Season Five of Nashville premiered on CMT on January 5, 2017 after it was cancelled by ABC on May 12, 2016. As a gift to fans who campaigned to bring it back, it was announced that the first half of the 2-hour season premiere would air on December 15, 2016. This is the last season to feature Connie Britton as a main cast member and she appears in the first half of the season.
Picking up three weeks after the events of the Season Four finale, the season focuses on the aftermath of the plane crash which left Juliette Barnes as the sole survivor. The crash leaves her confined to a wheelchair and she meets the woman who saved her life. Elsewhere, Maddie tries to re-adjust to life at home with her parents and Daphne.
Scarlett and Gunnar split up following the former becoming attracted to video director Damien George. She later falls pregnant with the latter's baby but loses it following a miscarriage. Will also splits from Kevin after refusing to live with him.
Rayna faces more financial problems with Highway 65 and also finds herself the victim of a stalker while The Exes try to get their career off the ground once more. Rayna also ends up in a car crash and succumbs to her injuries.
The second half of the season picks up 10 weeks following her death with Daphne finding it hard to cope with the loss of her mother and beginning a friendship with a homeless girl named Liv. Deacon has to deal with the responsibility of being a single father to both Daphne and Maddie, who is seeing her own music career take off. Meanwhile, Will starts a relationship with entrepreneur Zach Welles, who is determined to make Highway 65 a success even if it means making big changes.
Cast[]
Main Cast[]
- Connie Britton as Rayna Jaymes (11/22)
- Hayden Panettiere as Juliette Barnes (21/22)
- Clare Bowen as Scarlett O'Connor (21/22)
- Charles Esten as Deacon Claybourne (22/22)
- Jonathan Jackson as Avery Barkley (19/22)
- Sam Palladio as Gunnar Scott (21/22)
- Chris Carmack as Will Lexington (15/22)
- Lennon Stella as Maddie Conrad (20/22)
- Maisy Stella as Daphne Conrad (20/22)
- Cameron Scoggins as Zach Welles (17/22)
- Kaitlin Doubleday as Jessie Caine (7/22)
Co-Stars[]
- David Alford as Bucky Dawes (13/22)
- Ed Amatrudo as Glenn Goodman (7/22)
- Kourtney Hansen as Emily (8/22)
Recurring Cast[]
- Rhiannon Giddens as Hallie Jordan (8/22)
- Kyle Dean Massey as Kevin Bicks (2/22)
- Jen Richards as Allyson Del Lago (3/22)
- Jordan Woods-Robinson as Randall St. Claire (5/22)
- Joseph David-Jones as Clayton Carter (10/22)
- Joanie Stewart as Sheila Goldfarb (2/22)
- Christian Coulson as Damien George (6/22)
- Linds Edwards as Carl Hockney (4/22)
- Odessa Adlon as Liv (4/22)
- Rachel Bilson as Alyssa Greene (4/22)
- Jeffrey Nordling as Brad Maitland (3/22)
- Murray Bartlett as Jakob Fine (2/22)
- Katrina Norman as Polly (2/22)
Guest Stars[]
- Will Chase as Luke Wheeler (1/22)
- Judith Hoag as Tandy Hampton (1/22)
- Eric Close as Teddy Conrad (1/22)
- J.D. Souther as Watty White (1/22)
- Bridgit Mendler as Ashley Willerman (1/22)
- Myles Moore as Jake Maitland (1/22)
Episodes[]
| Image | Title | Original Airdate | U.S. Viewers (in millions) | ||||||
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1. "The Wayfaring Stranger" | December 15, 2016 | 1.74 (sneak peek) 1.25 (premiere) | ||||||
| Plot: Rayna and Deacon face a new normal with Maddie now back home and Highway 65 struggling financially. The shocking news about Juliette creates a wave of emotions throughout Nashville and sets Rayna off on a journey of discovery. | |||||||||
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2. "Back in Baby's Arms" | January 5, 2017 | 1.20 | ||||||
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Plot: Rayna approaches Deacon about making a concept album together. Scarlett can't bring herself to trust in Gunnar after all that's happened. Juliette seeks out her guardian angel. | |||||||||
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3. "Let's Put It Back Together Again" | January 12, 2017 | 1.11 | ||||||
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Plot: Maddie begins an internship at a recording studio and meets a street musician. Avery struggles producing a young YouTube sensation. Juliette meets her guardian angel. | |||||||||
