Wladimir Klitschko Jokes That He's Like Kaya's "Mother and Father," Calls Hayden Panettiere "Amazing"

The heavyweight-boxing champion has been busy training for his Apr. 25 fight against Bryant Jennings at New York City's Madison Square Garden, but he's also been busy caring for his 3-month-old daughter, Kaya. "I cut nails, change diapers, do the bath with her," Klitschko, 38, told The New York Post's Page Six Thursday. The Ukrainian pugilist joked that he's "pretty much playing mother and father at same time."

Parenting jokes aside, Klitschko also made sure to praise his fiancée, Golden Globe-nominated actress Hayden Panettiere. "I'm so happy to have Hayden in my life. She's the best mom I could even imagine," the 6-foot-6 athlete told Us Weekly during a press conference Wednesday. "She's a true, amazing mom."

And how is Kaya?

"She can communicate with her eyes and smile," Klitschko shared. "Even if you're tired and haven't slept enough, when you look at your child's eyes, [it's like], 'For you, little angel, I'm going to do everything! Literally everything.' I don't know what appreciation she's expressing but it's something like, 'Thank you for being here in my life, Dad, and being around.' It's something that gives you a boost of energy."

Panettiere is more than a supportive co-parent—she's also a supportive fan of her man.

"She understands boxing and sometimes we watch the fights and she's giving her opinion about how the guy fights. With her analytics, she's very, very good and she understands. She knows I'm still in good shape and that I can do it," he told USA Today. For now, at least. When Klitschko was asked if he's getting ready to retire, the boxer laughed and told the newspaper, "Shut up. I don't want to answer this question. This question makes me feel bad. I don't know how much longer I want to do it. I do it from fight to fight, and I've been doing it for a couple of years like that and I will keep doing it. My answer is probably as long as I have motivation and health. If one of those two is missing, then time has beat me."

After his Apr. 25 boxing match, will Klitschko finally marry Panettiere?

"Now is for now. When people get married there are different things they promise to each other, and I understand the promising part, but I think [having] children is something that connects you until the end of your days no matter what," he told Us Weekly. "And I think that, Kaya, our daughter, has connected us forever. And that's the most amazing thing. Everything else is coming, it's something that needs to be planned…but as I said, the connection with the child is better than any marriage!"

'Nashville's' Lennon & Maisy stomp to the beat of Charli XCX's 'Boom Clap'

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015

Also Wednesday, FOX's "Empire" scored yet another high, rising three tenths of a point in adults 18-49 and adding about 200,000 viewers as well. "American Idol" also rose, as did "Arrow" on The CW and "Chicago PD" on NBC. CBS had a bit of an off night, with all three of its shows dipping.

FOX finished the night on top with 11.2 million viewers and a 6.9 rating/11 share in households. CBS (8.9 million, 5.6/9) came in second, beating out ABC's 7.3 million viewers and 4.6/8. NBC (6.7 million, 4.6/8) finished fourth. The CW drew 2.2 million viewers and a 1.4/2.

FOX also dominated the 18-49 demographic with a 3.8 rating. ABC was the best of the rest with a 2.2, followed by CBS, 1.5, and NBC, 1.3. The CW posted a 0.9.

Wednesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.
FOX: "American Idol" (10.95 million viewers, 6.5/11 households)
CBS: "The Mentalist" (8.9 million, 5.5/9)
ABC: "The Middle" (8.2 million, 5.2/9)/"Fresh Off the Boat" series premiere (7.9 million, 4.9/8)
NBC: "The Mysteries of Laura" (6.3 million, 4.0/7)
The CW: "Arrow" (2.9 million, 1.8/3)
18-49 leader: "American Idol" (3.0)

9 p.m.
FOX: "Empire" (11.5 million, 7.3/12)
CBS: "Criminal Minds" (10.3 million, 6.5/10)
ABC: "Modern Family" (9.9 million, 5.9/9)/"Fresh Off the Boat" (7.6 million, 4.6/7)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" (6.2 million, 4.0/6)
The CW: "The 100" (1.6 million, 1.0/2)
18-49 leader: "Empire" (4.6)

10 p.m.
NBC: "Chicago PD" (7.5 million, 4.7/8)
CBS: "Stalker" (7.3 million, 4.8/8)
ABC: "Nashville" (5.1 million, 3.5/6)
18-49 leader: "Chicago PD" (1.6)

Who Are the Nashville Casts' Dream Hook-Ups?

With the show returning Wednesday (on ABC at 10 p.m. ET) after its long winter hiatus, a little romance seems overdue, so PEOPLE asked cast members to share their dream guest-star hook-ups – all for the sake of their characters, of course.

Ditched by his girlfriend Zoey (played by Chaley Rose), Sam Palladio's character Gunnar is busy recovering from heartbreak. But Palladio says if Gunnar has time for love, he's got a ready pick. "It would be cool for Gunnar and Taylor Swift to write a song and then suddenly Taylor is writing break-up songs about Gunnar. Or Sam Palladio. Either or!" jokes Palladio. "She might steal too much spotlight from Juliette or Scarlett, so feathers might be ruffled. But it would be cool for me!"

Will Lexington is still far from ready to come out, but if and when he does, Carmack says his character should aim high. "What makes me laugh is to think about Trace Adkins playing the part! He's acted! But realistically, no, I don't think he's the right choice to bring on as Will's love interest," Carmack says. "If I get my dream list it would be Brad Pitt, Jake Gyllenhaal, Bradley Cooper. Bring them all in, man! Bring them in on a truck!"

Peeples is staying mum on her character Layla's fate ("All I'll say is I feel fortunate that I get such a cliffhanger!"), but should Layla survive, she could use a darker presence to understand her angst. "Layla is pretty miserable this season," Peeples says. "I'd love for someone like Jack White to come on the show. That would obviously be incredible."

After being left at the altar, what Luke needs more than a romance is time to lick his wounds, says Chase. "He's just been with the biggest country star with Rayna and was floored by her so I think Luke needs to lay low," Chase says. "He'll be back in the game, but not now. It will be best for him to go to the ranch and take some time. What I want, really, is Blake Shelton on the show – he's my bromance. And if Miranda wants to come along, she's welcome. I could fight Blake for Miranda!"

At 15, Lennon Stella understands her character Maddie's teenage rebellion ("Even though I would never do any of that!"), so her pick for Maddie's love interest is suitably rebellious. "If Johnny Depp wants to be with Maddie, Johnny Depp can be with Maddie. Or Lennon! Either one! He's so beautiful."

Clare Bowen's character Scarlett is slowly coming back to the music she loves after a nervous breakdown, so Bowen says Scarlett needs to find someone understanding. "In my own relationships, I'm very anti-drama and I've actually just fallen in love myself," she says. "I found a wonderful one, so what I'd like for Scarlett is someone who loves her for who she is and supports her in her career and isn't jealous."

Laura Benanti Previews How Sadie Will Overcome the 'Shame, Fear and Shock' of Domestic Abuse

Good news: Laura Benanti, who plays the newest Highway 65 artist, says her character will refuse to be anyone’s punching bag… though it may take her a few episodes to get there.

“She was in an abusive relationship as a younger person, and had the courage to leave that relationship and have a really meaningful life and success,” Benanti tells TVLine in advance of the series’ winter premiere (Wednesday at 10/9c). “So she has to figure out a way to reclaim her identity now that this person has reared his fist.”

Read on as Benanti talks Sadie’s trajectory over the next few episodes, including when we’ll next hear her sing and whether that scene between her and Will Chase’s Luke meant what you all thought it did.

TVLINE | Showrunner Dee Johnson said that Sadie’s ex will be around for a little while, because wants what he thinks is due him. I really hope that means we won’t have to see you get beat up on a regular basis.

No. I’m not going to get hit. It’s a one-time punch and then it’s just dealing with the aftermath of that.

TVLINE | Will he take legal action regarding her song?

Yes.

TVLINE | How does she handle the aftermath of getting hit?

The shame, fear and shock, and the being thrust back into a life she had left, at first that takes over. She, like many would, retreats and feels the embarrassment and the shame that can often accompany a horrifying act like that. And then she slowly starts to come back to life and realizes that she has to handle this properly.

TVLINE | Is Rayna involved in any of this?

Yes, but not for a while. As I was shooting this storyline, before it aired, I had a woman pick me up from the airport in Nashville who’s a driver, and we started chatting. She opened up to me about her life, and one of the things she said to me was that she was in an abusive marriage, and she didn’t think to leave him until he started abusing her children. I thought, “This is so interesting, that at this point in time this woman is opening up to me in such an interesting way.”

TVLINE | And she had no idea about your storyline.

No. She had no idea. So I took it as… the universe was like, “This is a story that some people need to see.” This woman said to me she didn’t tell her mom, she didn’t tell her friends, because she was so embarrassed. Because she considered herself a strong, intelligent woman, and even she couldn’t figure out why she was letting this man treat her this way. And it’s the answer that everyone gives. “He’s not always like that, sometimes he’s wonderful, he had a horrible childhood, he didn’t mean to, he was in a bad mood, I shouldn’t have said that.” There’s a lot of shame that accompanies it. Sadie doesn’t end up going to Rayna for quite some time.

TVLINE | What can we expect to hear from Sadie in coming episodes, musically?

There’s that song “Novocaine” that you guys heard, that comes back a little bit, and then there’s a new song that I actually really love that’s coming up that you see me writing and then you see me record it in the studio with my band, which I think is really cool.

TVLINE | Ballad? Up-tempo?

Ballad. Normally we pre-record, so you’re playing and singing along to a pre-recorded version of yourself. But when I’m writing the song [on the show], I actually played and sang it live. You’ll get to hear an unobstructed guitar-playing and singing.

TVLINE | Did you have to practice a lot?

Oh yeah. My fingers bled. It’s like Whiplash over here. It’s bloody fingers and ice buckets, Kim. That’s all it is.

TVLINE | We got so many tweets and such about the CMAs scene where Sadie and Luke were at the bar together.

I know. I know!

TVLINE | You saw that reaction from fans, too?

I did. I feel like everyone just wants Luke and Rayna to be done with each other. So anytime he even remotely looks at a garden gnome, they’re like, “He’s gonna get with that garden gnome!” They just want him gone out of her life. They want Deyna: Rayna and Deacon. That’s the whole thing. And of course that’s what we want. Hello, we’re not monsters. Everybody wants them to be together. So I think there’s that, and also I think people, just because it’s Nashville, inherently didn’t trust me or trust Sadie. “What’s her game? What’s she gonna do to Rayna? How’s she gonna hurt her?” I think people were looking for the drama, because there wasn’t really any at first. There was just fun car chases and hanging out, [the shooting of which was] my favorite day of my life. I do have more scenes with Will Chase coming up, whether or not they are romantic remains to be seen.

Nashville: On The Record 2

Direct from Nashville’s world famous Grand Ole Opry House, cast members of ABC’s acclaimed primetime series “Nashville” will take the stage to perform songs from the show and provide candid interviews backstage. The featured cast scheduled to appear includes Clare Bowen, Chris Carmack, Will Chase, Charles Esten, Jonathan Jackson, Sam Palladio, Maisy Stella, Lennon Stella and Aubrey Peeples. Superstar guest Reba will make an appearance at the special taping to perform her first single on Nash Icon Records, “Going Out Like That,” which took the #1 spot on iTunes Country Top Songs in the US and Canada upon release. “Nashville: On the Record” will air this spring on the ABC Television Network. All original music is released by ABC Studios, Lionsgate and ABC Music Lounge in association with Big Machine Records.

“Nashville: On The Record 2” at the Grand Ole Opry House will tape on Saturday, January 31.

Location Managers Guild Scouts Out Awards Nominations

Outstanding Locations in a Contemporary Television Series
HOMELAND (Robert Bentley and Deon du Preez)
NASHVILLE (Kristi Frankenheimer and Mark Ragland)
NCIS: LOS ANGELES (Tony Salome and Jason Savage)
RAY DONOVAN (Craig van Gundy and Boyd Wilson)
TRUE DETECTIVE (Batou Chandler).

Kyle Dean Massey Joins 'Nashville'

Bottoms Up! Oliver Hudson Poses in His Birthday Suit

Then again, ours is not to reason why. Ours is just to feast our eyes!

Nashville star Oliver Hudson opted to show off his tush – and his tan lines – on Instagram on Sunday. The actor was photographed on a San Francisco-area hillside with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background.

"No place like home," he wrote, along with the hashtag #notanlines.

Besides receiving lots of positive feedback from his followers, the pic drew an instant reaction from sister Kate Hudson.

"Is this really necessary?" she asked via Instagram.

A lot of his fans seemed to respond with a hearty "yes."

"He just gained a butt load of followers," one commented.

Hudson, who plays the villainous record exec Jeff Fordham on Nashville, shouldn't have much more time to pose au naturel in nature: His ABC drama returns with original episodes Feb. 4.

Sleater-Kinney Video Shows The Walking Dead's Norman Reedus, Other Stars Singing and Rocking Out

To promote their new album No Cities to Love, female indie rock trio Sleater-Kinney recruited a motley crew of stars for a sing-along video, which was released on Thursday. The roster includes Norman Reedus, who plays Dixon on the AMC zombie series, former My Chemical Romance singer Gerard Way, Ellen Page, Nashville's Connie Britton, Evan Rachel Wood, Orange Is the New Black's Natasha Lyonne, Fred Armisen, Andy Samberg, Saturday Night Live's Vanessa Bayer and comedienne Sarah Silverman.

The celebs appear by themselves and sing and rock out to the album's title track, also called "No Cities to Love."

Some celebs, like Reedus, appear to be filmed on a webcam. Britton is seen in front of a wall with the word "Nashville" painted on it in red, white and blue.

