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Juliette has been signed to Highway 65, and this has inexplicably repaired the rift between Rayna and Tandy, who is back in full-force as CFO. It has not done much for the tenuously mended rift between Rayna and Juliette, however, who have somewhat different ideas about how Juliette's signing should be announced. Juliette wants a big splashy single release, but Rayna suggests that they be strategic and hold off on mentioning their mutual involvement for a while. Rayna definitely does not want Juliette to wait to dump Will from her tour since his album will drop against hers in May. Juliette does so, and then at a party for Rayna's single, takes it upon herself to bum rush the stage and announce that she's now a Highway 65 artist. Rayna is NOT happy. Her idea for damage control is to have Juliette sing a duet with her at the Opry, which is met with tepid applause. So yeah, this is not exactly the dream team we've hoped for all season.
Meanwhile, Teddy has turned into a total stalker freak AND a mean dad. Despite the fact that Megan has asked him to leave her alone, he approaches her at every possible awkward moment, telling her that Deacon will never understand her since musicians are "not normal people." Compelling case, right? Then he gives Maddie a hard time for her mediocre grades and heavy-handed makeup, grounding her and threatening to take away her guitar lessons. She's all, "I want to go live with my REAL dad!" which as you can guess does not go over so well. And then she uploads a video to YouTube under the name "Maddie Claybourne," which I'm sure will create no fuss at all.
Meanwhile, Layla has hired Brent as her manager, much to Will's chagrin. Brent gets her what appears to be a notable last-minute gig and then suggests a #laylaandwill club tour since Juliette has dumped them both from hers. Will finds out that he's being offered a spot on Luke Wheeler's tour and beats a hasty retreat from Layla. But Brent reminds him that a beard is the best defense from old dude-lovers coming out of the woodwork and outing him, and so Will actually PROPOSES to Layla. Another in a string of great moves!
Elsewhere, Zoey thinks she's going to get called back from a backup singing audition, but totally doesn't. Scarlett has her worst hair yet and decides the only person who can produce the rest of the tracks on her album is Avery. Juliette is pissed that Avery seems willing to ride on Scarlett's coattails, but not hers. He wants her to be okay with it, though the tinge of desperation in Scarlett's request isn't helping matters. And finally, Luke asks Deacon to take an opening spot on his tour and Rayna takes the news a bit on the strange side.
Want more? The full recap starts right below!Previously on Nashville: Rayna caught Liam and Scarlett making out and fired him, just as he has now been fired from our hearts. Juliette wanted a label that would let her be herself, and asked if Rayna would sign her to Highway 65. Gunnar was a bit overenthusiastic about Zunvery, Zoey was interested in becoming a backup singer (but not interested enough to Google what you need to prepare for a backup singing audition), and Will continued his reluctance to shave the beard known as Layla. OH, and Megan banged Teddy in the backseat of her own car as a nation went, "…Yeeesh."
We enter with Zoey on a backup singing audition that appears to be taking place in a church. I don't think she's singing an actual church song, but it still has that kind of vibe. Or maybe it's the stained glass windows are throwing me off? There are three folks at a desk, and the main guy (at least I assume he's the main guy, since he's wearing thick glasses and a fedora -- and you CAN NOT be a cool guy in the music business without a fedora) tells her that she was phenomenal. They're bringing back their top choices week to sing with the talent, and he tells her to keep her phone close.
Deacon and Scarlett bump into each other at their house, and Scarlett asks how tour is going. Deacon tells her that his last motel didn't have any heat, but the good news is that the roaches stayed in the wall to keep warm. Ah, the glamorous life of a touring musician! Deacon wonders why Scarlett isn't working with Liam, and she says that it turns out he can only produce three tracks on her album, since he "got" "called" "away" "on" "another" "project." She's wearing a snowflake sweater and her hair is up, and Deacon looks a tad concerned. He tells her that Liam is a great producer, but for what it's worth he personally has never been a big fan. Scarlett sort of smiles and goes to bed. And I guess if you're Deacon, it would be kind of hard to enjoy the company of a guy who banged the love of your life AND your niece within six months of each other.