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4. "Leap of Faith" | January 19, 2017 | 0.96 | ||||||
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Plot: Rayna receives a stunning offer from Zach Welles; Juliette seeks advanced treatment; Will and Kevin look for an apartment together. | |||||||||
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5. "Love Hurts" | January 26, 2017 | 0.93 | ||||||
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Plot: Scarlett and Damien George fight over their differences; Clay and Maddie's relationship builds; Clay shows Maddie a different part of town. | |||||||||
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6. "A Little Bit Stronger" | February 2, 2017 | 0.75 | ||||||
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Plot: Rayna and Deacon beef up their home security after Rayna's encounter with Carl Hockney; Juliette draws closer to her guardian angel, Hallie; Avery leaps back into performing. | |||||||||
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7. "Hurricane" | February 9, 2017 | 0.77 | ||||||
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Plot: Rayna and Deacon struggle to write their album; Maddie and Daphne create a disturbance at home; Damien apologizes to Scarlett; Scarlett and Gunnar question their relationship. | |||||||||
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8. "Stand Beside Me" | February 16, 2017 | 0.83 | ||||||
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Plot: Rayna and Deacon take precautions as Hockney tests the limits of the restraining order; Juliette asks the church choir to work with her on an album; Scarlett finds herself drawn to Damien. | |||||||||
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9. "If Tomorrow Never Comes" | February 23, 2017 | 0.93 | ||||||
| Plot: After her life-changing experience, Rayna scrambles to write one more song for the concept album with Deacon; Juliette's leg starts to hurt inexplicably; Gunnar fights for Scarlett. | |||||||||
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10. "I'll Fly Away" | March 2, 2017 | 1.12 | ||||||
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Plot: A legal dispute threatens to break apart the family; Juliette demands to perform at the CMT Music Awards; Will and Zach are drawn closer together. | |||||||||
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11. "Fire and Rain" | March 9, 2017 | 0.97 | ||||||
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Plot: Juliette helps Maddie navigate the wave of attention she receives after her performance at the CMT Music Awards; Zach demands the masters from Rayna and Deacon's unfinished album. | |||||||||
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12. "Back in the Saddle Again" | June 1, 2017 | 0.78 | ||||||
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Plot: Deacon helps Daphne with a school project, but Daphne feels unmotivated. Juliette gives Maddie unsolicited advice about a song. Scarlett and Gunnar receive news about the baby. | |||||||||
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13. "'Til I Can Make It On My Own" | June 8, 2017 | 0.69 | ||||||
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Plot: Juliette suffers a bout of anxiety about her upcoming first major performance after the plane crash; Bucky and Zach at odds. | |||||||||
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14."(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I" | June 15, 2017 | 0.75 | ||||||
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Plot: Maddie and Clay get pulled over by a police officer; Juliette searches for a hit to relaunch her career; Damien George returns to Nashville with a grand plan for Scarlett. | |||||||||
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15. "A Change Would Do You Good" | June 22, 2017 | 0.73 | ||||||
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Plot: A huge fallout results from the video of Maddie and the police officer; Deacon and Avery fall in love with Hallie's special sound; Zach continues to exert his influence on Highway 65. | |||||||||