Page rocks out on a hill overlooking the Hollywood sign and Silverman sings while a cute border collie mix dog licks her hand. Armisen is shown performing on a keyboard on a subway platform. Sleater-Kinney members Corin Tucker, Janet Weiss and Carrie Brownstein, the latter of whom appears with Armisen on the IFC show Portlandia, also star in the video.

Sleater-Kinney's new album is their eighth studio record and first major release in almost 10 years. It hits stores on Jan. 20. The Washington state-based band is also planning to embark on a tour, starting in February.

Reedus, a former model, has appeared in several music videos over the past few years, including "Judas" by Lady Gaga, "Cats in the Cradle" by Ugly Kid Joe, "Fake Plastic Trees" by Radiohead and "Violently Happy" by Björk.

"NASHVILLE: ON THE RECORD" RETURNS WITH A ONE HOUR MUSIC SPECIAL

“Nashville: On The Record” at the Grand Ole Opry House will tape on Saturday, January 31. Tickets go on sale beginning Wednesday, January 14 at 10:00 a.m. CT. To purchase, visit www.opry.com or call 1-800-733-6779.

Derek Hough To Trade Kicks With Rockettes, Delay 'Dancing With The Stars' Return

Hough won a record five seasons on the show and a 2013 Emmy. The Radio City show is being staged by Warren Carlyle (The Mystery Of Edwin Drood) under the co-creative direction of Diane Paulus (Pippin) and husband Randy Weiner (Queen Of The Night). Hough will play a man promised an eternal reward if he’s able to help a New York City tour guide whose job is threatened when Benanti’s character reveals her plan to take the tour company virtual.

Hayden Panettiere and Newborn Daughter Snapped by Proud Dad Wladimir Klitschko

The boxing champ posted the above pic of Panettiere and their newborn daughter, Kaya Evdokia, on Sunday, hashtagging the post "#newyear" and "#family." (It's the first IG of the new kid!)

Panettiere told PEOPLE that Klitschko "has always wanted to be a dad," so it's great to see him accepting the early responsibilities of taking a lot of pictures of his fiancée and daughter.

"I think at some point he might have started thinking he wasn't ever going to be [a father]," Panettiere said. "And then he was. He is just so over the moon."

Hayden Panettiere and Adriana Lima talk babies over dinner

We’re told the “Nashville” actress and the Brazilian model, who has two children with her estranged NBA star husband Marko Jaricc, dined at Japanese eatery Makoto at the Bal Harbour Shops, and were overheard talking about pregnancy and motherhood.

Panettiere, 25, welcomed her first child, daughter Kaya Evdokia, on Dec. 9 with her fiancé, 38-year-old boxing champ Wladimir Klitschko.

Hayden Panettiere's Baby Album

Laura Benanti relives her childhood in holiday short 'Santa Baby'

In the film, Benanti and her real parents, Linda and Sal, depict what can happen when an adult comes back to the nest. Things start off normal enough when Laura comes home, but everything changes when she notices her childhood stuffed animal, Spot, is missing from her bed and has been put away in storage.

Spot's retrieval from the crawl space instantly makes Laura resort back to her former child and teenage self. Some of the highlights of the improv film include the actress' teenage bedroom dance party and Laura snuggling in between her parents in bed while Sal reads her a Christmas story -- bonus points for the adorable red onesie and nightcap.

"Nashville" returns to ABC on Feb. 4.

Meet Hayden Panettiere's Daughter Kaya Evodokia

“Wlad’s mom was desperate to take the baby for a night,” the Nashville star, 25, tells PEOPLE. “She looks like she didn’t get much sleep, but I feel well-rested!”

Adjusting to life as a parent has been “such a surreal experience and so out of body,” for Panettiere and her heavyweight professional boxer beau, 38. “You’re suddenly looking at this little thing like, ‘Oh, that was you in my belly this whole time,'” she says. “[We’re] just getting to know her.”

Recovering from the labor and delivery has also been a bit of a challenge.

“I’m limping around. I’m still trying to figure out what [pregnancy] has done to my body, how it’s changed it. What’s temporary and what’s permanent,” Panettiere tells PEOPLE, laughing. “I feel like an 80-year-old woman trying to go down the stairs, you know, please tell me this is temporary. But I know some things will never be the same again.”

So far, little Kaya has been an easy baby despite a few restless nights and what Panettiere describes as an “insatiable appetite.”

“She’s really so sweet,” the actress says. “I’m sure that’s the way it’s meant to be, because when they are putting you through the ringer you’re like, ‘You are so lucky you’re cute!'”

For more photos of the family, pick up the Jan. 12 issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Jan. 3.

Hayden Panettiere Gushes About Her "Sweet" Baby Girl, Calls Motherhood a "Surreal Experience"

Just two days before Christmas, the Nashville star and fiancé Wladimir Klitschko are opening up about life with their newborn daughter, Kaya Evdokia. Turns out she is everything they hoped for and more.

"She's really so sweet," the new mom gushed to People. "I'm sure that's the way it's meant to be, because when they are putting you through the ringer you're like, ‘You are so lucky you're cute!'"

And although Kaya is only two weeks old, the baby already has plenty of hair on her head and resembles both mom and dad.

While giving birth was a healthy and smooth process, Panettiere admits that recovering has been a bit of a struggle.

"I'm limping around. I'm still trying to figure out what [pregnancy] has done to my body, how it's changed it. What's temporary and what's permanent," she joked to the publication. "I feel like an eight-year-old woman trying to go down the stairs, you know, please tell me this is temporary. But I know some things will never be the same again."

Throughout the highs and lows—not to mention sleepless nights—Panettiere has had the support of her main man throughout the journey.

"He's such a resilient guy. He's so calm and patient," she recently told Hello! "I have never even heard this man raise a voice."

As the couple gears up to celebrate their very first Christmas with their newest family member, the actress still can't believe how life has changed for the better.

This has been "such a surreal experience and so out of body," she explained. "You're suddenly looking at this little thing like, ‘Oh, that was you in my belly this whole time.' [We're] just getting to know her."

Hayden Panettiere Welcomes Daughter Kaya

The Nashville star is a new mom after welcoming her first child with fiancé Wladimir Klitschko on Tuesday, Dec. 9, her rep confirms to PEOPLE exclusively.

Daughter Kaya Klitschko weighed in at 7 lbs., 14 oz., and measured 20 inches.

“We are over the moon and madly in love!” the proud new parents tell PEOPLE.

The actress, 25, stayed mum throughout much of her pregnancy, letting her growing belly speak for itself.

But while walking the red carpet at the Emmys in August, Panettiere not only showed off her bump in a glittery gown — she also confirmed the sex of her baby the way!

“I want to go shopping, I want to paint the room,” she said after letting the sex slip.

In November, the mom-to-be admitted she was ecstatic to find out she would be welcoming a daughter. “I’m thrilled that I am having a girl first because I feel like I know a lot about raising a strong woman,” she told Hello magazine.

“I feel very empowered myself and I think my daughter will, too.”

Panettiere announced her engagement to heavyweight boxing champion Klitschko in October.

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014

Also Wednesday, "Arrow" was down some from its crossover-fueled high last week but still finished above its season average. "Survivor" improved for CBS, and a two-hour "Hell's Kitchen" was up a bit for FOX. On the negative side, NBC's dramas dipped after a couple of weeks off.

CBS had the biggest total audience in primetime with 8.9 million viewers and a 5.5 rating/9 share in households. ABC (7.3 million, 4.6/8) narrowly beat NBC (7.2 million, 4.6/8) for second. FOX (3.55 million, 2.1/4) came in fourth, and The CW (2.35 million, 1.5/2) trailed.

ABC led the 18-49 demo with a 2.1 rating, edging CBS' 2.0. NBC came in third with a 1.4, followed by FOX, 1.2, and The CW, 0.8.

Wednesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.
CBS: "Survivor: San Juan del Sur" (9.4 million viewers, 5.5/9 households)
NBC: "The Mysteries of Laura" (8 million, 5.3/9)
ABC: "The Middle" (8.1 million, 5.0/8)/"The Goldbergs" (7.4 million, 4.4/7)
FOX: "Hell's Kitchen" (3.8 million, 2.3/4)
The CW: "Arrow" (3 million, 1.9/3)
18-49 leader: "Survivor: San Juan del Sur" (2.4)

9 p.m.
CBS: "Criminal Minds" (10.1 million, 6.3/10)
ABC: "Modern Family" (9.7 million, 5.9/10)/"Black-ish" (7.4 million, 4.6/8)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" (6.9 million, 4.4/7)
FOX: "Hell's Kitchen" (3.3 million, 2.0/3)
The CW: "The 100" (1.7 million, 1.0/2)
18-49 leader: "Modern Family" (3.1)

10 p.m.
CBS: "Stalker" (7.3 million, 4.8/9)
NBC: "Chicago PD" (6.6 million, 4.2/8)
ABC: "Nashville" (5.65 million, 3.8/7)
18-49 leader: "Nashville" (1.5)

Season 3 ends fall with a surprise wedding

While always highly emotional, "Nashville's" Season 3 fall finale really delivered in the tug at fan heartstrings department. While at one point in the episode it looked like the title should be one wedding and three funerals, no one actually died and a different couple ended up walking down the aisle than anyone was planning.

The entire season has been an emotional roller coaster when it comes to Rayna's wedding to Luke Wheeler. It never felt right so it is not completely surprising the country music superstar doesn't actually go through with it. While Juliette and Avery tying the knot might have been a quick decision, there was something so fitting about that pair that it just works. Hey, after all she deserves a little normalcy in her life with the baby coming and all.

Also not surprising, Rayna's undying love for Deacon. Oh and speaking of dying, Deacon might actually be fighting with death soon as he finds out his liver is pretty much shot after years of abusing the bottle and his white blood cell count is low, aka cancer. The show couldn't possibly kill off Rayna's true love at some point right?

Another person who is touch and go is Layla. Things were just looking up for her when she starts her flirtation with Jeff Fordham. Of course her gay husband Will wants to have his cake and eat it too and immediately finds a way to destroy any sort of happiness she could have. If he can't be free to love who he wants neither can she. However, when called out by a journalist for being gay he seizes the opportunity to prove her wrong by giving her a romp in the sack. Unfortunately Layla sees this and is instantly practically suicidal. So she goes off the deep end and downs some pills with a bunch of booze. Will loses his mind when he finds his wife later passed out facedown in a pool and instead of calling the cops her new love Jeff calls Teddy -- but why?

Well Teddy can't answer because he is busy with a hooker who it seems he is actually falling in love with. He needs some clear advice from "Scandal's" Cyrus Beene on how this kind of situation can get out of hand quickly.

That's not all the surprises the episode lays on the viewers. Gunner finds out after fighting to keep his son Micah, that the boy is actually not his after all. Oh and Kiley had been sleeping with his brother so he is actually Micah's uncle. This leads Gunner to go crying to Scarlett who has no choice but to stand there holding the man she once loved in her arms like a small child.

In much tamer news, Sadie's abusive ex-husband comes back to rough her up over song rights and this will probably continue to get uglier when "Nashville" returns in February.

Does anyone else need therapy?

Post Mortem: EP Talks Wedding Blues - and Bliss! Plus: [Spoiler]'s 'Grim' Diagnosis

There were no near-fatal car accidents or crazy mistresses announcing pregnancies, but that’s about all that didn’t take place in Nashville‘s jam-packed fall finale.

A possible death? Check. A terminal diagnosis? Check. A paternity revelation? Check. A long-awaited reunion that ended far better than we might’ve hoped? Praise Reba, check!

A brief recap: As Rayna and Luke’s big day approached, her feelings of dread about what being Mrs. Wheeler would do to her life and kids finally propelled her to call the whole thing off… on the morning of the ceremony. Luke was (understandably) irate, and though Rayna was upset about hurting him, she looked at peace as she drove away at the episode’s end.

In happier nuptial news, Juliette asked Avery to move into her place to ease logistics after their daughter is born. After some soul-searching, the dad-to-be came up with a better idea: He proposed, and they were married in a quiet civil ceremony. Sniff!

Meanwhile, Deacon and Scarlett spent most of the hour in Memphis, where they did a fun karaoke duet before Deke returned to the hotel, saying he didn’t feel so great. Scar later found him passed out and unresponsive near some broken glass and minibar bottles of alcohol. Good news? He didn’t fall off the wagon. Bad news? He’s got a terminal illness. So far, Scarlett’s the only other person who knows — and Deacon wants to keep it that way. Different kind of sniff!

Elsewhere: Sadie’s ex showed matched the emotional punch of his reappearance with a physical punch on her front stoop; Jeff broke off… whatever it was he had with Layla, which sent her on a pill-popping, heavy drinking jag that ended with her drowning (maybe?) in his swimming pool; and — as many of you predicted — Gunnar learned that Micah was his nephew (AKA his brother Jason’s kid), not his son.

So much to process! So long to wait until the next episode! To tide you over, here’s showrunner Dee Johnson with some scoop on what’s next for your favorite Music City folk.

TVLINE | Let’s start with Rayna. Did you know, as you were conceiving the Rayna-Luke relationship, that it wouldn’t end well?

We knew that it was going to be a completely different way of living for her and it might not be all that comfortable when push came to shove. She was committed to it for a certain amount of time, she had her eyes on the prize, and then the goal post kept moving.

TVLINE | Let’s play a percentage game: How much of her decision to back out of the wedding had to do with her girls, how much was because of Deacon saying, “I’m still in love with you,” how much because of other factors?

That’s a tough one. Because the Deacon element is so deep and so intertwined in all of those emotional feelings for her, it’s hard to tell where that stops and any other issues begin. For the girls, there really was a tipping point. She was rolling with it, and then she was like, “It’s one thing for me to feel uncomfortable; its another thing to see them literally changing before my eyes.”