And then we're playing music with Maddie and Daphne! Yay! Or nay, according to Teddy. He walks in and notes that this doesn't look anything like a presentation on the Battle of Liberty Gap. He's good natured about it, until Maddie says that she's working on a new song and wants to play it for Deacon tomorrow. Daphne -- who of course is perfect -- already has finished her math problems and wants Teddy to check them. Maddie tells her that they don't even have school tomorrow, and to stop being such a nerd. Hey girl, now let's not start smart-shaming! Teddy sits right in front of Maddie, who currently has a "C" in history, and tells her that it's not cool for her hobbies to get in the way of her homework, no matter if it's how she deals with the fact that her true paternity was kept a secret from her for thirteen years and/or that her stepmother has recently been violently shot and killed. Maddie is incensed, and yells back that music is NOT a hobby to her. Teddy grabs the guitar from her hands and says that school has to be her priority. If she makes progress on the Battle of Liberty Gap, she'll get the guitar back for her lesson. Maddie storms off. And seriously… I think sometimes as a parent you have to realize that you're sitting on top of a freakishly talented cash cow and just let the history project slide.
Gunnar walks into the Bluebird to find two-thirds of Zunvery working. He tells them that, though he and Avery nearly came to blows, he doesn't think they should give up on the band. When Avery is not immediately sold, Gunnar says that he knows he was intense, but Avery was flaky. And despite all that, when they got on stage they killed it. Zoey agrees. But wizened old Avery has done the band thing before, and doesn't see this ending in anything other than bad blood. He thinks it's better to stay friends while they still can. He walks off, and Gunnar asks Zoey for confirmation that Avery is crazy. To his surprise, Zoey says that maybe they should just keep things casual and play when they can -- you know, for fun. Gunnar HATES fun, and walks off.
Then we're at Highway 65 headquarters, also known as Rayna's house. Glenn and Juliette enter to a warm greeting from Bucky and Rayna. Tandy is also there at the table, and I guess has been reinstated as CFO as well as familial unit. I'm glad she and Rayna were able to work out their issues off-camera. Anyhoo, Juliette has big ideas -- she wants to make a big splash about her landing at Highway 65 and put out a digital download of "Don't Put Dirt on My Grave Just Yet." Tandy asks if she indeed is talking about the song that was a big "fuck you" to the country music establishment. Indeed, says Juliette, she is -- and that's why she suggested a digital download and not a single on country radio. Rayna tries to mediate, saying that Juliette signed with Highway 65 because she wanted them to help her win back the country market. So what she thinks they should do is take some time, and write, and create an album that will redefine Juliette as an artist. Juliette, with a twinge of reluctance, says she can do that. Rayna confirms that she's still touring, and suggests using it as a charm offensive to get the fans who are still behind her to talk her up. Tandy thinks that now is a good time to bring up another issue -- the fact that Will's album is dropping against Rayna's. This means that Juliette is basically hosting the competition on her tour. Juliette asks if they want her to drop Will, and Tandy says that what's good for the label is good for Juliette.
Juliette is clearly not pleased, and asks to speak to Rayna privately. Rayna tells Juliette not to mind Tandy, since she's just trying to prove her value to the company. So I guess Rayna still sort of hates her? Anyway, Juliette says that she'll drop Will and use it as an excuse to get rid of Layla too. And she'll make a great album. But she hasn't heard anything about how they're going to announce her signing to Highway 65, and the Rayna Jaymes stamp of approval will probably speed up her reentry into country music's good graces. Rayna says that they should be strategic about it since at this point her association with Juliette could hurt her. Six weeks from now, however, it could be very helpful for Juliette… with a calculated rollout of the album. Rollout starts soon, with a party for Rayna's new single tonight and a performance at the Opry tomorrow. Juliette was invited to neither of those things, but Rayna thinks it would be good for her to come and start getting back into everyone's good graces. But for now she wants Juliette to hold off on talking about their involvement with each other. Is she going to make her put a bag over her head and walk out of the back door, too?
And then it's awkward times with Deacon and Megan! He's wondering why she hardly touched the dinner he made for her last night (chicken with guilt sauce) and snuck out of bed this morning. She makes some excuses, and he wonders if that's really it. Being Deacon, he says he knows he's been gone a lot, so is going to talk to his promoter and see if he can get some dates pushed back. He'd like to come off the road a bit and spend more time with Megan. He's been on tour for, like, one minute! She says that sounds nice, because who wouldn't want more time for stilted, awkward conversations like this? Poor Deacon.
