Passions build as Rayna and Juliette’s Red Lips White Lies tour continues on to a stop in Chicago.
As Deacon steps in as the band leader for Juliette, it’s no secret he’s out of his element amid the racks of stage costumes and an entourage of dancers and assistants as the crew gets ready for the show. “It takes a lot of people to make a good show,” Juliette quips. “Really? Johnny Cash only needed three,” Deacon replies. Later, he tells Juliette, “I’m still getting used to all the glitter.”
After Rayna finishes performing “I’m Already Gone” in concert, Juliette steps onstage surrounded by smoke machines, wind machines and a troupe of backup dancers to perform the peppy pop/country tune “I’m A Girl” (written by Mallary Hope, Shane Stevens, and Matthew West). Her insecurity shows as she notices Deacon’s distaste for the flashy act and she starts questioning the possibility of changing her brand.
Afterward, in her dressing room, Juliette tells her manager Glenn that she wants to change her sound, a move he strongly discourages. Later, a songwriting session with Deacon produces a new song (“Consider Me,” written by Ashley Monroe and Brendan Benson) and a newfound sense of confidence in Juliette to try a stripped down sound. At another concert stop, she steps onstage in jeans and a white shirt—a far cry from her usually spangled stage wardrobe, to sing a ballad she co-wrote with Deacon. As she asks Deacon to step up to perform it with her, Rayna and her team watch from the side of the stage, clearly noticing how much the setup resembles the heyday when Rayna performed with Deacon. After the performance, Juliette’s manager has some harsh words for Deacon: “It felt like a Deacon-Rayna show out there. Whatever you’ve got going on with Rayna, Juliette is not your solution.”
At the beginning of the episode, it seems not much is going on with Rayna and Deacon, as Deacon ignores or avoids Rayna’s attempts to smooth out their friendship, which makes for a few awkward elevator encounters. That doesn’t last long, as Deacon finally gives in to his long-held feelings for Rayna, kissing her in an elevator at the hotel.
Edgehill Republic head Marshall Evans agrees to give Rayna her own label, and she talks to Watty about signing a duo she remembered him mentioning from Nashville– Deacon’s niece Scarlett and her performance partner Gunnar.
Speaking of Gunnar and Scarlett, back in Nashville they decide to become roommates after Scarlett receives a visit from her landlord demanding rent money. Scarlett admits that Avery still owes her money for the rent after he left. It’s a good deal for Gunnar, who has gotten plenty of flak from his “friends” after joining the band with Scarlett. Gunnar moves in, right about the time that Avery shows up at Scarlett’s door. Rent money in hand, Avery apologizes for his actions and asks if they can rekindle a friendship. It’s too little, too late when he realizes Scarlett has Gunnar for a new roommate, which leads to harsh words and a fist fight between the two musicians. Avery’s possessive side bleeds through and Gunnar calls him on it, prompting Avery to leave. He ultimately does some thinking about what a jerk he’s been and the situation he’s gotten into. Avery musters the courage to leave his cougar lover/manager, Marilyn.
While Deacon and Rayna’s passion rekindles on tour, back home Rayna’s husband Teddy runs into Peggy in Hillsboro Village. The polite conversation leads to an affair after Peggy suggests he needs to be with someone who respects him and believes in him.
Meanwhile, on tour, Juliette sees what she thinks is a negative outcome to her impromptu performance of “Consider Me” after a reviewer in the audience had negative things to say, as did others on Twitter. Juliette is crushed by the unpopular response, until her assistant shows her how many views the YouTube video of the performance has gotten in the few hours since the show, along the the hundreds of positive comments from fans on the video.
After their brief passionate reunion, Rayna calls Deacon to her hotel room to talk about what happened. She gets a shock when it’s not Deacon who meets her at her door, but her husband Teddy. The episode ends with a cliff-hanger as Teddy says he’s tired of trying to fix the relationship and asks Rayna for a divorce.