TVLINE | Early in the episode, we see her raising objections to another six months of touring. Is this the end of the tour for her?

It would be a pretty horrible tour, to be honest! [Laughs]

TVLINE | It would, but Luke dragged Deacon out there!

Yeah. I think that you get a good sense, with how the episode ended, that Luke pretty much doesn’t want to be in the same room with her. [Laughs] And not even a concert hall or stadium would be big enough.

TVLINE | Their wedding was shaping up to be such a spectacle. I’d imagine the public fallout from their not getting married be equally huge.

We basically have a fairly immediate pick-up in the episode that follows when we come back from our winter break. So we’re going to be right in the immediacy of what one does in this situation.

TVLINE | Will we see Luke around in the second half of the season?

Oh yeah. He’s not going anywhere.

TVLINE | Deacon doesn’t want anyone to know about his illness. How possible is that as the season progresses?

It’s pretty hard to keep it a secret for too long… Let’s just say: He can’t keep that genie in a bottle for too long. He’s gonna try, though. Because I think that he feels that it’s almost karmic in a weird way, that it’s as a result of some stuff he did at an earlier time in his life. Whether or not that’s true, he certainly believes it. And the last thing he wants is any kind of a pity party.

TVLINE | What’s his attitude toward the disease as we go on? Hopeful? Fatalistic?

He’s gonna go through all of that stuff. There’s a million reasons for him to survive, but it’s also pretty grim.

TVLINE | We saw Juliette and Avery marry, which I think will make many of the fans happy.

I hope so.

TVLINE | Ever consider doing a bigger wedding for those two, as opposed to going to town hall?

No. You know why? Because we knew it was going to happen in this episode, and we wanted the juxtaposition of the big ol’, honkin’, all out, huge, super expensive wedding which was all show versus the simplicity and the heartfelt thing that they had been through, keeping it simple and real for them.

TVLINE | Has Avery forgiven Juliette?

I actually do think he has. Look, you never forget those kind of things. But I do think he has forgiven her.

TVLINE | Poor Layla is face-down in the pool at the end of the episode. What can you tease about what we’ll find out when we get back?

That’s a hard one. It obviously affects Jeff and Will profoundly and definitely pushes Will to take an action that is selfless for the first time in a very long time.

Charles Esten on Rayna's 'Gut Punch' of a Betrayal, Finale Scoop

“Sometimes my wife reads the script before I do,” the actor tells TVLine. And when she flipped through the pages of the fall finale episode, which airs Wednesday (ABC, 10/9c), “from the other room, I hear, ‘Oh my God!’ So that always means there’s something about to happen. This was one where she made a little noise from the other room, like a gasp.”

He adds with a laugh: “That can sometimes be a good barometer, and in this case, it was.”

The hour picks up a few weeks after Deacon confessed his unending love for Rayna… who reasserted that she’s marrying Luke and Deke needs to get over it. But Esten tells TVLine it’s not that simple — and it may never be.

The actor repeatedly apologizes for being “absolutely handcuffed” by not being able to reveal much of what happens in the episode, but he did have a lot to say about how Rayna and Deacon’s relationship is entering a new phase. (Don’t worry, we’ll get to that troubling scene in the promo, which shows the recovering alcoholic unconscious near some bottles of booze, in just a moment).

We’ve heard Deacon profess his devotion to Rayna before, but last week’s monologue was markedly different — and for good reason, Esten says.

“Deacon is processing pain and loss and trouble a lot better than he used to,” he says, lapsing into speaking for his character. “I have a connection that I am admitting. I think she has it, too, but she’s not admitting it… She’s fought her way through it, doing the ‘smart’ thing, the right thing, the best thing for her.”

So when Deke told his ex to do what she thinks is best — though nothing she does will sway his feelings for her — “that’s not what she wanted to hear,” Esten says, laughing. “Which is why it didn’t go well.”

Still, the Rolling Stone article was “a real gut punch” to the bandleader. “When you’re in the public eye or when you’re near somebody who’s in the real heat and light of the public eye, there’s collateral damage,” he says. “You can get hurt from having a life with them.”

That’s why, Esten says, despite Deacon’s feelings for the redhead, he doggedly peeled her tour sticker off his guitar case at the end of last week’s episode.

“That Rayna Jaymes sticker on that guitar case was there in Season 1. It already looked old in the pilot,” Esten says with a laugh. “Every time I picked up my guitar, there it was. It was like a symbol, this faded sticker that’s barely hanging onto this old guitar case: That’s Deacon.”

In the spirit of moving on, Deacon decides to spend this week’s episode in Memphis after Luke’s tour wraps there. It’s a way to avoid the insanity of the Ruke wedding taking over Nashville, and Scarlett tags along.

Of course, the pair winds up singing a duet — and for a change, it’s a lighthearted moment during a fun night on the town.

“We sure known how to pour our hearts out in a brooding, darker way as these characters,” he says. “So to have us up there just having a flat-out ball was really exhilarating.”

Now, about that visual of Deacon lying on the floor…

“Unfortunately, sometimes right when you think [you’re in control of an addiction] is when you’re the most vulnerable,” Esten says, choosing his words carefully. He adds that even in Memphis, Deacon can’t escape media coverage of his true love marrying another man.

“There’s no getting away from that wedding, no matter what city you’re in. So that makes it harder, for sure.”

Nashville Blog: Clare Bowen Talks about Scarlett's Emotional Journey

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014

The news was not as good on the other networks. All of ABC's comedies were down a good amount from their last new episodes, with "Modern Family" and "Black-ish" both hitting season lows. NBC's "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" special fell short of last year's numbers, and "Stalker" was off slightly for CBS. On the upside, "Hell's Kitchen" and "Red Band Society" both improved a bit for FOX.

CBS delivered 8.25 million viewers and a 5.0 rating/8 share in households in primetime, beating out NBC (7.25 million, 4.4/7) and ABC (6.7 million, 4.4/7). FOX took fourth with 3.3 million viewers and a 2.1/3, while The CW drew 2.9 million people and a 1.8/3.

CBS and NBC tied for the lead among adults 18-49, each drawing a 1.9 rating. ABC was right behind with a 1.8. FOX scored a 1.1 in the demo and The CW a 1.0.

Wednesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.
NBC: Special - "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" (9.4 million viewers, 5.8/10 households)
CBS: "Survivor: San Juan del Sur" (8.9 million, 5.3/9)
ABC: "The Middle" (7.15 million, 4.6/8)/"The Goldbergs" (6.6 million, 4.1/7)
The CW: "Arrow" (3.9 million, 2.3/4)
FOX: "Hell's Kitchen" (3.6 million, 2.2/4)
18-49 leader: "Survivor" (2.1)

9 p.m.
CBS: "Survivor: San Juan del Sur" (8.4 million, 5.0/8)
ABC: "Modern Family" (9 million, 5.6/9)/"Black-ish" (6.9 million, 4.6/7)
NBC: Special - "SNL Christmas" (7.1 million, 4.3/7)
FOX: "Red Band Society" (3.05 million, 1.9/3)
The CW: "The 100" (1.9 million, 1.2/2)
18-49 leader: "Modern Family" (2.8)

10 p.m.
CBS: "Stalker" (7.5 million, 4.9/8)
NBC: "SNL Christmas" (5.3 million, 3.2/6)
ABC: "Nashville" (5.25 million, 3.8/7)
18-49 leader: "SNL Christmas" (1.8)

Stella Sisters to perform at Nascar Awards

But NASCAR will make an exception on Dec. 5 when it gives audiences a front row seat as Jay Mohr, Lady Antebellum, Aloe Blacc and Lennon and Maisy take the stage at the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards™ show from the Wynn Las Vegas® live on FOX Sports 1.

This year, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards will honor 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick, as well as celebrate the other Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™ Challengers. FOX Sports 1 will provide coverage of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards beginning at 9 p.m. ET. Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will begin coverage at 8 p.m. ET.

Mohr will serve as the host for the second consecutive year. The actor, comedian, radio host and best-selling author has one of the most expansive backgrounds in show business. After landing his dream job at "Saturday Night Live" and launching his career in film alongside Tom Cruise in "Jerry Maguire," Mohr appeared in approximately 200 network television episodes and more than 25 feature films. Additionally, his national radio show, "Jay Mohr Sports," is syndicated in more than 155 markets across the U.S. With a career in entertainment that spans over three decades, Mohr has become an artist who knows no limits, making him the perfect person to help celebrate NASCAR’s most prominent drivers.

"This is my fifth time hosting the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards and I'm honored to share the stage once again with some of the most talented athletes in the world," said Mohr. "This has been an incredibly exciting year for NASCAR and it's not every day that you get to be a part of a defining moment in the history of a sport."

Keeping his NASCAR performance streak rolling following his act at NASCAR's season-opening, crown jewel event the 2014 DAYTONA 500® at Daytona International Speedway®, Blacc will kick off the musical entertainment for the night with the soulful selection that has "woken up" audiences around the world. The singer / songwriter collaborated as vocalist and co-writer on well-known DJ/producer Avicci’s 2013 track "Wake Me Up," which topped the charts in more than 100 countries across the globe, before releasing his third album "Lift Your Spirit" in March 2014. The rapper-turned-singer uses his surging popularity to affect social change and to deliver messages of positivity and passion.

Later in the evening, the seven-time GRAMMY™ Award winning trio Lady Antebellum will keep the audience rocking with a new song from their fifth album entitled "747." The 11-song disc has already spawned the PLATINUM certified multi-week chart-topping smash hit "Bartender," and its new single "Freestyle" is quickly climbing the charts. The new album follows over 11 million albums sold worldwide, nine trips to No. 1 on the country radio charts, six Platinum singles and "Vocal Group of the Year" honors from both the CMA and ACMs three years in a row. Lady Antebellum just wrapped their headlining "TAKE ME DOWNTOWN TOUR," which hit 80 cities in Canada and the U.S. over the course of the year, and delighted both fans and critics with the "Dallas Morning News" declaring, "Lady Antebellum shows off its warranted leap to superstardom." For more information visit: www.ladyantebellum.com.

Additionally, 15-year-old Lennon Stella and her 10-year-old sister Maisy Stella from ABC’s hit drama "Nashville" will perform. The daughters of the recording duo Brad and MaryLynne Stella, Lennon and Maisy's musical roots run deep. In 2013, the sisters had a show-stopping performance of "Ho Hey" by The Lumineers on "Nashville," which quickly entered the top 40 of Billboard's "Hot Country Songs" list. Later that same year, Lennon and Maisy performed at the CMA Awards™ and presented Taylor Swift with her Pinnacle award. They also performed at The White House this year and sang alongside cast members from "Degrassi," Magic Johnson, Martin Sheen, The Band Perry, and J.R. Martinez at "We Day Minnesota" last month.

This year's talent will join the esteemed list of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards show artists from previous years, which include chart-topping singers, such as John Mellencamp, Phillip Phillips, Sara Bareilles, Dierks Bentley and Kid Rock.

"The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards present the opportunity to spotlight the biggest names in NASCAR, and we are thrilled to augment that star power with some of the most popular personalities in the entertainment industry," said Zane Stoddard, NASCAR vice president of entertainment marketing and content development. "This year's line-up is sure to add to what has been one of NASCAR's most climactic racing seasons ever."

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014

Also Wednesday, "The 100" ticked up for The CW, while "Arrow" was even with last week. NBC's "The Mysteries of Laura" was also up a bit, but "Law & Order: SVU" and "Chicago PD" fell from their crossover-juiced highs back to their more typical averages. "Survivor" and "Stalker" each improved a little for CBS, while at FOX, "Hell's Kitchen" and "Red Band Society" held steady.

CBS led the night's total-viewer race with 9.5 million and a 5.9 rating/10 share in households. NBC (7.9 million, 5.1/8) beat out ABC (7.65 million, 4.8/8) for second. FOX (3.45 million, 2.1/3) came in fourth, and The CW (2.1 million, 1.3/2) trailed.

ABC finished first among adults 18-49 with a 2.3 rating, two tenths better than CBS' 2.1. NBC took third with a 1.6, followed by FOX, 1.2, and The CW, 0.7.

Wednesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.
CBS: "Survivor: San Juan del Sur" (9.8 million viewers, 5.7/9 households)
NBC: "The Mysteries of Laura" (8.6 million, 5.6/9)
ABC: "The Middle" (8.3 million, 5.1/8)/"The Goldbergs" (7.7 million, 4.7/7)
FOX: "Hell's Kitchen" (3.9 million, 2.3/4)
The CW: "Arrow" (2.6 million, 1.7/3)
18-49 leader: Tie - "Survivor: San Juan del Sur" and "The Goldbergs" (2.4)

9 p.m.
CBS: "Criminal Minds" (10.6 million, 6.7/11)
ABC: "Modern Family" (10.9 million, 6.4/10)/"Black-ish" (7.95 million, 5.0/8)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" (7.9 million, 5.1/8)
FOX: "Red Band Society" (2.95 million, 1.9/3)
The CW: "The 100" (1.7 million, 1.0/2)
18-49 leader: "Modern Family" (3.7)

10 p.m.
CBS: "Stalker" (8 million, 5.2/9)
NBC: "Chicago PD" (7.2 million, 4.7/8)
ABC: "Nashville" (5.5 million, 3.9/7)
18-49 leader: "Stalker" (1.7)

Bono, Affleck, Britton stay silent in PSA on Ebola response

In a video posted Wednesday, stars such as Will Ferrell, Thandie Newton and Connie Britton stare silently into a camera to illustrate that they’re still waiting for world leaders to fight Ebola, which has killed more than 5,000 people in the west African countries of Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.

“The waiting is causing the issue to propel itself,” said Danai. “I thought it was a very powerful way to get that message across that we do need action. Sitting and waiting can lead to more problems.”