Maddie comes over for her guitar lesson, all excited about her new song. Teddy asks if Deacon has a second, and delivers the news that Maddie's grades are slipping. He'd appreciate if Deacon would be a positive influence as far as school is concerned. Of course Deacon will, because he's the best (when he's not off the wagon and being the absolute worst). Speaking of the absolute worst, Megan reappears to have an awkward hello with Teddy. She heads out the door, and then Maddie has to tell Teddy that he can go too. Nobody wants Teddy around, except furtively in an ill-advised backseat encounter. I think Peggy was literally the only person ever to really enjoy hanging out with him.
Oh NO, and then Layla comes home with a bag from "Judith's Jungle: Playthings for Grown-Ups." Yes, she has gotten some sort of sex toy to spice things up. Will looks in the bag, and then looks like he wants to die. He asks why, and she says it's been a while and she thought if he was bored that this might help. Will says that she doesn't need anything like this. What she needs is a Y chromosome, and I don't think those are in stock this season. Speaking of, Brent shows up at the door. He's there to see Layla, since he's her new manager. Now, this is a bad idea for everyone, right? Come on, Brent. Layla says that Brent made a really strong case for himself and she fired her old team. He's got some bad news to deliver -- Juliette's kicking both Will and Layla off her tour. This is news to Will, who wonders how Brent knows about his tour. Brent says that he'll get the news directly as soon as Edgehill finds a way to give it some positive spin. Will is peeved and runs out, not bothering to be happy that Brent has gotten Layla a great gig tonight at the Franklin Theater.
Then we're in the studio, where Rayna is listening to the three songs that Scarlett did with Liam. In Liam's absence, I think Scarlett somehow got a weave transplant that is not doing her any favors. It's somewhere between crimped and scraggled and also she might be simultaneously going bald? I don't know. In any case, Rayna loves the three tracks. She has ideas for another producer, but since no one she wants is available she wonders if it might be a good idea for Scarlett to go back on tour for a little while. Scarlett says she would rather not go back out on the road now. She wants to finish the album, and isn't sure she can trust another stranger to produce it after what happened with Liam. Can they just ship this girl to the sanatorium and put us all out of our misery? Anyway, Scarlett wants to work with Avery. She doesn't know if he'll do it, but he's very good. Rayna is impressed by his credentials, working with Deacon and Juliette. She tells Scarlett to talk to him -- if he's on board, she's on board. Also, I'd think he'd be pretty cheap, which is good news for Highway 65.
Speaking of Deacon's album, it's called Alive (at the Bluebird) and he gives Maddie a copy on vinyl. She asks him to sign it and he says that if she keeps writing songs like the one today pretty soon she'll be signing records for him. Maddie wonders if he'll explain to Teddy that she's good at music, and he might then get off of her back about school. Deacon tells her that education is important, and that they both just want what's best for her. Maddie doesn't think that taking her guitar away is best for her, and Deacon tells her that Teddy might be holding on a little tight, but he just lost someone that he loves. Grief is tricky, and he wants Maddie to give Teddy a little slack right now. Deacon -- again, the best! He might not be so generous if he knew that Teddy banged his girlfriend and is soon to be creepily stalking her, though. He gives the signed record to Maddie and it says, "Maddie, you make me smile. Love, Deacon." He is truly everyone's dream boyfriend and/or biological dad.
So… Teddy. He shows up at Megan's office to talk about the new victim offender reconciliation program he's heading up. He wants her to head up the task force. How convenient! She quickly asks if he's using her personal tragedy to try to spend time with her. Isn't that what they've both been doing these past few weeks, though? Teddy denies it, saying he just wants the best person for the job. She offers to get him names of qualified people, and then REALLY wants him to get the heck out of her office. Teddy wants to talk about what happened, but she simply says it was a mistake. She's with Deacon and he shouldn't be in her office. With tears in her eyes, she asks him to go. Sometimes I can't believe that these two are actually characters on this show.