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16."Not Ready to Make Nice" | June 29, 2017 | 0.78 | ||||||
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Plot: Juliette has it out with Avery over Hallie's sound; Maddie learns the truth about the origins of the bullying on social media; Scarlett's pregnancy brings with it unexpected attention. | |||||||||
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17. "Ghost in This House" | July 6, 2017 | 0.71 | ||||||
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Plot: Scarlett confronts the journalist Mackenzie Rhodes face-to-face. Will shoots a big-time commercial. Deacon feels pressure from the outside to move on from Rayna. | |||||||||
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18. "The Night Before (Life Goes On)" | July 13, 2017 | 0.63 | ||||||
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Plot: Juliette's injuries continue to plague her; Avery gets a taste of independence; Scarlett and Gunnar shoot a national commercial; Deacon plays a benefit for charity. | |||||||||
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19. "You Can't Lose Me" | July 20, 2017 | 0.72 | ||||||
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Plot: Juliette takes great pains to keep Maddie from learning the truth; Deacon considers a new artist for Highway 65; Scarlett's pregnancy faces complications; Gunnar searches for the mugger. | |||||||||
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20. "Speed Trap Town" | July 27, 2017 | 0.72 | ||||||
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Plot: Gunnar visits his hometown and faces the ghosts of his past; Maddie and Juliette are nominated for the same music award; Deacon helps Jessie record; Scarlett learns self-defense. | |||||||||
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21. "Farther On" | August 3, 2017 | 0.74 | ||||||
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Plot: Maddie shoots a mascara commercial but takes issue with the direction; Deacon gets invited to play the Opry but hesitates to answer; Avery and Gunnar embrace life on the road. | |||||||||
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22. "Reasons to Quit" | August 10, 2017 | 0.68 | ||||||
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Plot: With Deacon and the artists of Highway 65 taking a stand, Zach sends a message; Maddie and Juliette's conflict comes to a head; Daphne goes to a pool party; Gunnar returns from Avery's tour. | |||||||||
Episode List[]
| Episode | Directed by | Written by |
|---|---|---|
| "The Wayfaring Stranger" | Callie Khouri | Marshall Herskovitz & Ed Zwick |
| "Back in Baby's Arms" | Callie Khouri | Stephen Cragg |
| "Let's Put It Back Together Again" | Geoffrey Nauffts | Mike Binder |
| "Leap of Faith" | Lily Mariye | Savannah Dooley |
| "Love Hurts" | Ron Lagomarsino | Jesse Zwick |
| "A Little Bit Stronger" | Stephen Cragg | Richard Kramer |
| "Hurricane" | Dan Lerner | Liberty Godshall |
| "Stand Beside Me" | Mike Binder | Matthew M. Ross |
| "If Tomorrow Never Comes" | Callie Khouri | Geoffrey Nauffts |
| "I'll Fly Away" | Dan Lerner | Liberty Godshall |
| "Fire and Rain" | Timothy Busfield | Jesse Zwick |
| "Back in the Saddle Again" | Dawn Wilkinson | Savannah Dooley |
| "'Til I Can Make It On My Own" | Michael Lohmann | Scott Soccaccio |
| "(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I" | John Carrafa | Callie Khouri |
| "A Change Would Do You Good" | Devon Gummersall | Matthew M. Ross |
| "Not Ready to Make Nice" | Allan Arkush | Troy Putney |
| "Ghost in This House" | Maggie Greenwald | Richard Kramer |
| "The Night Before (Life Goes On)" | Michael Goi | Geoffrey Nauffts |
| "You Can't Lose Me" | Jesse Zwick | Savannah Dooley |
| "Speed Trap Town" | Jet Wilkinson | Jesse Zwick |
| "Farther On" | Michael Lohmann | Liberty Godshall |
| "Reasons to Quit" | Callie Khouri | Scott Saccoccio |
Videos[]
Albums released in or during the Season[]
- The Music of Nashville (Season 5, Volume 1)
- The Music of Nashville (Season 5, Volume 2)
- The Music of Nashville (Season 5, Volume 3)
| Nashville | ||
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| See also: Season One • Season Two • Season Three • Season Four • Season Five • Season Six | ||