Other stars appearing in the One Campaign’s 2-minute video include Will Ferrell, Thandie Newton, Vincent Cassel, Connie Britton, Akon, Ellie Goulding, German soccer star Per Mertesacker, and African musicians Fally Ipupa and Angelique Kidjo. They’re also joined by Liberian health care workers Dr. J. Soka Moses and Louise Gaye.

“We thought there was something extremely powerful in not having them say anything,” said Michael Elliott, CEO of the One Campaign. “We asked them to look into the camera, and we came up with just a few simple lines explaining that we’ve waited too long in the past, and we can’t wait too long in the future.”

Elliott called the initial response to the Ebola outbreak a failure and said thousands have paid with their lives. One Campaign is asking citizens to sign a petition demanding that world leaders strengthen health care systems in developing countries and end the outbreak.

The video is being released alongside the One Campaign’s online Ebola response tracker, which shows how much money countries have pledged to tackle Ebola, how much has been disbursed and how many health workers and other contributions have been sent to affected countries.

Bono, who co-founded the One Campaign, isn’t being as quiet in his other attempt to battle Ebola: The U2 frontman is leading a reworked rendition of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” featuring young artists like Sam Smith, One Direction and Rita Ora. The original Band Aid charity single was released 30 years ago.

Hayden Panettiere -- I've Got a Klitschko in My GIANT Oven

The "Nashville" star was hanging poolside in Hawaii this weekend. The proportions of the 5'0" actress seem out of whack ... we're guessing that's because her fiance Wladimir Klitschko is a beast ... 6'6" and weighing in at 243 lbs.

No word on whether she'll attempt a natural childbirth, and the reality is the kid may not be all that big ... but then again, the baby girl could be gargantuan.

Good luck Hayden!

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014

Also Tuesday, "The Middle" was up some for ABC and had its season high in viewers, and "The Goldbergs" was also up in viewers, though down in adults 18-49. CBS' "Criminal Minds" ticked up, but "Stalker" had its lowest 18-49 rating to date. The CW's "The 100" and FOX's "Hell's Kitchen" both rose a bit.

NBC averaged a shade more than 10 million viewers and a 6.5 rating/11 share in households for the night, topping CBS' 8.8 million and 5.4/9. ABC (7.4 million, 4.7/8) came in third. FOX (3.3 million, 2.0/3) was a fairly distant fourth, and The CW (2.2 million, 1.4/2) brought up the rear.

NBC scored a 2.4 rating in the 18-49 demo, good enough to beat ABC (2.1) and CBS (2.0) for the top spot. FOX drew a 1.2 and The CW a 0.7.

Wednesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.
NBC: "The Voice" (10.6 million viewers, 6.8/11 households)
CBS: "Survivor: San Juan del Sur" (9.4 million, 5.4/9)
ABC: "The Middle" (8.1 million, 4.9/8)/"The Goldbergs" (7.5 million, 4.4/7)
FOX: "Hell's Kitchen" (3.7 million, 2.2/4)
The CW: "Arrow" (2.6 million, 1.6/3)
18-49 leader: "The Voice" (2.5)

9 p.m.
CBS: "Criminal Minds" (10.1 million, 6.3/10)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" (10 million, 6.4/10)
ABC: "Modern Family" (9.8 million, 6.0/9)/"Black-ish" (7.9 million, 5.0/8)
FOX: "Red Band Society" (2.8 million, 1.8/3)
The CW: "The 100" (1.8 million, 1.1/2)
18-49 leader: "Modern Family" (3.1)

10 p.m.
NBC: "Chicago PD" (9.5 million, 6.2/11)
CBS: "Stalker" (7 million, 4.6/8)
ABC: "Nashville" (5.6 million, 3.8/7)
18-49 leader: "Chicago PD" (2.2)

Nashville Adds Hot, Mysterious Doctor in Season 3 - But for Whom?

Nick Jandl (Hulu’s The 4 to 9ers) will recur as Dr. Caleb Rand, a direct-but-charming physician who becomes intimately involved in the lives of two of the show’s key characters, TVLine has learned exclusively.

Of course, Dr. Rand’s specialty — which will ultimately determine which characters he becomes involved with — remains a mystery. Could he be Juliette’s new OBGYN who drives a wedge between her and baby daddy Avery? Or could he be a new love interest for Will, thus complicating his sham of a marriage to Layla even further?

Jandl’s TV resumé includes roles on Castle, Hot in Cleveland, Law & Order: LA and more. On the big screen, he played Jim, the brother of Ryan Reynolds’ character, in 2011’s Green Lantern.

Any guesses as to who Dr. Rand will be working “intimately” with?

2015 People's Choice Awards: TV Nominees

Favorite Dramatic TV Actress
Alyssa Milano
Ellen Pompeo
Emily VanCamp
Hayden Panettiere
Kerry Washington

Pregnant Hayden Panettiere Reveals Her Current Weight, Says She's "So Ready to Hold My Baby Girl"

The Nashville star, who is expecting her first child with fiancé Wladimir Klitschko, has been keeping a low profile as she prepares for her newest family member.

But in a new interview with Hello! magazine, the actress is expressing plenty of enthusiasm for her upcoming arrival.

"I'm so ready to hold my baby girl—I'm going to be a very hands on mom," she told the publication. "I'm thrilled that I am having a girl first because I feel like I know a lot about raising a strong woman. I feel very empowered myself and I think my daughter will, too."

Panettiere, who recently showed off her baby bump in a revealing Halloween costume, is also going where not many celebs go. She's talking about her weight gain while expecting.

"I'm 5 feet, 2 inches and I started out at 106 pounds and guess how much I weight now? Around 145 pounds," she revealed. "And the worst part is that my feet are still size five and they're going, ‘What's going on with all this weight?' They're about to snap from underneath me with the strain."

The actress believes much of the pounds can be attributed to water weight and her past experience of being a gymnast.

"I'm still quite muscular, so if you're running around carrying 40 pounds of extra weight, you're going to build extra muscle," she explained.

No matter what size she is, Panettiere can count on both her mom and her man for much-needed support. When asked about Klitschko, the 25-year-old revealed, "He's such a resilient guy. He's so calm and patient. I have never even heard this man raise a voice."

And although fans are still eagerly waiting for that beautiful wedding, Panettiere makes it clear that we will have to wait until the baby weight comes off.

"I'll tell you one thing for sure: I am not walking down the aisle 40 pounds heavier than usual in a wedding dress with a huge pregnancy belly stitched in," she said. "Not happening."

Let's be honest, she would still look absolutely pretty.

Hayden Panettiere Shows Off Sex Appeal and Bare Baby Bump in Revealing Halloween Costume

The 25-year-old star, who is expecting her first child with fiancé Wladimir Klitschko, took to Twitter today to show off her costume while simultaneously flaunting her growing baby bump.

Wearing a cheetah print bikini top, a tribal necklace and some seriously impressive face paint, the mama-to-be puts her baby bump on full display in the ferocious photo, which she appropriately captioned "Happy Halloween!!!!"

E! News confirmed that Hayden and her hubby-to-be are expecting in early June, and less than three months later, the blond beauty exclusively revealed to E! News at the 2014 Emmys that she's having a baby girl.

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2014

Several other shows held their own opposite the game, however. "Modern Family," "Black-ish" and "Nashville" were all up from last week's fast nationals for ABC, and "Survivor" held steady for CBS. The CW's "Arrow" and "The 100" are also showing gains, although that may change as the network's Chicago affiliate aired an NBA game in primetime.

FOX averaged 20.2 million viewers and an 11.7 rating/19 share in households for the night, pending updates for its live World Series telecast. CBS (8.9 million, 5.6/9) was the best of the rest, beating out ABC (7.1 million, 4.7/7) for second. NBC (5.4 million, 3.6/6) finished fourth, and The CW (2.3 million, 1.5/2) trailed.

FOX also dominated the 18-49 demographic with a 5.7 rating. ABC grabbed second with a 2.2, followed by CBS at 2.0. NBC drew a 1.0 and The CW a 0.8.

Wednesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.
FOX: World Series Game 7 - Giants/Royals (20.5 million viewers, 11.5/18 households)
CBS: "Survivor: San Juan del Sur" (9 million, 5.4/9)
NBC: "The Mysteries of Laura" (7.55 million, 5.0/8)
ABC: "The Middle" (6.9 million, 4.5/7)/"The Goldbergs" (6.8 million, 4.3/7)
The CW: "Arrow" (2.8 million, 1.8/3)
18-49 leader: World Series (5.5)

9 p.m.
FOX: World Series (19.9 million, 11.6/18)
CBS: "Criminal Minds" (10.3 million, 6.6/10)
ABC: "Modern Family" (9.75 million, 6.2/10)/"Black-ish" (7.7 million, 5.0/8)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" rerun (4.6 million, 3.2/5)
The CW: "The 100" (1.9 million, 1.2/2)
18-49 leader: World Series (5.5)

10 p.m.
FOX: World Series (20.1 million, 12.1/20)
CBS: "Stalker" (7.3 million, 4.9/8)
ABC: "Nashville" (5.6 million, 3.9/7)
NBC: "Chicago PD" rerun (4.05 million, 2.7/5)
18-49 leader: World Series (5.9)

JONATHAN JACKSON PERFORMS IN NYC

Sara Evans Is Ready for Nashville

When she makes her debut Wednesday (Oct. 29) on ABC's Nashville, not only will she be looking absolutely gorgeous, she'll also be performing.

Evans will join the show's Will Chase (aka Luke Wheeler) for a special duet of her current single "Put My Heart Down." The whole experience was a thrill for the singer, but she admitted to me in a recent chat that being on set was not easy at times.

"We had the best the time, and I was exhausted," she said. "I'm like, 'This makes me appreciate my career.' Because what they do is so hard."

Because of the time involved on the set, filming a dramatic TV series has some specific challenges.

"It can be so mundane," she said. "I think what's so hard about it. I think when we watch TV, we're thinking this is all one continuous scene. They've memorized their parts, and they are coming in and they are acting, but they have to do it so many times. I don't know how they come in and muster it up every time, but they do and make it feel brand new."

But in a way, it's not unlike what she does as an artist, doing take after take of a studio vocal, for example.

"I guess it's like when I have to sing a vocal over and over and over," she admitted.

BIG MACHINE CELEBRATES "CHRISTMAS WITH NASHVILLE" ON NOVEMBER 4

Following a cameo on “Nashville” last season, JAY DEMARCUS was tapped as producer for the project, again joining forces with the talented actors. The Rascal Flatts’ bassist, who also produced much of the supergroup’s REWIND album, told Rolling Stone Country, “it's refreshing to know that [the actors] representing us on the show are authentic.” The outlet also exclusively revealed the track listing.

TRACK LISTING

1. “Santa Baby”
Clare Bowen | Written by Joan Javits, Tony Springer, Phil Springer

2. “Blue Christmas”
Charles Esten featuring Vince Gill | Written by Billy Hayes, Jay Johnson

3. “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”
Jonathan Jackson | Written by Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry, Phil Spector

4. “White Christmas”
Hayden Panettiere | Written by Irving Berlin

5. “You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch”
Connie Britton | Written by Albert Hague, Theodor S. Geisel

6. “River”
Sam Palladio | Written by Joni Mitchell

7. “Baby It’s Cold Outside”
Connie Britton, Will Chase | Written by Frank Loesser

8. “Merry Christmas Baby”
Aubrey Peeples | Written by Lou Baxter, Johnny Moore

9. “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"
Chaley Rose | Written by Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane

10. “Christmas Coming Home”
Lennon & Maisy | Written by Marylynne Stella, Bradley Stella

11. “O Little Town Of Bethlehem”
Will Chase | Written by Lewis Redner, Phillips Brooks

12. “Celebrate Me Home"
Sam Palladio, Clare Bowen, Charles Esten, Jonathan Jackson | Written by Kenny Loggins, Bob James

2 country stars help shape Will Chase's TV persona

Country singer Luke Wheeler has a team of publicists and his own barbecue sauce. His wardrobe staple is a large, black cowboy hat like Tim McGraw, who is the inspiration for his character, Chase says.

"The template that was thrown around to me was always (McGraw), just as far as the enormity of his stardom and star power," the 44-year-old actor said in a recent interview.

"I make it more Blake (Shelton). ... Then there's the dad (side of him). ... A lot of it was my Uncle Wayne. I grew up in Kentucky, so a lot of it was just already in me somewhere. I'd heard these things or I'd seen this guy. I knew this guy, which I think was why I probably got the role. I knew this guy was probably in me."

"Nashville," which airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. Eastern, follows the ins and outs of country music. It also stars Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere.

Luke Wheeler was introduced in season two as a new love interest for Britton's character, Rayna James. His arrival complicated Rayna's on-again, off-again relationship with Deacon Claybourne (played by Charles Esten).

"I do like messing up the story a little bit," said Chase as he coyly stroked the scruff of his beard. Then he joked, "I have my three fans that root for me."

He doesn't know how that story line will pan out, but predicts heartbreak for his character down the line.

In real life, he has fallen for the city of Nashville, Tennessee, where the show is filmed.

"That town celebrates artistry, unlike kind of anywhere else. Here in New York you do, but it's so overwhelmingly big here. There it really is communal and a community," he said.

He also appreciates how unassuming people are in Nashville.

"I went bowling recently, spent a half-hour talking to a guy and he said, 'Oh yeah, I produced so-and-so's albums.' I was like, 'You what? Oh.' He could've led with that. He didn't. He was giving me jeans and a beard and the typical Nashville vibe, but it was not pretentious at all and I love that."

Chase has a Broadway background and was nominated for a Tony Award for "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" in 2013. He also had a recurring role on NBC's "Smash." He enjoys recording music for "Nashville" because it's different than cast recordings and he can perform solo. His favorite experience, though, is shooting the concert scenes.