Meanwhile, Juliette is despondent. Leaving a message for Avery, she notes that it's like Rayna & Co think she's deadlier than a truck stop hot dog. Her folksy metaphors are really something this season, aren't they? Juliette wants him to forget she ever told him about signing with Highway 65, and asks him not to spread it around. Will then shows up at her door, and she apologizes for not being able to reconsider his spot on his tour. She tells him it's nothing personal, and nothing he did or didn't do. He's great, but since Edgehill dumped her, she's not going to boost their album sales by promoting their artists on her tour. Will pouts his way out, saying that he thought they were friends. WERE they, though? I know they had one revenge duet and one night in a bar, but I never thought they quite got to bestie material.
We then see Layla performing at the Franklin Theater. Brent bops along on the side of the stage, and then Will shows up. A guy asks to take a photo with Will, and then says he can't wait to send it to his sister, who went to school with Will in Lubbock. She apparently talks all the time about Will and a guy known as Tyler, who had a band together in high school. Judging by Will's uncomfortable look, I bet a band isn't all they had. The guy asks what ever happened to Tyler, and Will says that they lost touch, and also he wants to listen to his GIRLFRIEND that he likes to have HETEROSEXUAL SEX with. Brent kind of listens to all this with interest, but still while bopping his head because he's cool like that.
Scarlett then shows up to Avery's apartment, telling him that she and Liam parted ways and she needs to bring in a producer that she trusts to help her finish the album. She wants to know if he's available. He's excited by the prospect… sort of. He says that he and Juliette are dating now, and this has the potential to get complicated. Scarlett assures him that, weave transplant aside, she's over being complicated and also she's already sold him to Rayna. Avery looks flattered and tempted all at once.
Gunnar then catches Zoey on a coffee break. He's been bothered by the fact that she was so into the band stuff for a while, but now she's talking about all of them having a lot of stuff going on. He wonders what, exactly, she's got going on. Zoey finally tells him about the backup singing auditions, noting that one she had yesterday went well and she thinks she might have the gig. He seems surprised that she's thinking of singing professionally and less than thrilled when she tells him that the gig is for a national tour for some big mystery artist. It will be for six months, with an option to keep her longer if they like her. Gunnar sadly says that he gets why she might not have time for the band, then walks off.
Layla finishes her show -- which apparently was a triumph -- and gives Will a big hug as she exits the stage. She tells him that Juliette dropping them is the best thing that could have happened, since Brent has an amazing idea: They're going to headline their own tour! Brent catches up with them and says that tonight was about getting sponsors and promoters to see what's possible, and Layla killed it. They won't be selling out arenas, but with the right backers, #LaylaAndWillRoadshow can fill major clubs and theaters. Layla is thrilled about the prospect, but Will wants to see what Jeff thinks about it all.
With that, Rayna and Luke get ready for her big single party. He's heard the news that Rayna laid down the law with Juliette and wants her to kick Will off of her tour. She says that was Tandy's brainchild, and Luke tells her that her good friend, Jeff Fordham, wants him to take Will on the road. He says he doesn't have to do it, but as much as Rayna hates Jeff -- and hates the fact that Will bailed on her -- she can't tell Luke what to do on his own tour. She guesses that means that she's sleeping with the enemy. And that's all it takes for Luke to prepare to make Rayna fashionably late for her own party.
HA! And then Maddie and Daphne come down the stairs in Teddy's house all ready for Rayna's big party. Maddie has mondo eyeliner on, and poor Daphne has been saddled with red clown lips. Teddy tells them to go back upstairs and wash their faces, because Daphne is too young for make-up and Maddie is wearing way too much. Which she is. Maddie sasses that her make-up isn't getting in the way of her homework, and Teddy tells her that she needs to be a better example for her sister. She says that she's not a little kid anymore, and Teddy agrees that she's also not too young to stay home by herself while Daphne goes to the party. This is enough to get her to go upstairs and wash her face, but not without a big huff. This show certainly doesn't make a person want to have teenagers, does it?.
