Nashville

Previously on "Nashville"...

Can we just at least talk about what happened?

It was a mistake.

Right now, my association with you could hurt me.

What is she doing?

Rayna signed me to Highway 65.

Why don't you come open up for me?

Deacon! You have to say yes!

Your hobbies are getting in the way of your homework.

Music isn't a hobby to me!

Any chance you're available?

- For producing your album? - Mm-hmm.

I would rather not go back out on the road right now.

I'll never expose you,

but it won't be long before the rumors get to Jeff.

Will you marry me?

I can't believe we're barely in the top five most-added.

Came out of the gate strong.

Just slipped into light rotation in key markets

once word got out you signed Juliette.

'Cause we're being blacklisted.

Country radio's not quick to forgive controversial artists.

If we fall off the charts, it could derail the whole album.

It doesn't help that Jeff Fordham's throwing every Edgehill dollar

trying to get Will Lexington more radio play.

Well, let's hope this live stream

makes up for the fact that we don't have a dime.

Hey.

- Sounded good. - Oh, thank you.

We're trying to work out this little mini-set

I'm gonna do for a live stream with Luke, so...

sure.

You know, we have our own little tour to worry about here,

so I'm taking off tomorrow morning.

Which is why I thought it'd be a really good idea

for us to get together before you go.

So, first of all, welcome, Scarlett!

I'm so happy that you agreed to open for Juliette.

I think it's gonna be really great.

Oh, thank you for having me.

I'm a little bit worried about the schedule

and just getting my album finished

in the middle of it all, but...

Well, that's why it's great to have a producer who travels.

I go where I'm needed.

And wanted.

So, what is your big plan for me?

Well, the, uh, performance at the Opry

didn't... Quite have the impact that the "Wrong Song" did

in terms of repairing reputations.

I don't think you can really judge a song

from one performance at the Opry.

Oh, I don't think it was about the performance.

Okay. We get it.

I ruined the launch of your single.

But sorry. You can't blame this all on me.

Well... We're not gonna dwell on it, are we?

You're going on tour,

so I suggest you do what we talked about

and go out there and make some noise.

Win back those fans and those radio stations

one city at a time.

I have spent $500,000 of my own money

to promote these dates,

so I'm just not quite sure how much more noise I can make.

So, guess we are done here?

Yeah? Cool.

Y... uh, sure. Well, have a great trip.

Hey, Gunnar, where you at, man?

What's all this new stuff?

Get your butt out here.

Hey. You guys already back from tour?

Travel day.

Playing the Bridgestone the night after next.

Oh, nice.

Yeah. What's going on, man?

You, uh, win the lottery or something?

Well, first royalty check came in for "Ball and Chain,"

so figured I'd grow the place up a little.

Yes. We've been doing some growing up ourselves.

I can't believe you didn't see it on Twitter.

Wow. C-c-congratulations.

Thanks, man.

I'd be honored if you'd be my best man.

Wait. When's all this happening?

Soon.

Hang on.

Oh, that's Jeff Fordham. One second.

Hey, Jeff. What's up, man?

That's right... to quote my pal here,

went and got myself a ball and chain.

Uh-huh.

Oh, sure. We can do that.

Welcome home, baby!

Hey. Thought you'd be at work.

Oh, I cleared my schedule. Tomorrow, too.

- Oh, yeah? - Come here.

Workaholic in recovery, huh?

Mmm.

- Somebody miss me? - Something awful.

But I did have these to keep me company.

Compared you to Steve Earle and Kris Kristofferson?

They gave you five stars!

So, what? You got five copies?

What can I say? I'm proud of you.

Thank you.

And I'm so happy you're home for a few days.

Yeah, me too.

Just tell me you don't have a bunch of interviews to do.

I got nothing till the big gig, you know?

I mean, Maddie just texted,

so I got a lesson with her tomorrow,

but that's not till the afternoon.

I can think of something to fill the time.

Oh, yeah?

Oh, yeah.

What did I just tell you about using the computer at the table?

I was looking up something for school.

Put it away, please.

- I got it! - Now.

- Okay. - Hey!

How you doing? Oh, my goodness! You're tall!

- Hey. - Hey.

What are you doing here?

Well, I came by to tell you in person how much I can't wait

to crank out "Ball and Chain" with you tomorrow night.

- Aww. - Mmm.

- Well, aren't you sweet? - Hey, there, Maddie.

- Hi. - I am excited.

I'm excited for our live stream of "Ball and Chain."

- Yeah. Me too. - I thought you hated social media.

I do... for my personal life.

But, you know, now that I'm an independent,

it is a great way to get the music out there.

Yep. It's the name of the game.

All right, y'all, listen.

Go upstairs, get yourselves packed for daddy's

before we leave for school, okay?

Can't I just stay here, just this one week?

Honey, we talked about it already.

She's had a little case of being a teenager.

Yeah.

I got to get their lunches ready.

She must've picked up the same strand my son Colt has.

Maybe we could, you know, quarantine them together.

Oh, I would love that.

He's, um, actually gonna be in town tomorrow night

for the show.

- He is? - Yeah.

Are we gonna get to meet your kids?

Uh, just the one. Sage has a recital back home.

Great.

Um, he's a great kid...

Despite the outfit.

- Is that his profile? - Mm-hmm.

How does a 16-year-old have 20,000 followers?

Oh, he's a ham. Takes after his daddy.

Who's got 5 million, by the way.

So, what do you say?

You think you want to let the kids mix it up tomorrow?

Yeah, I do. I think that'd be great.

All right.

I do feel like, you know, I've...

I've tried to keep my girls sort of kind of low-profile

in terms of all that media stuff, so...

If we can just sort of avoid the tweets and the selfies

and all that... just make it us, just family.

Deal.

Hardly said a word on the plane.

Uh, not sure how I feel

about private jets and these big arenas.

You say it like it's a bad thing.

Look, you're not a waitress writing poems in her book anymore.

I know.

And when I'm out there,

that 20 minutes singing to everybody,

that's my favorite thing in the world.

It's just the other 23 hours of traveling

and sleeping in a different bed every night

and then having to go to industry parties.

I just wanted to make my album. That's all.

And we're going to.

I got the perfect piece of music for us to start with right now.

Doesn't Juliette need you out on the stage with her?

Can't be playing in her band

when I got an album to produce, can I?

Hey, darlin'.

Hey, daddy. Just finished my English homework with Anne.

Excellent.

Where's Maddie?

At Talia's, studying for her history test.

I thought that was an approved activity.

It is. But her history test was last Friday.

Where's your sister? And do not cover for her.

They cut this down any further,

I might as well be playing a nightclub.

Honey, you're the biggest controversy

in country since the Dixie Chicks.

Gonna take some time to blow over.

Well, I'll take a death threat over a dead room any day.