"They're long days and I feel right at home. I'm getting to play the biggest country star in the world," he said. "... We have (extras) screaming their faces off because they love it and you have this great band behind you and it's a concert atmosphere. Those days could be twice as long."

Moniqua Plante Joins 'Nashville'

Debra Messing and Will Chase call it quits

“Debra Messing and Will Chase have ended their two-and-a-half year relationship, but remain close friends,” Messing’s rep told Us Weekly.

In 2011, Messing, 46, and Chase, 44, began their relationship on the set of the NBC show. Just nine days after Messing and her ex-husband, Daniel Zelman, announced their separation, the news came out that Messing was dating Chase.

Messing is now starring in the new NBC show “The Mysteries of Laura.”

A rep for Messing didn’t immediately return a request for comment.

Nashville Blog: Will Chase on Playing Rayna's Other Man

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014

Game 2 of the World Series gave FOX a win for the night with numbers about equal to Tuesday's Game 1. ABC's comedy lineup was fairly steady, as was "The Mysteries of Laura" on NBC and "Criminal Minds" and "Stalker" on CBS.

Wednesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.
FOX: World Series Game 2 - Giants/Royals (11 million viewers, 6.7/11 households)
CBS: "Survivor: San Juan del Sur" (9.1 million, 5.4/9)
NBC: "The Mysteries of Laura" (8.1 million, 5.3/9)
ABC: "The Middle" (7.2 million, 4.5/8)/"The Goldbergs" (7 million, 4.2/7)
The CW: "Arrow" (2.5 million, 1.6/3)
18-49 leader: World Series (2.7)

9 p.m.
FOX: World Series (10.9 million, 6.7/11)
CBS: "Criminal Minds" (9.8 million, 6.2/10)
ABC: "Modern Family" (10 million, 6.2/10)/"Black-ish" (8 million, 5.2/8)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" (7.2 million, 4.7/7)
The CW: "The 100" season premiere (1.6 million, 1.0/2)
18-49 leader: "Modern Family" (3.3)

10 p.m.
FOX: World Series (11.5 million, 7.1/12)
CBS: "Stalker" (7.3 million, 4.9/8)
NBC: "Chicago PD" (6.8 million, 4.4/8)
ABC: "Nashville" (5.4 million, 3.7/6)
18-49 leader: World Series (3.2)

Derek Hough's Bullying Nightmare: Was Strung Up By Ankles, Had a Gun Put to His Head

The Dancing With the Stars pro suffered horrific bullying when he was a child.

"On one occasion, they would tie my ankles up with a very rough rope, hang me from a tree upside down and spit on me and call me names and even held a gun to my head," Hough remembered last night at GLSEN's Respect Awards, where he was honored by the LGBT student advocacy group with the Inspiration Award.

He was too scared to let anyone know what was going on. "I didn't tell anybody—my parents, teachers, my friends, my sisters," Hough said. "I kept it to myself."

Hough told me it got so bad that his family decided to move.

But then came dance. "It became my safe place, the place where I could grow and flourish and where I could find those answers," he said.

As fans already know, Hough's career not only includes DWTS, but he also acts (most recently during a guest spot on Nashville), sings and now even flips houses with his best friend and fellow DWTS pro Mark Ballas.

"I know now the worst thing you can do is suffer in silence," Hough said, adding, "Often times we allow ourselves to suffer a lot more than we need to by keeping it to ourselves and carrying the burden alone.

"Let me tell you right now, you are not alone," he continued. "Seeking help requires incredible strength and incredible courage. The most powerful weapon you have against bullying is your voice."

Also honored last night were Julia Roberts and Danny Moder with the Humanitarian Award and NBC Entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt with the Chairman's Award. Cliff Tang was named Student Advocate of the Year.

The gala took place at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel with presenters and guests including Amy Poehler, Ryan Murphy, Robbie Rogers, Fashion Police's George Kotsiopoulos, Jason Collins, Jessica Capshaw, Elisabeth Rohm and Kirsten Vangsness and Shemar Moore from Criminal Minds.

Trisha Yearwood Is a Nashville Fan

But for Yearwood, the show sounds like it hits very close to home.

Think about it. She and the show's leading lady and fictional country star Rayna James have so much in common. They both thrived in the '90s. They are both pining for the days when female singers were holding the door open for other female singers. They both have gorgeous hair. They both spend a lot of time in their gourmet kitchens. And they both are in love with powerhouse country superstar singers.

In Rayna's case, it's Luke Wheeler. (Ruke, as the couple's been dubbed.)

In Yearwood's case, it's Garth Brooks. (Trarth? Gisha?)

Anyway, for all those reasons and more, the show feels really real to her.

"I really identify with Rayna being her age," Yearwood recently told ABC News Radio. "I mean, I'm older than her, but I kind of identify with that character a lot and just the things she goes through and how the odds are kind of against her and all that."

As for Rayna's love affair with Luke, who has children from a previous marriage, Yearwood thinks the plotline sounds familiar, too.

"The thing with her and Luke, a little bit of it is like, 'I know it's not about us, but ... it's interesting," she said.

R.J. Cutler Police Drama Set Up At CBS

Written by Joe Robert Cole, the drama centers on a black Republican L.A. homicide detective who has long denied race has any bearing on him or the lives of others. He then gets a long overdue promotion to lead a high profile, racially charged murder investigation precisely because he’s black. Cutler executive produces with David Brownfield and Circle of Confusion’s Ken Freimann.

Cutler, repped by CAA, Brillstein Entertainment and HJTHN, exec produces ABC’s drama Nashville. His feature directorial debut, the Chloe Grace Moretz-starrer If I Stay, has grossed $50.2 million domestically since its August debut.

Nashville Blog: Lennon and Maisy Stella on Rayna's Romance, Teenage Rebellion

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2014

"Modern Family" dipped a little but maintained its status as the night's top performer among adults 18-49. "Red Band Society" was flat for FOX, and "Arrow" was off a couple tenths vs. its premiere a week earlier. "Survivor" hit a series low in the same-day ratings, although it too led its hour.

CBS delivered 9.3 million viewers and a 5.8 rating/10 share in households for the night, topping NBC's 7.5 million and 4.9/8. ABC (6.5 million, 3.9/7) came in third. FOX (3.4 million, 2.1/3) came in fourth, and The CW (1.9 million, 1.2/2) trailed.

ABC and CBS tied for the lead among adults 18-49, each scoring a 2.1 rating. NBC's 1.5 was good enough for third place. FOX posted a 1.1 and The CW a 0.6.

Wednesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.
CBS: "Survivor: San Juan del Sur" (9.3 million viewers, 5.5/9 households)
NBC: "The Mysteries of Laura" (8.5 million, 5.7/9)
ABC: Specials - "Toy Story of Terror" (6.3 million, 3.5/6)/"It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" (6.3 million, 3.3/5)
FOX: "Hell's Kitchen" (3.7 million, 3.4/6)
The CW: "Arrow" (2.25 million, 1.4/2)
18-49 leader: "Survivor: San Juan del Sur" (2.3)

9 p.m.
CBS: "Criminal Minds" (10.75 million, 6.8/11)
ABC: "Modern Family" (9.45 million, 5.5/9)/"Black-ish" 6.9 million, 4.2/7)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" (7.3 million, 4.7/8)
FOX: "Red Band Society" (3.1 million, 1.9/3)
The CW: "The Flash" rerun (1.6 million, 1.0/2)
18-49 leader: "Modern Family" (3.3)

10 p.m.
CBS: "Stalker" (7.8 million, 5.1/9)
NBC: "Chicago PD" (6.7 million, 4.4/8)
ABC: "Nashville" (5.1 million, 3.5/6)
18-49 leader: "Stalker" (1.7)

Jonathan Jackson has heard the same 'Nashville' baby daddy theories as you

Surprisingly, Jackson says he wasn't bombarded on the streets of Nashville hearing crazy baby daddy theories all summer like how it could miraculously be Deacon's or Charlie Wentworth's. Jackson says, "Most people have been pretty tuned in to it either being Jeff Fordham's or Avery's. That's most of the comments I've been getting walking around the street, nothing crazy."

Jackson also reveals working closely with a very pregnant Hayden Panettiere has been motivating for the actor saying, "She has very good work ethic. It's been inspiring to see her show up to work and give it everything she's got while she's carrying that new life. Things are a little more exhausting, but she's still rocking it."

Fans can look forward to fatherhood affecting Avery musically in the show's third season. "I think whatever the musical direction is for him, it's going to reflect more of the maturity he's come into as opposed to where he was when the show first started. It will still keep that Americana rock-n-roll vibe," Jackson says.

Speaking of music, fans looking for more from the actor will be happy to know Jackson has just released an album with his band Enation called "Radio Cinematic." Jackson says he really "speaks the same language" as drummer and brother Richard Lee Jackson and bandmate Daniel Sweatt and describes Enation as a "tight knit group."

The actor reveals there is even a different version of quite possibly one of the greatest "Nashville" songs ever, "Morning of the Rain" written by Jackson on the record as well. This guarantees the album will be a major treat for the fans. The band plans to tour in support of the release in the upcoming spring and summer months and has been playing select cities when they can fit them in during the actor's "Nashville" filming schedule.

Sneak Peek: Why Is Rayna on the Run?

On Wednesday's episode of Nashville, Rayna (Connie Britton) finds an unlikely ally in Sadie Stone (Laura Benanti), when Sadie helps Rayna flee undetected from some paparazzi who are lying in wait.

As Rayna gears up for her wedding to Luke (Will Chase) while simultaneously trying to promote her album and record label, she forms a bond with Sadie — whose artistry reminds Rayna of herself before she got swept up into a social media whirlwind.

"Rayna takes her under her wing," Benanti tells TVGuide.com about her character. "She's a real authentic artist. She's a real songwriter . ... It's less about flash and glitter and more about the music."

The pair's friendship evolves into a working relationship when they duet on a song, Benanti teases — even as Sadie finds herself the subject of a bidding war of sorts between Rayna and Jeff Fordham (Oliver Hudson) over whose record label she'll sign to. "It's a song called 'Gasoline and Matches' that was written by [music producer] Buddy Miller and his wife Frankie," Benanti tells TVGuide.com. "It's a great song that Rayna and Sadie listen to in a car, and then Rayna delights Sadie by coming on to the stage and singing it with her."

Check out the clip below, exclusive to TVGuide.com, to see Rayna and Sadie's great escape from the paparazzi: Video.

Nashville Blog: Chaley Rose on Zoey's Soon-to-Be Broken Heart

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014

Also Wednesday, ABC's "Black-ish" was up week to week despite lead-in "Modern Family" falling a little. "Survivor: San Juan del Sur" also rose for CBS, but episode 2 of "Stalker" was down some from its premiere. Fellow rookies "Red Band Society" and "The Mysteries of Laura" also dipped.

CBS topped the total-viewer count with 9.4 million and a 5.8 rating/10 share in households in primetime. NBC (7.6 million, 5.1/9) narrowly beat ABC (7.2 million, 4.5/8) for second. FOX was off the pace some with 3.3 million viewers and a 2.1/3, and The CW (2.4 million, 1.5/2) trailed.

ABC led the adults 18-49 demo with a 2.2 rating, a tenth of a point better than CBS' 2.1. NBC came in third with a 1.5, followed by FOX, 1.1, and The CW, 0.8.

Wednesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.
CBS: "Survivor: San Juan del Sur" (9.5 million viewers, 5.6/10 households)
NBC: "The Mysteries of Laura" (8.5 million, 5.7/10)
ABC: "The Middle" (7.35 million, 4.6/8)/"The Goldbergs" (7 million, 4.1/7)
FOX: "Hell's Kitchen" (3.8 million, 2.3/4)
The CW: "Arrow" season premiere (2.8 million, 1.7/3)
18-49 leader: "Survivor: San Juan del Sur" (2.5)

9 p.m.
CBS: "Criminal Minds" (10.5 million, 6.5/11)
ABC: "Modern Family" (10.1 million, 6.0/10)/"Black-ish" (7.95 million, 4.8/8)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" (7.65 million, 5.2/8)
FOX: "Red Band Society" (2.9 million, 1.8/3)
The CW: "The Flash" rerun (2.1 million, 1.2/2)
18-49 leader: "Modern Family" (3.4)

10 p.m.
CBS: "Stalker" (8.1 million, 5.3/9)
NBC: "Chicago PD" (6.7 million, 4.4/8)
ABC: "Nashville" (5.5 million, 3.8/7)
18-49 leader: "Stalker" (1.7)

Major Nashville Casting Alert! Meet the Guy Who's About to Make Rayna's Life a Living Hell

But are all her Deacon relationship woes really in her past? Not so much, since E! News has some exclusive casting news that promises to stir up all the old feelings Rayna is trying to bury about her ex!

We can exclusively reveal that Anthony Ruvivar is set to portray the guy who is about to make Rayna's personal and professional lives an absolute living hell.

Ruvivar, who most recently guest-starred on the CW's Beauty and the Beast as an FBI agent, will play Brett Raines, a hard-hitting Rolling Stone reporter who isn't afraid to ask his interview subjects the hardball questions. Now, why is this bad news for Rayna?

When Rayna agrees to give Brett the "exclusive" on her new label and upcoming album, the reporter won't stop pushing her for scoop on her wedding to Luke...and her long-hidden and rumored love affair with Deacon. And once this reporter gets a nibble on a big story, he won't let go until he gets his scoop. Will Rayna finally have to break her silence on her long and checkered past with Deacon?

Brett will show up in an upcoming episode.