At Juliette's place, Avery hangs up a call with Bucky. He tells her about the offer from Rayna to produce Scarlett's album. Juliette wonders how Bucky and Rayna even know who he is, and he tells her that Scarlett suggested him. Juliette -- who admittedly was in a foul move to begin with -- wonders why it's charity from her when Edgehill offers him a deal to produce anyone he wants, but it's okay if Scarlett does him a favor. He says it's different, since she's in a jam and he's helping out a friend. He tells Juliette that she has no need to be jealous, and she clarifies that actually she's PISSED. She doesn't see why they should bother talking about it, since Avery is loathe to ride her coattails but will grab on to Scarlett's scraggly weave tails with both hands. Now Avery is pissed and walks out, and she yells after him that she's glad he's not going to the party since that's one less person's feelings she'll have to deal with all night. Awww… not these two! They just got together and everything was going so well!
And then we're at the party for freshly-sexed Rayna. She's wearing a halter dress and looks great, and there are photographers snapping all around. Someone who is probably a celebrity cameo (but I don't know who it is) hugs Rayna and says that if her new song is half as great as the party, she'll have another gold record in the Opry soon. Rayna's all, "From your mouth to God's ears a ha ha ha ha!" because she's in full performance mode now. There are drinks and passed hors d'oeuvres, and Megan is there as Deacon's date. Scarlett is there too, with some sort of sparkly headband across her forehead. She watches Rayna and says that she makes being a big celebrity superstar country singer seem so easy, and Deacon notes that she's been doing it for a while. He reminisces about the days when she had him quiz her on who's who, and Scarlett wonders if she should have done that today. She goes to get some "air," which really means take one of Liam's prescription pills. That is what you call a bottomless bottle! Thanks, Obamacare!
The girls arrive and barely say hi to Rayna before running off to see Luke. Teddy doesn't seem to mind that they have yet another father figure, though. He congratulates Rayna on the party, and then notes his recent challenges with Maddie. She says that if he has to draw the line, she'll back him up. Look at these two being all civil with their co-parenting and whatnot! Rayna invites him to stay for a drink, and he agrees only after spying Megan. Now that is quality creepy stalker-ing.
Juliette then arrives with Glenn, to absolutely no fanfare. Still, she snarks that she's glad to have least gotten to use the front door. She's clearly not thrilled to be there, but knows that she has to get back in the game and make nice. Glenn notes that she doesn't seem to be in a very nice mood (ever), and she says she knows how to turn it on (she does not).
Deacon goes to see Luke, Maddie and Daphne, and Maddie says that if Luke and Deacon are ever playing in the same city at the same time, they could see both shows. Luke is surprised to hear that Deacon's on tour, and after getting a few details notes that he's too good to be playing bars and sleeping in motels. And THEN Luke gets an idea. He invites Deacon to come open up for him on his tour. I really wish I could figure out if Luke is an ass or not. Why is he so inscrutable? The girls are thrilled at this prospect, and Deacon says he'd love to but needs a day to think about it -- he needs to run the idea by someone.
That someone, meanwhile, runs into Teddy outside of the party proper. Well, "runs into" is generous since he was lurking around directly in her path. Megan says she asked him to leave her alone. This is, in fact, true, but Teddy says it isn't because she doesn't want him around -- it's because she's scared of how much she does. Then he asks if she really thinks she can go the distance with Deacon. He's got some experience in this area and says, "Let me tell you. These musicians, they're not normal people." And being a semi-murdery mayor with a history of embezzlement and a half-used vat of pork blood in your fridge is the height of normality? Okay, then. He says that Deacon will never understand Megan's stupid boring life like he does, and what happened between them was not a mistake. Megan REALLY wants to get away from him -- as she should -- and he defies her to tell him she hasn't been thinking about him as much as he's been thinking about her. She walks away in response, wishing she'd committed infidelity with someone more stable. Hindsight!
Layla grabs Will on her way out of the theater, saying that they have a sponsor if they do indeed go to tour. But Will has talked to Jeff, who wants him to sign on to Luke Wheeler's tour. And he's said yes. He wonders why he'd go on some little thousand-seat tour put together by the physical manifestation of his internalized homophobia when he could be on the biggest tour in the country. Layla wonders if he can get her on Luke's tour, and he reminds her that Jeff kind of hates her now. At this, Layla notes that he's not helping her AND not sleeping with her, and wants to go on tour without talking about it. She asks if he even wants to be in this relationship anymore. No! He totally does not! Gah.
