With Juliette's starring role in the Patsy Cline bio-pic, she is at an all-time career high, but is hitting a personal low. Meanwhile Avery, separated from Juliette, tends to baby Cadence at his parents' home in Texas.

Juliette breaks down during a talkshow appearance, prompting Avery's concern. When she continues her pattern of irrational and volatile behavior, she leaves Avery with a struggle of his own. Meanwhile, Rayna is determined to show the world that Highway 65 is not just a vanity project and devises a plan to sign Markus Keen, one of the biggest rock artists around.

A second aneurysm leaves Beverly brain dead and Deacon consumed with guilt, while Scarlett is forced to decide whether to keep Beverly on life support. Meanwhile, Juliette continues a destructive pattern of erratic behavior, pushing Avery to make the heart-wrenching decision to file for divorce.

Rock star Marcus Keen makes demands on Rayna as she struggles to tend to those around her. Layla and Jeff get into a lover's quarrel. Jeff arranges for a journalist to shadow Juliette on tour, but after another emotional setback, she leans on pills and alcohol to get through her days, and Zoey returns to see Scarlett.

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.

Juliette gets into a brawl with a fan that goes viral, and Jeff sees damage control as an opening for his own career. Maddie is grounded and misses Colt who is on tour with his dad. Markus butts heads with Rayna over his sound, and the two consider whether they can continue working together.

Rayna's concerns about Deacon's business venture with an old friend threatens their relationship. Luke's relationship with his son is on the line following recent events.

Rayna wants to turn down Sony's contract offer for Maddie to be a solo artist and finds her family life distracting her from her work with Markus. Luke is desperate to regain Colt's trust; Gunnar's girlfriend, Erin, causes issues on tour with Scarlett, and Avery scrambles to make money doing insipid jingles.

Rayna's new artist, Markus Keen, causes trouble for her when he scraps a song on his new album one week before its release. Is Deacon part of the solution or the problem? Luke attempts to reconcile with Colt, and Scarlett surprises Caleb back in Nashville when she gets time off on her tour.

It's a big morning for Markus Keen when Good Morning America comes to Nashville to broadcast a live concert in support of his new album launch, but come show time, Markus finds he's anything but ready. Meanwhile, Luke's relationship with Colt continues to be strained while Luke learns of another setback to launching his brand. And living in the same house, but feeling further apart than ever, Rayna and Deacon face a big decision.

When Deacon and Rayna are ambushed by paparazzi after their intimate wedding rehearsal dinner, Deacon's hot-headed reaction casts a pall on their plans and forces a change of venue.

A familiar face is back on the Nashville music scene when Luke recruits his old friend Riff Bell to join him on tour. While the duo starts planning Riff's return to the stage, newcomer Vita arrives at The Beverly, but while she convinces Deacon and Rayna she deserves a shot, Frankie has his doubts.

Luke starts questioning his decision to bring Riff Bell on tour; Deacon and Frankie butt heads over Vita; Frankie makes a destructive decision.

Juliette Barnes returns to Nashville after receiving treatment for postpartum depression and finds herself at a critical crossroads. Layla, weeks away from launching her first album, courts a country-music superstar in order to secure an opening slot on her tour.

The Exes find navigating their newfound fame tricky business when they go out on the road with Autumn Chase. Meanwhile, Maddie continues to grow closer with Cash, causing tension with Deacon as he questions her motives and interest in his daughter.

Luke has tour problems. Maddie worries Rayna and Deacon. Juliette feels threatened. Autumn causes trouble.

Rayna and Teddy reconnect for the benefit of bringing Maddie home, and avoiding court. Juliette does successfully on tour and makes advances towards Avery which does not make Layla happy. Luke goes on a talk show to try to amp up Will's career again. Written by Adriana Pinto

Its not as easy as Rayna and Deacon expected it would be to regain Maddie's trust, especially when someone who is supposed to be their ally hinders their efforts. Tension is caused between Scarlett and Gunnar over their past while doing an interview and Luke has good intentions, but they backfire. Written by Adriana Pinto

Rayna makes a last-ditch effort to protect her oldest daughter from the perils that befall young artists, while Juliette reunites with her Shenandoah Girl co-star on the Oscar campaign trail. Elsewhere, Scarlett grows wary of Gunnar's budding friendship with Autumn Chase, and Layla fears falling into obscurity before her career takes off.

Gunnar gets to perform with music legend Elton John. Rayna and Deacon reflect on their relationship while Scarlett does some soul searching. Luke goes on a talk show to speak on a subject important to him, but the focus quickly shifts to a family emergency. Written by Adriana Pinto

Juliette needs to decide how she's going to publicly address what really happened regarding Jeff's death. Will becomes a leader in a sense. Rayna takes dire action when she finds out who Maddie has encountered, and one music duo may go their separate ways. Written by Adriana Pinto