Derek Hough tests his chemistry with 'Nashville's' Hayden Panettiere

When it comes to introductions, Hough tells Zap2it Noah meets Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere) in typical Hollywood fashion. "My character is introduced how most actors or artists meet, with a screen test. It's a test to see if they have chemistry and are good together," he says. "When we are first introduced she walks in and we get thrown into a scene straight away. It was so interesting to be on a movie within a TV show."

Juliette may be nervous to do her big screen test for the Patsy Cline biopic, but Hough says in real life he was the one who needed some help.

"My character is comforting and trying to make her feel at ease since she's out of her element. I'm there to say, 'Hey don't worry. It's all good. You are going to be great.' In real life it's funny because Hayden was very much like that with me," he reveals.

"I remember sitting there being very frigidity and she said, 'Hey are you nervous? Don't worry -- my character on this show has been around.' She was just really comforting, supportive and cool. It really helped me," Hough explains.

When asked how the actress is juggling her pregnancy and work life. Hough says, "It didn't really affect anything except for camera angles. It's amazing what they've done. I'm really impressed with her work ethic and how much she works with how very pregnant she is."

When shooting his two-episode arc on "Nashville," Hough had quite the juggling act on his hands, balancing his "DWTS" rehearsals with filming in Tennessee. He still managed to find time for some fun and sightseeing in the legendary city. "Bethany [Mota] was actually in Nashville with me for awhile and we were rehearsing. I also met up with Gavin DeGraw and we went down Broadway. I love Nashville. It's such a great city and great people," he says.

Fans of Hough's dancing skills don't need to worry about the pro leaving the ballroom or stepping behind the judges table anytime soon. Hough says, "Maybe I'll do something like that down the road, but I've still got a lot more dance in me."

Preview: DWTS Pro Steps It Up as Juliette's Hollywood Hunk

"This really isn’t dance-related,” Hough tells TVLine, noting that other roles he’s had — the comedy Better With You, the upcoming film Make Your Move — allowed him to fall back on decades of training in fancy footwork. “This is the first one where it’s straight acting.”

It’s ironic, then, that Hough plays a hotshot Hollywood stud who crosses paths with neophyte actress Juliette. Read on to hear how their roles flip-flopped when the cameras were off, whether Juliette and Hough’s Noah West might put in some (ahem) extra rehearsal time together and why the five-time DWTS champ has taken to yelling “Life!” at this season’s partner Bethany Mota.

TVLINE | Your character, Noah West, is described as a charming, beguiling actor. What more can you tell us?

He’s not country at all. He has no country ties. He’s a Hollywood actor… It’s fun to be able to play a character within a character, because I play Noah West, who plays Patsy Cline’s husband [in the biopic]. That was fun, to be on a movie set while on a TV set.

TVLINE | Was it daunting, acting without the part having any sort of dance connection?

It’s funny… Hayden [Panettiere’s] character comes in, Juliette, and she’s not an experienced actress. I’m kind of making her feel at ease. In the first episode, there’s a scene [where] we’re sitting there, and I was twiddling my thumbs a little bit. She asked me if I was nervous, and I said, “A little bit,” and she was really comforting. She was wonderful. It’s funny how in the script, it’s the other way around.

TVLINE | How would you characterize Noah’s interaction with Juliette overall? She can be cold when she wants to.

It’s been pretty positive.

TVLINE | You’ve teased that Noah and Juliette might be involved in a triangle.

She’s obviously a beautiful girl, and he’s a Hollywood actor. Yes, he is definitely attracted to her.

TVLINE | Dancing is more physically challenging than acting, but I’d imagine this part was tough, just because it’s a new thing for you.

It’s just different. To be honest with you, one of the most challenging things was the waiting around. I’m used to being part of a live show that’s very much like boom-boom-boom-boom-boom. Scripted television is a lot different. You’re there for maybe 10 hours, and you work for about two of those hours… I’m used to being able to tell a story with my body. To show expressions through words, it’s different. It’s a different experience.

TVLINE | Did filming Nashville overlap with this season of Dancing With the Stars?

I’m finished now, but I was still filming a week or two into the show.

TVLINE | Your partner, YouTube personality Bethany Mota, seems to be a real contender for the Mirrorball Trophy. Did you have a feeling that would be the case?

When I first started working with her, I just thought she was just adorable and the cutest thing ever, but I noticed she had bad posture. And it’s funny; it’s been an ongoing thing. I joke around with her and I say, “Life!,” meaning we need to work on her posture [in real life, not just on the dance floor]… Every time I say “Life!,” she pulls her shoulders back.

Laura Benanti: 'Connie Britton is a golden unicorn'

Zap2it caught up with the actress to find out her take on the part of a lifetime, Sadie's musical influences and her Connie Britton obsession.

Zap2it: What initially drew you to this part?

Benanti: I'm a huge "Nashville" fan. Anyone who follows me on Twitter knows for the past three years I have been obsessively tweeting about it with my friend Chelsea. So when my manager, who is also Hayden Panettiere's manager, asked me what shows I would be interested in guesting on I immediately said "Nashville." She got me a meeting with Callie Khouri and then my manager emailed me and said they had an arc they thought I would be right for. It worked out perfectly, which never happens in Hollywood.

Were the producers aware of your "Nashville" obsession?

They definitely had seen my tweets. I know Connie had seen my tweets because I have tweeted a lot about her -- since she is my favorite actress.

Everyone is obsessed with Connie Britton. Who's your favorite CB character?

Tami Taylor for sure. Everything is always "What would Tami Taylor do?" Classic Connie Britton. She's amazing. "Friday Night Lights" is one of my favorite shows ever. I own the DVD set and probably watch it once a year.

What was getting to meet her like?

I was super nervous because I love her and I had tweeted a lot about her. I was also scared she was going to be like "Security!" She walked right up to me and she said "I'm so happy you're here" and gave me a huge hug and within five minutes I had completely forgotten she's a famous person. Now we're pals. She's everything you want her to be. Sometimes people have a persona and then you meet them and you are disappointed. She's not that person. She's like the golden unicorn you want her to be. Her hair is like angel wings.

What can you tell viewers about your character Sadie Stone?

She's a singer/songwriter who has been writing for other people for quite some time. She's recently had a breakout album and a breakout song and now her contract is up with her current record label, so she has some decisions to make. She ends up coming into Rayna's orbit a little bit and Rayna takes her under her wing. Thus far I gotta tell you it hasn't been any drama for me. Not yet at least. There hasn't been any romances or anything. It's about a woman trying to figure out the second phase in her career.

I've gotten to sing two really amazing songs so far which I'm very excited about. I appreciate how slowly the writers are weaving me into the fabric of the show because as a fan when new characters come on and they get tons of time I almost feel annoyed. I'm like 'Get out of here. I want my other story lines that I love.'

What can you reveal about Sadie's sound?

By episode four I'm singing and more a part of the show. She's definitely not pop country. She's authentic Americana country, which I really love. In the way that Kasey Musgraves is.

How was your experience overall on the "Nashville" set?

Everybody's laughing, joking and having a good time. It's the warmest set I've ever been on and I've been on some great sets. What I love about Nashville the city is that you get all of the culture of an urban environment with the southern charm and hospitality. The cast and crew of the show are the same exact way. They are so welcoming. Within two days of being there I felt like I'd been on the show the whole time.

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2014

The night's other premiere, CBS' "Criminal Minds," was off slightly from its opener in 2013. A number of other scripted shows were off some from last week, with ABC's "Black-ish" taking the biggest hit (though it still put up respectable ratings). The exceptions were "Hell's Kitchen," which rose a little for FOX, and "Red Band Society" and "Nashville," both even with last week.

CBS averaged just over 10 million viewers and a 6.2 rating/10 share in households for the night to take the top spot over NBC (7.8 million, 5.1/9). ABC (7 million, 4.5/8) came in third. FOX took fourth with 3.6 million viewers and a 2.3/4, and The CW's repeat lineup brought in 686,000 people and a 0.5/1.

CBS also led the 18-49 demographic with a 2.4 rating, edging ABC's 2.2. NBC finished third at 1.6, followed by FOX, 1.2, and The CW, 0.2.

Wednesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.
CBS: "Survivor: San Juan del Sur" (9.5 million viewers, 5.6/10 households)
NBC: "The Mysteries of Laura" (8.9 million, 5.9/10)
ABC: "The Middle" (7.05 million, 4.4/8)/"The Goldbergs" (6.7 million, 4.0/7)
FOX: "Hell's Kitchen" (3.8 million, 2.4/4)
The CW: "Arrow" rerun (698,000, 0.5/1)
18-49 leader: "Survivor: San Juan del Sur" (2.4)

9 p.m.
CBS: "Criminal Minds" season premiere (11.5 million, 7.1/11)
ABC: "Modern Family" (10 million, 6.1/10)/"Black-ish" (8 million, 5.1/8)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" (7.8 million, 5.1/8)
FOX: "Red Band Society" (3.3 million, 2.2/4)
The CW: "Arrow" rerun (674,000, 0.4/1)
18-49 leader: "Modern Family" (3.5)

10 p.m.
CBS: "Stalker" series premiere (9.1 million, 5.8/10)
NBC: "Chicago PD" (6.7 million, 4.3/8)
ABC: "Nashville" (5.15 million, 3.6/6)
18-49 leader: "Stalker" (2.0)

Nashville Blog: Oliver Hudson on Jeff Fordham's Problem with Women

Nashville: Can a Baby Bring Juliette and ........ Back Together?

Wednesday's episode of Nashville ended with Juliette (Hayden Panettiere) on the fence about her once-steadfast decision to get an abortion. Will she change her mind now that it's more likely that the baby's father is Avery (Jonathan Jackson) and not Jeff Fordham (Oliver Hudson)?

The fact that Panettiere is pregnant in real life may provide a big, spoilery clue as to the answer — but we're just speculating. For some firsthand scoop, TVGuide.com turned to Jackson to find out whether there's still hope for Avery and Juliette.

TVGuide.com: Why is it so hard for Avery to give Juliette a second chance?

Jackson: Avery's just completely reeling from the news that Juliette cheated on him. It takes people some time to really clear their heads and try to look at something from a more objective place. And whether or not Avery's going to be able to do that, I don't really know. But at least initially, he's just completely heartbroken.

Are you rooting for a reconciliation between them? Do you think Avery and Juliette are good together?

Jackson: Yeah. I've really enjoyed the relationship with Avery and Juliette. I think they're two headstrong characters that can easily clash with different people, and somehow, because of various circumstances and things in their lives, there was something that they brought out in each other that was really good. ... Avery was fairly dysfunctional in his past relationships. Juliette was obviously very dysfunctional in her relationships, and then to see them find each other is a really interesting thing for people to watch, and to have a sense of hope that each of them could find true love. So, that's the devastating part of having the whole thing kind of implode.

If Juliette decides to tell Avery she's pregnant, how do you think he would react to the news?

Jackson: I think it would depend on the way in which it was communicated. I don't know if he'd be angry just by the mere fact of it, but I think the way in which it's communicated to him would matter. He's obviously, as we saw in the first couple episodes, drinking a lot and not in a very stable place, so that doesn't help being able to process life-altering news. He's in a fragile place.

If she had an abortion without telling him, as she's planning to do while thinking it's Jeff's baby, how would that sit with Avery?

Jackson: I don't think that would sit well with him at all. Whatever Avery's faults are, I think that he would have an instinct towards responsibility in this kind of a thing.

We see Avery hooking up with the new waitress at the end of the episode. Is he ready to move on or is he just trying to distract himself at this point?

Jackson: I think it's just coming from his pain, really. I don't think he's in a place of actually wanting to have a relationship with anybody, but I think he's just trying to find ways to dull the pain. ... I think it's going to be a little while before he's actually in a headspace for having a mature relationship.

He tells Juliette that he can't stand the sight of her. Is there any hope for them to reconcile?

Jackson: All that's spoken from pain and drinking and anger. So, I think that's the question, that's the drama — whether or not they'll be able to find a way back to each other. ... But I do know that whatever anger is being spoken or whatever pain he's going through, it's painful because of how much he loves Juliette. Whether or not he can get past that pain or not is yet to be seen, but it's there because of how much he cares about her.

Musically, what's ahead for Avery this season?

Jackson: At this point, he's not focusing on his music career as an artist like he was in Season 1. I think he's just trying to kind of put one foot in front of the other and survive his personal life kind of going up in flames. But there's a couple really great songs coming up. ... I'm always amazed at how they find really great songs that connect with the characters and what they're going through. It's such a cool part of the show, to connect the audience with kind of the soul of the character through music.

You also play in the band Enation. Will any of your original songs be focused in the show?

Jackson: It could be. There aren't any in the works at the moment, but it's always possible. I was grateful to have "The Morning of the Rain," which is a song that I wrote, be in Season 1, which was really fun. But we kind of just take it episode at a time and see if something makes sense, if it fits.

Is it difficult to juggle the band and your role on Nashville?

Jackson: We wrapped Season 2 on a Wednesday and Thursday morning I was in the studio starting work on our album. It's coming out October 14.

Finally, do we get to meet Avery's parents this season?

Jackson: I've heard that rumor too. I haven't actually had [confirmation], but I've heard whisperings.

Do you think Juliette will have the baby? And are you rooting for her and Avery to get back together?

Juliette's baby daddy revealed

After months of speculating who Juliette Barnes' baby daddy is, the truth has finally been revealed. There were many theories. Would that night with Jeff Fordham Juliette wished she could forget produce a child? Would it be Avery's, or a total wild card like Charlie Wentworth's?

Lo and behold, all the fighting and turmoil was for nothing. Juliette found out she is eight weeks along, so it is impossible for the baby to be Jeff's since the incident only happened four weeks ago. This means unless Juliette hooked up with a ghost, a la "American Horror Story" Season 1, the baby is Avery's or a (much less likely) Charlie's. We are going to go with Avery though, since it seems like ages ago she slept with Charlie. But don't rule him out as a possibility just yet.

