayna sweeps the nominations for the CMA Awards but is up against her fiancé Luke for the most prized “Entertainer of the Year” category. Her glory is abruptly interrupted when she finds out Maddie and Daphne have been misbehaving back at home. While out on tour, Deacon finds his purpose in music thanks to the help of Pam, a backup singer in Luke’s band and country music star Sara Evans guest stars as herself, performing “Put My Heart Down” with Luke. Later, Scarlett befriends an unlikely new friend.

The episode was rated 7.71 from 365 votes.

Nashville - S3E8

#8 - You're Lookin' at Country (Season 3 - Episode 8)

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It’s country music’s biggest night of the year at the 48th Annual CMA Awards in Nashville. Up for a total of 11 awards between them, Rayna and Luke’s evening begins with an unfortunate hitch when Rayna stumbles upon Luke’s pre-nuptial agreement documents, causing for some friction between them. Later, Avery’s parents are in town for the show as Avery is nominated for a CMA Award. What should be a lovely reunion takes a turn when Avery introduces them to Juliette. Meanwhile, Gunnar and Zoey’s relationship is tested and Deacon and Scarlett watch the awards from home.

The episode was rated 7.72 from 362 votes.

Nashville - S3E10

#7 - First to Have a Second Chance (Season 3 - Episode 10)

When Luke finally returns home after wrapping up his Moon or Shine Tour just days before he and Rayna tie the knot, Rayna starts to feel conflicted about leaving their kids to go out on the road again, especially after she discovers that Luke has been making parenting decisions without her. Meanwhile, Will invites Layla on tour in an effort to keep her close but when he sees her flirting with his boss at a party, he begins to feel like he’s losing control of their situation. Then, Teddy uses his Mayoral powers to track down a recent flame and Sadie crosses paths with an unexpected ex. Later, after getting some advice from his mom, Avery makes an unexpected decision.

The episode was rated 7.72 from 354 votes.

Nashville - S3E2

#6 - How Far Down Can I Go (Season 3 - Episode 2)

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After Will’s debut album bumps Rayna’s to second place, she’s more determined than ever to make Highway 65 and her record a hit. In turn, she decides to pursue some new and unexpected opportunities for publicity, including a visit to “Good Morning America” where her friend Luke Bryan surprises her on stage. Layla becomes especially disgruntled about her fleeting career and pressures her husband Will, Edgehill Records’ new #1 artist, to help her rebuild it. Meanwhile, Juliette deals with some life-changing news and prepares for a big audition, where she runs into some familiar competition. Then later, Maddie continues to act out while Deacon deals with the brunt of her adolescence, and Zoey becomes paranoid about Gunnar’s past with Scarlett. Her suspicions are only heightened when she finds them collaborating again on a new song

The episode was rated 7.74 from 389 votes.

Nashville - S3E15

#5 - That's The Way Love Goes (Season 3 - Episode 15)

The Grand Ole Opry honors Rayna on a special anniversary, so she asks Deacon and her daughters to sing with her. Meanwhile, Will's distressed to be collaborating with a gay man on a songwriting project and Sadie shares her private ordeal on national TV.

The episode was rated 7.75 from 329 votes.

Nashville - S3E3

#4 - I Can't Get over You to Save My Life (Season 3 - Episode 3)

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Rayna sets a wedding date which reverberates through the lives of those she loves. Juliette struggles to manage her secret which could prevent her from getting a career-defining movie role, and she meets the leading man who would play her love interest if she got the part. Luke’s new back-up singer, Pam, makes her presence known, Gunnar gets a visit from his first love, Kiley, and Layla decides to wield her power over Will.

The episode was rated 7.75 from 388 votes.

Nashville - S3E4

#3 - I Feel Sorry for Me (Season 3 - Episode 4)

Rayna goes after Sadie Stone as a new artist to sign to her record label Highway 65. In order to woo her, Rayna invites Sadie out for a girl's day on the town, which she thinks may help to seal the deal. Juliette continues to try her best at hiding her pregnancy but when she starts to have stomach pains and mood swings, she has to let down her wall. Later, an assertive and sultry backup singer takes a liking to Deacon but his down in the dumps attitude does nothing but shut her out. Then, Zoey witnesses odd behavior between Scarlett and Gunnar and lets her inner jealousy get the best of her. She tries to mend things at the Bluebird but they end up backfiring terribly. Meanwhile, Avery continues to use alcohol to drown his sorrows, which only takes him to new lows, and Jeff has ulterior motives as he pursues Teddy and the girls.

The episode was rated 7.77 from 390 votes.

Nashville - S3E22

#2 - Before You Go Make Sure You Know (Season 3 - Episode 22)

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When Juliette becomes so focused on her album that she puts it ahead of everything else, Avery makes a major decision; Rayna and the girls stand by Deacon as his life hangs in the balance.

The episode was rated 7.79 from 340 votes.

Nashville - S3E5

#1 - Road Happy (Season 3 - Episode 5)

Juliette frets over hiding her pregnancy before filming a sex scene with movie star Noah West. Rayna flies her kids to meet her on tour, but learns that her increased fame now that she’s engaged to Luke is making Daphne feel entitled, while Maddie is simply miserable. Kiley tells Gunnar she’s leaving town, Will starts making careless mistakes in his personal life, and Scarlett is inspired by a homeless man she meets while songwriting

The episode was rated 7.85 from 374 votes.

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