Nashville

Previously on "Nashville"... You have jeopardized my label.

- Are you firing me? - Yeah.

I need a label that'll let me be me.

I think I might be able to help you with that.

Gunnar's turning this into a full-time job.

You can't be mad at a guy for being enthusiastic.

Have you ever worked as a backup singer before?

Mnh-mnh.

Honey, come back when you got your tools ready.

Anybody can tell there's something going on between you two.

What are you doing with her?

I want to kill it as a country singer.

She helps me get there.

You want to stay with me tonight?

I got someone waiting for me at home.

Phenomenal, Zoey. Just... Phenomenal.

Thank you.

We're bringing back our top choices

later next week to sing with the talent.

We'll have that list together in about a day or two.

So keep your phone close.

Hey. How was the tour?

Well, my last motel didn't have any heat.

Good news is, all the roaches stayed in the walls

- to keep warm. - Well, that's nice.

Living the dream.

How come you're not working with Liam tonight?

Oh. Turns out he can only produce three tracks on my album.

So, h-he got called away to another project.

It's all right. I'm gonna keep writing.

It'll get done one way or the other.

Night.

Hey, Scar?

Look, I know he's a great producer,

but... For what it's worth...

I've never been that big a fan of Liam's.

Night. Night.

Hey, that doesn't look anything

like a presentation on the Battle of Liberty Gap.

I'm working on a new song.

Want to play it for Deacon tomorrow.

Dad, I just finished my math problems. Can you check them?

We don't even have school tomorrow.

Stop being such a nerd.

Yeah, honey. Just, can you give me a sec? I'll check 'em out.

Honey, look.

You got a "C" in history right now.

Oh, my... I get it.

Things have been tough around here lately.

But if your hobbies are getting in the way of your homework...

Music isn't a hobby to me!

Well, it's gonna have to be for now.

School needs to be the priority.

Liberty Gap. Make some progress.

You'll get this back for your lesson, okay?

Hey.

Ah! Just the two people I wanted to see.

Hey.

Look, I know things weren't exactly smooth

leading up to our last show,

but I don't think we should give up on the band.

Not smooth?

Man, you were a complete...

Okay, I was intense.

You were flaky.

But you got to admit... when we got up on that stage,

- we kinda killed it. - That's true. We did.

Man, if we play our cards right, we could be doing a show like that every week.

Look, I've done the band thing before.

And I don't see this ending in anything other than bad blood.

Better to stay friends while we still can.

He's crazy, right?

I don't know. Maybe we should just keep this casual...

you know, play when we can.

We've all got stuff going on.

This is something we should do for fun.

Fun... right.

I'll be sure to bring the balloon animals

next time we play... w-whenever that is.

Welcome to Highway 65.

We're really excited about this.

- Hello! - We're really excited!

- Have a seat, guys. - We are excited.

Y'all know my sister, Tandy.

- Yes. - Also CFO of Highway 65.

Okay. Should we get started?

Yes. I want to hit the ground running.

Let's make a big splash about me landing at Highway 65

and put out a digital download

of "Don't Put Dirt on my Grave Just Yet."

You mean the song that basically flipped off

the country-music establishment?

That's why I said "digital download"

and not "single on country radio."

Well, I think that you came... To sign on with Highway 65

because you wanted us to help you win back country.

And I do think that what we should do

is actually take some time

and write and create an album

that really is gonna redefine you as an artist.

Okay. I can do that.

And you're still touring, right?

Yes. We still have dates up in the pacific northwest.

All right. So, use it as a... as a charm offensive.

Really get out there and get those fans

who are still behind you talking about you, spreading the word.

You know, now's a really good time

to bring up that point about the tour.

Um, right.

Will Lexington's album is dropping against Rayna's.

Basically, you're hosting the competition.

Uh-huh.

So, what would you like me to do?

Do you want me to... Drop him?

Well, let's put it this way...

what's good for the label is good for you.

Is there anywhere we can speak privately?

Don't mind my sister.

She's just trying prove her value to the company.

Have a seat.

Look, I'll drop Will from my tour,

and I'll use it as an excuse to get rid of Layla, too.

And I will make a great album.

But I haven't heard any plans

about how we're gonna announce you signing me.

I mean, the Rayna Jaymes stamp of approval

will probably help speed things up a little bit for me.

Well, I think we should be strategic about it.

Right now, my association with you could hurt me.

In six weeks from now,

it could be very helpful for you,

with a calculated rollout of my album.

What's your rollout plan?

Well, there's a drop party tonight

for the first single off the album,

and tomorrow night, I'm playing at the Opry, and...

Party, huh?

Mm. I didn't get invited.

Well, you're welcome to come.

In fact, I think it'd be good for you to come.

Might as well start getting back into everybody's good graces.

But let's do the label a favor

and just... Just hold off

on talking about our involvement with each other

just for a while.

Man, I wish I'd known

that my Highway 65 signing bonus was a gag order.

Just be patient and trust me... please.

- Everything okay? - Yeah. Why?

I don't know. Just...

You didn't eat that dinner I made last night,

and you sort of snuck outta bed this morning.

Oh, well, I just didn't want to wake you.

And dinner was delicious.

I just had a huge lunch with the partners, so...

You sure that's it?

Yeah.

Look.

I know I've been gone a whole lot.

I'm gonna talk to my promoter,

see if I can get that Great Lakes circuit pushed back

so I can come off the road a little bit,

spend some time with you.

That sounds nice.

Good.

I should go.

Okay.

Deacon?

Maddie. Come on in.

I wrote this new song I want to play for you.

- Oh, yeah? - Yes.

- I can't wait to hear it. - Mm. Okay.

- Go get set up. - All right.

You gonna hang out?

No. You got a second?

Sure. Yeah.

Look, uh, Maddie's grades have been slipping a little,

so I'd appreciate it if you could try to be

a positive influence where school is concerned.

Yeah. Absolutely. Yeah.

Great.

Hello.

Hello.

- See you later. - See you.

All right.

Okay.

Dad, you can go, too.

Right.

Y'all have fun.

Hey.

The lady at the store said this would spice things up.

Why?

I mean, it's been a while.

I just thought if...

if you're bored, maybe this would help.

We don't need anything like this, okay?

Okay, yeah.

What the hell are you doing here?

Relax. I'm here to see Layla.