Juliette says hi to Deacon, and runs into a couple of other folks (bigwigs, I guess) who say they heard she was moving off to L.A. because it suits her better. She says that she went for a meeting with Howie V., but Nashville is her home and she's not moving anywhere. Deacon adds a supportive word about wanting to keep all Nashville's top talent in town. Scarlett then bumbles over, and the two bigwig folks -- one of whom, we learn is from Clear Channel, and the other of whom is from ACM Radio -- are thrilled to meet her. Marcella from Clear Channel says that Rayna went on about her earlier, saying that Scarlett is one of the best young songwriters she's ever heard. Deacon agrees, and Juliette gets a REALLY foul look on her face. Rayna has also been talking about how Scarlett's debut album is her big project, and drugged-up Scarlett goes on charmingly about how she feels like she's won the lottery and Rayna is such an incredible mentor. The guy says that Scarlett might have to share Rayna soon… because she's getting close to signing Evan Ryder. It looks like she's building a nice little stable of honest to goodness country artists, says the guy as Juliette walks off.
And then, as Rayna and Tandy and Luke laugh about Tandy's history of dressage (!!!!!), Juliette takes the microphone. Oh shit, says the look on everyone's face. Juliette asks the crowd to put their hands together for a true legend, then says she's so excited that Rayna signed her to Highway 65 and is shepherding her through the phase of her career. Everyone looks very confused, except for Rayna, who looks furious until she remembers to put on a fake smile.
After a break, Rayna grabs Juliette and takes her to the coat check room for a word. She says that they had an agreement -- a calculated rollout of Rayna's album. And now Juliette has destroyed any possibility that they might be able to use the momentum from that to salvage her disastrous public image. Man, this is what happens when Juliette is allowed to go out without Avery chaperoning her. Juliette says that her patience was wearing thin after hearing Rayna go into raptures about every other artist that she's signed. She's willing to wait for Rayna's album, but will not wait in line behind a bunch of up-and-comers when it comes to the priorities of the label. Bucky and Glenn come in, and Bucky notes that Rayna is getting raves for her new single, but not so much for her new artist. There are a lot of requests for interviews with both women, and Rayna asks them to buy time so she can try to figure out how to clean up Juliette's mess, which is now her mess. AND she instructs Juliette that she'll do exactly as she's told. Rayna storms out to the strains of "Buried Under," and Juliette gives Glenn a, "…What?" look when he glares at her.
Meanwhile, Gunnar congratulates Will on being added to Luke's tour, and advises him not to use Luke's elliptical. Zoey returns home, mad that Gunnar has been unresponsive to her texts. He apologizes, but says he's tired of watching everyone else perform while he sits there and writes. And now the band's done, because she's leaving too. She doesn't want to be away from Gunnar for six months, but says that they'll cross that bridge when they come to it. And then they kiss and love each other and stuff.
We cut to Maddie, watching YouTube videos in bed. Teddy enters, asking to take a look at her project. She says it's not done, and he reminds her that she said she finished it that afternoon. Maddie gives a very teenage, "Whatever," and Teddy finally gets fed up. She's grounded for two weeks -- no guitar lessons, and nothing but school and homework. Maddie says that isn't fair, and is gutted when Teddy says he talked to Rayna at the party and they're on the same page. In that case, says Maddie, they both suck and she wants to go live with her real dad. So, that gets her grounded for a MONTH, and Teddy gets a little Footloose on the situation when he says that one more word out of her and there will be no more music, period. I would worry about his reelection chances if his platform is to outlaw music in Nashville.
Then we're back at Juliette's place, where Avery waits and wonders what happened at the party. He's heard news of her announcement (because it's literally on the news), and she says she's ruined any chance of fixing her career because she signed with someone who doesn't respect her. Avery says that Rayna respects her but probably just doesn't see her side of things. And he says, quoting Life Coach Manual page 32, what one person sees as an opportunity, another person sees as a threat. Juliette wonders if Avery is actually talking about her and Scarlett. He wasn't, but finds it a convenient change of subject. He says he'll turn Scarlett's offer down, even though it would be a great fit for him, but mostly he wants her to find a way to be okay with it so he doesn't have to say no. Well that's convenient for him!