The bad news is Avery is not too happy with Juliette right now. He's already said he hated her and didn't seem like he had changed his tune when Juliette was giving him back his things. To top it off Avery seems to be taking his heartache out on the new girl at work -- let's hope that's just a one time thing.

Was Avery who you wanted to be the father of Juliette's child? Can you imagine what it would be like if it was Jeff? Seriously, there has never been a sadder moment than when he commented on Juliette's weight gain. Unknowingly of course, but still. We're glad that insensitive jerk isn't reproducing just yet. Now the big question is will Avery and Juliette be able to co-parent and will Juliette actually keep her little bundle of joy?

How long do you think it will take her to drop the bomb on Avery or do you believe in the slight chance it is Charlie's?

Nashville Newbie (and Fan) Laura Benanti on Sadie's Music City Sojourn

In a very entertaining interview, Benanti chatted with TVLine about everything from her supportive neighbors to Kacey Musgraves to her obsession with Connie Britton. Here are the important takeaways:

SHE DOESN’T LIKE JEFF FORDHAM, EITHER | “I’m a huge fan of the show. My girlfriend, Chelsea, and I, we watch it religiously. So when I got offered this job, it was probably the happiest moment of my life… which might be sad,” she says, laughing. “Then, when I saw that my scenes were with Jeff Fordham, I was like, ‘Noooooo!,” because everyone hates Jeff Fordham — as you should.”

SADIE SEEMS COOL | “She has been writing songs for other people for a really long time, and she’s just put out an album on her own that’s hit in a pretty big way,” Benanti previews. “She gets to meet her idol, Rayna Jaymes, who takes her under her wing a bit. They become friendly. They get into a car chase, which is super cool.”

WAIT, WHAT’S THAT ABOUT CAR CHASE? | “Sitting in a car with Connie Britton for five hours, riding around Nashville, was the highlight of my life. It was so hilarious to me that after all the tweets I’ve tweeted about Connie Britton and being obsessed with her, now she’s trapped in a car with me for five hours. It’s hilarious karma. I must have done something right.”

SADIE IS FLYING SOLO (AT LEAST FOR THE MOMENT) | “The thing I love about this character is that she seems to be a true friend to Rayna and is really focusing on herself, her life and her music, which is a story I’m happy to tell,” Benanti says. “I’ve had my fair share of dudes come in and out, and I’m happy to just be telling a story about a woman that is choosing herself and her life.”

SUSSING OUT SADIE’S SOUND | Benanti says she molded Sadie after country-music singer-songwriters like Kacey Musgraves and Bonnie Raitt, both of whom toiled for years before gaining popular acclaim. “There’s a real difference between being a 25-year-old who’s on the brink of something big and being a 35-year-old on the brink of something big. There’s a wisdom there, but there’s a feeling that this could be my last chance.”

KILLING IT IN VENUES BIG AND SMALL | Benanti won’t say at which Nashville musical institution Sadie has already performed, “but it was a pretty unbelievable place. I definitely cried when I stood on the stage… The crew, this is their third year on the show. So I come in like, “Everything is Nashville!” and they’re like, “Calm down,” she jokes. The part required Benanti to brush up on her guitar playing, something the neighbors in her apartment building wholeheartedly supported. “They can obviously hear me through the wall… The last day, I was practicing before I came out to Nashville to actually shoot, and they were like ‘We think you got it! Good job! We’re so proud of you!'”

Derek Hough admits being 'protective' over pregnant Hayden Panettiere

Getting four tens is virtually unheard of this early in the competition. Zap2it caught up with Mota after the show where she was still trying to grasp the couple's successful night. "I was not expecting that at all. It's still blowing my mind right now," she gushes.

The Youtube sensation revealed even though there could be a lot of pressure on her now they've scored so highly early on she is "relieved" that she didn't "drop the umbrella" in her challenging routine paying tribute to Gene Kelly with Hough.

Hough recently had to play double duty as he will appear on an upcoming episode of "Nashville." Creator Callie Khouri and star Connie Britton were spotted in the ballroom Sept. 29 to not only support Hough, but to film Rayna Jaymes' "Dancing With the Stars" debut.

Although Hough is sworn to secrecy about his role as Noah West, an actor involved in the Patsy Cline biopic Juliette Barnes is gunning for. He was able to tease the storyline for Zap2it and a handful of other journalists after Monday's (Sept. 29) "DWTS" taping saying West is involved in some "drama" having to do with a "triangle" which basically means a love triangle to us. Hough says the only definite is Hayden Panettiere's character "falls into (his) arms in a dramatic way." Whether is Juliette Barnes or possibly Juliette as Cline is unknown.

Hough had nothing but positive things to say about his short experience on the show and working with pregnant Panettiere, saying, "The whole cast and crew was really welcoming. Everyone was so nice, kind and sweet. Hayden was so incredible to work with. I get really protective over pregnant women, but she's still rockin'. She's just amazing."

Catch Hough when he rides into "Nashville" on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

Charles Esten Nashville Blog

How the Nashville Season 3 Premiere Handled Hayden Panettiere's Pregnancy

After Nashville star Hayden Panettiere revealed that she was expecting her first child with her fiancé Wladimir Klitschko in June, fans of the ABC soap wondered how the show would handle with her real-life pregnancy. Would the show hide her growing baby bump with creatively placed objects, oversized coats and strategic camera angles? Or would the writers use Panettiere's real-life joyous occasion to add more onscreen drama to Juliette's already crazy life?

E! News exclusively revealed last month that Nashville was going with the latter option, and we saw the beginning of that storyline play out in the season three premiere on Wednesday night.

The premiere picked up the morning right after the finale ended, with Juliette literally sick to her stomach over her heartbreaking breakup with Avery (Jonathan Jackson). She refused to let their relationship die so easily, though, so she marched right into Avery's apartment at six in the morning to try and talk things out. (Of course, Avery had been partaking in our personal favorite breakup activity: drinking until you pass out. So he wasn't really all that happy to talk about their relationship with a massive hangover.)

Avery had no patience (or enough caffeine in his system) to deal with a crying Juliette, so he dropped this verbal truth bomb on her: "I'm not trying to be mean, but right now I can't stand the sight of you." Ouch.

This sent Juliette into a complete emotional tailspin right before her big audition for the Patsy Cline biopic that every star in town was clamoring for. She sobbed her way through her audition (but hey, she sounded great!), and when she got home she hacked off her hair with kitchen scissors, Britney Spears-style. Not going to lie, that was a rough scene to watch, as Juliette just kept repeating over and over again, "You're a stupid, stupid girl." Oh honey.

But when her manager got the call letting him know Juliette landed the part—the producers loved the "emotional depth" she brought to the role, go figure—she turned that frown upside down. After a hairstylist made a house call to fix her 'do and a doctor swung by to diagnose her with whatever was making her feel sick, she was ready to take on the world...

...until the doctor pulled her aside to reveal that she actually wasn't sick at all. She's pregnant!

Obviously a bun in Juliette's oven is going to turn her professional and personal life totally upside down, but now the biggest question is: Who's the father? Is it Avery (like she's hoping), or that scumbag Jeff Fordham (Oliver Hudson)?

Our money's on Jeff, because let's be real: Juliette's never had it easy before. Why should she start now?

Are you excited to see how Juliette's pregnancy is going to play out on Nashville? Who do you think is going to be revealed as the father?

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2014

The top spot went to CBS, which got consistent performances from "Survivor: San Juan del Sur" -- which had its best premiere among adults 18-49 since fall 2012 -- and the finale of "Big Brother," which was up a bit from its 2013 finale.

Elsewhere, "The Mysteries of Laura" drew a strong total audience but mediocre 18-49 numbers in its time-period debut for NBC. "Law & Order: SVU" and "Chicago PD" also put up decent numbers, while "Red Band Society" declined a little from its premiere on FOX.

NBC led the night in viewers with 9.5 million and a 6.2 rating/11 share in households, beating the 8.3 million and 4.9/8 for CBS. ABC (7.9 million, 5.0/8) came in third. FOX (3.5 million, 2.2/4) was off the pace some in fourth, and The CW trailed with 1.45 million viewers and a 0.8/1.

CBS led the 18-49 demographic with a 2.6 rating, edging ABC's 2.4. NBC finished third at 1.9, followed by FOX, 1.2, and The CW, 0.5.

Wednesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.
NBC: "The Mysteries of Laura" (9.9 million viewers, 6.6/11 households)
CBS: "Survivor: San Juan del Sur" premiere (9.8 million, 5.8/10)
ABC: "The Middle" season premiere (7.4 million, 4.6/8)/"The Goldbergs" season premiere (7 million, 4.1/7)
FOX: "Hell's Kitchen" (3.7 million, 2.2/4)
The CW: "Penn & Teller: Fool Us" (1.5 million, 0.9/2)
18-49 leader: "Survivor: San Juan del Sur" (2.8)

9 p.m.
ABC: "Modern Family" season premiere (10.9 million, 6.6/11)/"Black-ish" series premiere (10.8 million, 6.7/11)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" season premiere (10.1 million, 6.5/11)
CBS: "Survivor: San Juan del Sur" premiere (9.4 million, 5.5/9)/"Big Brother" season finale (7.3 million, 4.3/7)
FOX: "Red Band Society" (3.4 million, 2.2/4)
The CW: "Penn & Teller: Fool Us" rerun (1.4 million, 0.8/1)
18-49 leader: "Modern Family" (3.7)

10 p.m.
NBC: "Chicago PD" season premiere (8.45 million, 5.5/10)
CBS: "Big Brother" season finale (6.8 million, 3.9/7)
ABC: "Nashville" season premiere (5.65 million, 4.0/7)
18-49 leader: "Big Brother" (2.5)

Season 3 premiere: Why Rayna made the wrong choice

The biggest revelation of the night was surely who Rayna Jaymes (Connie Britton) picked to be her next husband -- Deacon (Charles Esten) or Luke (Will Chase). Although both men are handsome and can offer Rayna love and affection, she ultimately made the wrong choice.

Warning: Spoilers are ahead for "Nashville" Season 3. Please do not read further if you are not up to date.

The country songstress chose to marry fellow superstar Luke Wheeler instead of the love of her life Deacon Claybourne. Isn't there hope for true love in today's world? Yes, Deacon is an alcoholic, which is something he will always struggle with. But the good outweighs the bad. Not only is he the father of one of Rayna's little girls, but the connection they have is undeniable.

One could argue Luke has always been there for her. There was even a flashback from the Season 3 premiere featuring a ponytail sporting Luke helping a worn out Rayna find Deacon way back in the day when he had disappeared on a bender. Luke is just way too safe. Life is full of choices and this one will likely blow up in Rayna's face. She could have at least waited to watch Deacon sing at The Bluebird.

A piece of our hearts melted away forever when he sang "I Know How to Love You Now" and the look in Rayna's eyes said she knew she regretted her decision. Let's hope passion ultimately prevails for the couple so Deacon can "show her" his love for years to come.

Are you Team Deacon or Team Luke?

Go Behind the Scenes at Rehearsals for Nashville's Season Premiere

It was the actor's final rehearsal before performing live on the show's season 3 premiere Wednesday night, but he said there are no butterflies, only "excitement."

"It fits well with our show because we try to get across that concept of no smoke and mirrors, just playing music and singing like you see here in town. What you see is what you get," Esten told PEOPLE of performing live. His is one of three live performances that will be edited into the pre-taped premiere, airing tonight on ABC at 10 p.m. ET.

The moment holds special significance for the actor because the song, "I Know How to Love You Now," was one he co-wrote with Deana Carter, and it's the first of his compositions to make it onto the show. "I've been submitting songs since we've started and I came close a couple of times," he said. Show creator Callie Khouri liked it so much that she incorporated the title into his character Deacon's marriage proposal to Rayna in last season's finale – a proposal that hangs in the balance as Rayna (played by Connie Britton) weighs his offer against that of her other suitor, Luke Wheeler.

The finale also left the future in question for Chris Carmack's character, aspiring star Will Lexington, after he finally confessed to his wife that he was gay. Carmack, who will also be performing live tonight, said combining that drama with the live shots will be a complicated bit of television magic.

"There's a lot of moving parts," said Carmack, who like Esten and special guests Florida Georgia Line will perform live twice, once for the East Coast broadcast and once for the West. "I only have 21 seconds to deliver a monologue so there's this precision that doesn't ever exist in acting. And normally if you perform a full 45-minute set of music, you're not worried if you're a little off pitch, because you've got 45 minutes to make up for it. But tomorrow, if I'm a little flat, it will be like well, sh–! No time to make up for it!"

And then there are the more trivial fears. "A nose hair sticking out could derail the whole thing," he joked. "I mean, can you imagine? If it's sticking out, there's nothing you can do!"

Connie Britton champions Facebook for social change

"Nashville" star Connie Britton says the changes keep coming for Rayna this season and they serve a higher purpose.

"We will see her making choice(s) about her own economic life. In the U.S., women are 5% of Fortune 500 CEOs, and I am playing a character who is starting and running her own business. For me, I take that serious, even in the drama of 'Nashville.' I think that is an important role model," the actress reveals in a Facebook Q&A during the Social Good Summit (Sept. 22).

During the event where Britton appeared as the Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme, the actress got extremely candid about how she finds strength and confidence in her life.

"I think that the more empowered we are, the more we can stand up for ourselves, and therefore we can be productive in the world. Fundamentally, when you know that you have value and that you exist for a reason, and that your voice is important in the world, then you can make a difference," Britton says.

In addition, the actress spoke about using social media for the greater good saying, "The more work I have in my career, the more challenging it is to make time for social good. That's why using Facebook to create awareness is such a great tool."