Meanwhile, Rayna is freaking out about how Juliette will probably destroy her label. Luke promises not to say "I told you so," but says he can encourage Jeff Fordham to take another stab at Juliette. Not a literal stab, though that could happen too. But Rayna isn't going to let Jeff steal another one of her artists. It might take a minute, she says, but she's going to figure this out and fix it. Good luck with that, then. She wonders if Luke has anything good and distracting to tell her. Distracting, yes. He says that he invited Deacon to be on his tour. Rayna is really taken aback by this and asks why. Luke asks if she's okay with it, and she says that he and Deacon and Will can all go off on tour while she stays in town keeping Highway 65 afloat with Juliette Barnes. So, that went over well.
Oh boy, and then Brent shows up at Will's apartment, telling him that he can't break up with Layla. This is his opinion not only as Layla's manager, but as someone who's still looking out for Will. People at Edgehill don't understand why Brent got fired, and word is out that Will pressured Jeff. So now people are wondering if Will doth protest too much, and it won't be long before the rumors get to Jeff. Will says that Jeff is too smart to believe rumors. Well, is he too smart to believe the truth, which this is? Brent says that he'll never expose Will, but wonders if the same is true of his "bandmate" from high school or anyone else. The more famous Will gets, he says, the bigger the microscope. And that is not a euphemism!
The day, Rayna has a sit-down with Juliette and tells her that she has a lot at stake. If Highway 65 fails, she loses her house. Where she lives. With her kids. Juliette has that, "Boy, I am an ass sometimes," face that she is wont to get, and says she's sorry. Now, says Rayna, it's all about damage control. And she has an idea involving her Opry performance.
Gunnar, meanwhile, hands Will a packet that came via messenger. It's stuff for Luke's tour, on which Will gets a 45-minute set. Gunnar says that's big time, but Will looks troubled. He tells Gunnar that Brent's not the only one. There have been… others, from a few years back. And now he's worried about folks crawling out of the woodwork. Gunnar says that maybe he's not that memorable, but Will wishes for a way to shut them all up if they do emerge. Please don't tell me that Will is going to kill people.
Meanwhile, Daphne enters Maddie's room, noting that if she's been playing guitar she's going to get in big trouble. Maddie rages at her a little, and then goes back to uploading a video that she's just made. When she has to enter a user name for her upload she writes, "Maddie Claybourne," and then looks really satisfied with herself.
Then we're at the Opry, where Rayna is ready to sing a song she's never sung before. And it's a duet. And the thing about this particular duet is that you have to find the perfect artist to sing it with you. And Luke is not the perfect artist for this one. But the newest member of Highway 65 is. And it's Juliette, of course. She emerges to tepid applause and a few disgusted looks. They sing a song called "He Ain't Gonna Change," and they sound great together, but the whole performance is a little tentative and the audience is not exaaaaactly into it. From the side of the stage, Scarlett stands by Avery -- her hair literally looking like it's made of two old ropes that have been ravaged by the sea; is that the latest trend in weaves? -- and notes that he hasn't yet accepted the producing offer. Avery hopes to have an answer soon. In response, Scarlett just says, "…I really need you on this."
Meanwhile, Deacon tells Megan about the offer from Luke. He wonders how she'll feel about him being on the road even more, and she says this is one that he can't turn down. We then see Zoey and Gunnar about to get busy when she's interrupted by a call. It turns out that she didn't get the back-up singing job. Well, now two-thirds of Zunvery can persevere.
And then the worst thing happens. Will brings Layla to the stage of an empty theater, apologizing for how he's been acting. He doesn't want her to have any more doubts about her relationship, and then gets down on one knee and asks her to MARRY HIM! All to the sounds of "He Ain't Gonna Change." Layla says yes, and Will has a look on his face like he can't believe he could ruin his life MORE. Juliette and Rayna finish their song, there is applause that is more tepid than tepid and then they both sit backstage looking despondent.
In two weeks: Jeff wonders if Will is gay. Maddie thinks Rayna doesn't want the world to know that she has an illegitimate daughter. And Deacon maybe is going to kill Teddy. Scandals all around!
Potes would like to announce how thrilled she is to be the latest artist signed to Highway 65! Tweet your congrats @traciepotes, email potesypotes@gmail.com, and listen to her duets with Rayna at http://traciepotochnik.bandcamp.com/.