Hayden Panettiere Flaunts Baby Bump (and Pregnancy Glow!) at Nashville Food and Wine Festival

The 25-year-old mama-to-be, who is expecting her first child with fiancé Wladimir Klitschko, flaunted her growing belly at the Music City Food + Wine Festival Harvest Night on Saturday night in Nashville.

Panettiere looked positively radiant as she posed for pics with Kings of Leons rockers Jared and Caleb Followill, Garrett Hedlund and her Nashville co-star Clare Bowen. The blond beauty, who sported minimal makeup and wore her hair back to show off her glowing complexion, also rocked a pair of navy stretch pants and a flowy tank that just barely kept her baby bump concealed. At one point, she was also seen spending time with country music star and fellow mama-to-be Holly Williams, beaming from ear to ear as the two put their bellies on full display (perhaps they were swapping pregnancy secrets?).

The Nashville cutie was most recently seen arriving at LAX airport just over one week ago where she showed off her best accessory—her growing baby bump—as she strolled through the terminal.

And just three weeks prior, the erstwhile Heroes star exclusively revealed to E! News that she is expecting a baby girl while chatting with E!'s Giuliana Rancic at the 2014 Emmy Awards in late August.

"I want to go shopping for my girl. I want to paint the room appropriately," she gushed on the carpet after her candid gender confession.

As for baby names, the soon-to-be parents are still trying to decide what to call their daughter, as they are hoping to choose a moniker with a nod to both Hayden and Wladimir's heritage.

"We have to make sure that it is American and Ukrainian all at the same time," she dished. "That's a little rough...we're still working on it."

When it comes to pregnancy cravings, the pint-size star said that her everyday cravings have only been amplified, admitting, "[Pregnancy] probably just accentuated my craving for chicken noodle soup. I've always been a chicken noodle soup lover."

E! News confirmed in May that the Bring It On beauty and her hubby-to-be are expecting their first child. The ABC star confirmed her engagement to the boxing champ in October 2013 during an appearance on Live! With Kelly and Michael.

"She's an amazing person and I'm more than sure that she's going to be an amazing mom," Klitschko gushed to E! News of his leading lady back in July. "Her wish to become a mother and have a child [was something] she's been mentioning and telling me about a lot. You know, every dream will eventually come true and she's going to be more than an amazing mother."

Aww. Can't wait to meet the little one!

'It's On Us' PSA: Kerry Washington, Connie Britton and more team to stop sexual assault

In the video, the stars reiterate that it's on us as a community "to stop sexual assault," "not look the other way" and "not blame the victim." What do you think of the new PSA?

Connie Britton and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Were College Roommates

In her memoir Off the Sidelines, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand shares an awesome photo with her old roommate, who happens to be none other than Nashville star Connie Britton!

In the throwback pic, the Dartmouth gal-pals are all smiles as the New York politician rests her hand on her friend's shoulder. You can certainly tell that the '80s were in full effect as the former Friday Night Lights actress sports a classic feathered ‘do!

The two ladies lived together for the summer during a college study abroad program in Beijing. Both Asian studies majors, they were among the first to travel to China after the country opened up to American students!

Last October, the 47-year-old redhead dished on one of her overseas adventures with Gillibrand during an interview with Morning Joe.

"I actually have some amazing stories, a couple of which I can't tell," she said. "We were there over the summer, so we were there over Fourth of July, and the American embassy had a big Fourth of July party and part of that was doing a lip sync contest."

She continued, "Kirsten and two other girlfriends of ours did a Madonna song. Can't remember exactly which one but let me just say, we won the contest!"

What Had the Nashville Cast Singing This Weekend?

"This is the first time I've been allowed back in my house since Rayna kicked me out," actor Eric Close (Teddy Conrad) joked about his TV ex, played by Connie Britton. "It's really good to be back!"

Just over a week before the show's premiere (Sept. 24 on ABC), Close and several other cast members partied and performed Saturday night at the Nashville house that's used as Rayna's home to raise money for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.

"We love this town," said Chip Esten (Deacon Claybourne), who sang "No One Will Ever Love You" with T Bone Burnett. "Our show is about this town and Second Harvest feeds the stomach of this city."

Saturday's benefit raised $200,000 for Second Harvest, which works to eliminate hunger in 46 counties in Middle and West Tennessee.

Pregnant Hayden Panettiere Spotted at LAX Airport-See Her Growing Baby Bump!

The Nashville actress was spotted arriving at LAX airport over the weekend dressed in a casual and comfy ensemble.

Panettiere donned a pair of leggings, knee-high brown boots, a silk blouse and a chic Valentino bag for her travel day.

The expectant star recently revealed to E! News at the 2014 Emmy Awards that she was getting ready to give birth to a baby girl.

"I want to go shopping for my girl. I want to paint the room appropriately," she gushed to Giuliana Rancic on the red carpet.

"I like to shop, girl!"

She also confessed that she and fiancé Wladimir Klitschko have yet to pick out a name for their little one.

"We have to make sure that it is American and Ukrainian all at the same time," she explained. "That's a little rough...we're still working on it."

The 25-year-old also shared that her pregnancy craving of choice at the awards pre-show last month is chicken noodle soup!

"I've always been a chicken noodle soup lover," she said.

Mykelti Williamson To Recur (And Sing) On ABC's 'Nashville'

While he is best known for his acting, Williamson started as a singer and dancer. He was an alternate member of the Lockers breakdance crew. He had his own group called the Kids that toured with Bob Hope’s USO show. While he was with another group, the Dance Masters, he auditioned for a guest starring role on Starsky & Hutch. He got it and never looked back, focusing on acting. But acting and music intersected once before, in the 1984 feature Streets Of Fire, where he played a member of a doo-wop style group called the Sorels. The movie bombed, but a song, Dan Hartman’s “I Can Dream About You” — for which the Williamson and the other actors recorded the backing vocals — and the accompanying music video were big hits.

Premiere: Jonathan Jackson's 'The Morning of the Rain'

That will change Oct. 14, when Jonathan Jackson & Enation release Radio Cinematic on Loud & Proud Records. The Morning of the Rain, a track from the album, premieres at USA TODAY.

Jonathan calls The Morning of the Rain "a song of heartache and healing," with a sound that blends the anthemic qualities of influences like U2 and R.E.M. with more pop-driven production.

"The album has some hard rock on it that comes from our roots growing up, loving bands like Pearl Jam and Zeppelin," Jackson says. "It also has some dance/drum-loop stuff. The Morning of the Rain combines a lot of different elements on the record into one song."

For Nashville fans used to hearing Jackson sing as Avery, the transition to Enation's music shouldn't be too jarring. "The jump between the music that I've been doing on the show as Avery to what I do really isn't that huge of a leap, in terms of the rock 'n' roll quality of it," Jackson says. "It's not country, but Avery really hasn't done country, either. What T Bone Burnett established in season one was more an Americana-rock-and-roll-roots-music that Avery had going. The leap from kind of music to what I do in Enation isn't nearly as big as country to rock."

The group formed in 2002, released its first album, Identity Theft, two years later. The group's most recent album, My Ancient Rebellion, came out in 2011. Scheduling issues have kept the band from releasing new material until now, Jackson says.

"Once the show started, I moved to Tennessee, and the rest of the band was elsewhere. It was tough for us to go into the studio and record."

However, he and the two other members of Enation continued to arrange new songs and record demos. "When I had days off from filming, I would go into the studio and do more demos," he says.

The band recorded at The Tracking Room in Nashville and at Blue Grotto Sound in nearby Brentwood,

"We had the McCrary Sisters come in for some background vocals, which was really amazing," he says. "We had some string players, as well. Other than that, it was all us."

Jackson says he's excited about Nashville's third season, which premieres Sept. 24 (ABC, 10 p.m. ET).

"We're a few episodes into filming," Jackson says. "In general, there's a sense that a lot is clicking and really coming together, in particular with my character. He started out as a much more narcissistic and ambitious person. He learned some humility and maturity, and now he's dealing with the heartache of being betrayed. There's a lot there, and there's going to be a lot for the viewers to chew on."

Jackson's shooting schedule for Nashville may limit the number of live dates Enation can play, but "any opportunity I have, we're playing shows," he says. "The show is done filming in April, so pretty much for spring and summer, I'll be out there with the band."

Listen here: usatoday.com.

Connie Britton on Family Guy

FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE PERFORMS LIVE ON NASHVILLE

“Nashville” executive producer Dee Johnson said, “Florida Georgia Line is one of the music industry's hottest groups. With record-breaking sales figures and the energy to match, they've achieved the level of stardom that we explore every week on ‘Nashville,’ so we are delighted to have them perform live on both coasts for our historic third season premiere.”

Florida Georgia Line are the latest multi-platinum selling artists to appear as themselves on the series. Other artists who have appeared on the show include Brantley Gilbert, Chris Young, Pam Tillis, Vince Gill, Kip Moore, Dan Auerbach, Brad Paisley, Kelly Clarkson, Jay DeMarcus (of Rascal Flatts), Zac Brown, Kellie Pickler and Luke Bryan who will appear later this season.

In addition to FGL, in the season premiere, as previously reported, Chris Carmack (Will Lexington) will sing “If It’s Love,” written by the Striking Matches, and Charles Esten (Deacon Claybourne) will sing a song he co-wrote with Deanna Carter, “I Know How to Love You Now.”

Connie Britton Weighs In on Gwyneth Paltrow's Working Mom Comment, Talks Perks of Being a Single Parent

The Nashville star snagged the cover of Redbook magazine's October issue, and gave her two cents on Gwyneth Paltrow's recent comments about being a working actress and mother—and E! News has the exclusive sneak peek!

"Our hours are long, but I would never compare what I do to what anyone else does," Britton states. "Everybody's working hard and doing the best they can—if you're a mom, there's that pressure, we all face it. I'm constantly being pulled in different directions. But that's the thing: Moms are pulled and distracted. I would never say that's worse for me because I'm an actor. I am actually 100 percent sure all moms feel that way."

For those who don't remember, Paltrow told E! News that she was going to put acting on the backburner to focus on raising her children, but her wording came out a little misconstrued.

"I think it's different when you have an office job, because it's routine and, you know, you can do all the stuff in the morning and then you come home in the evening," Paltrow said.

"When you're shooting a movie, they're like, 'We need you to go to Wisconsin for two weeks,' and then you work 14 hours a day and that part of it is very difficult. I think to have a regular job and be a mom is not as, of course there are challenges, but it's not like being on set."

Britton also spoke about the pressure on finding a partner and father figure for her 3-year-old son, Eyob, but also candidly confesses that there are perks to being a single mother.

"I would love to be doing this with a partner, and I want Eyob to have a father figure. But I also know that putting that kind of pressure on myself or on a relationship would be disastrous," Britton tells the mag.

"It's funny—my married friends tell me all the time, ‘What you have is so much easier.' When you're doing it on your own, you don't have to [argue over] how you're raising the kids."

The October issue of Redbook hits newsstands on September 9.

Emmys 2014: Hayden Panettiere is having a baby girl, shows baby bump

It's the first child for Panettiere and fiance Wladimir Klitschko and will change the course of her "Nashville" character, Juliette Barnes. Producers are writing in a bundle of joy for the character, though there's no word on who the father is.

"Nashville" Season 3 premieres Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

'Nashville' Season 3 poster shows Rayna Jaymes and Juliette Barnes seeing eye to eye

TVLine has the image for the official poster, featuring the two Highway 65 artists gazing off in the distance in the same direction, alluding to the two being on similar paths.

Will Rayna offer Juliette comfort in her time of need and aid in the search for Juliette's baby daddy? Take a look at the poster here and let us know what you think this means for our favorite fictional country stars this season.

'If I Stay' director R.J. Cutler used 'Nashville' experience as a guide

This is a much bigger canvas," he says. Beyond what you might expect, in terms of a bigger budget and more time, there's also a very different role the director plays. "You have a directorial prerogative that you don't necessarily have in a TV environment," Cutler continues. "In TV, not only is the writer of the project the principle creative force, but you're working with many other layers in the TV universe."

There are some things that never change, though. "The principles of good storytelling are all the same," he explains. "The principles of how you're working with structure and character, and how narrative is impacted by then, it's all the same."

Additionally, there's one specific and important way "Nashville" informed the movie. Much like the show, music plays a central character in "If I Stay." "I think my experience on 'Nashville' helped me understand from moment one that if we didn't do that work in advance, we wouldn't achieve what we wanted to achieve," he says. "Months before we started shooting, we started collecting songs."

Indeed, Cutler and the music supervisors spent time focusing on each main character, and the music that would tell the story of their life. From Mia (Moretz), an avid fan of classical, to Adam (Jamie Blackley), who is influenced by everything from punk to pop, work was done to discover their musical identities.

Beyond being his first feature, there was one other aspect of the movie that was unique to him. "If I Stay" is an adaptation of a young adult novel, which already has an established fanbase. "I love that we have this great fanbase and that it's discovering new fans," Cutler says. Still, in turning the book into a movie he couldn't focus on simply serving the fans.

"I'm thinking about creating a film that is a true response to the book," he says. "For me, I wanted viewers of the film to have the same kind of emotional experience I had while reading the book."

In achieving that, some things may get added to the movie that simply wouldn't work in the book. "When spirit Mia is standing high above the scene and watching as Mia in the past is playing the cello on Labor Day, that's not in the book," he explains. "It's a purely cinematic moment. Yet, it's truly faithful to the book."

"If I Stay" is in theaters Aug. 22.

Nashville's Rayna and Juliette Face the Future in New Season 3 Poster

Hayden Panettiere Ice Bucket Challenge

Derek Hough Joins ABC Drama 'Nashville'

Nashville Baby Alert! Hayden Panettiere's Real-Life Pregnancy Is Being Written Into the Show...but Who's the Father?

E! News has exclusively confirmed that Nashville season three will feature a pregnant Juliette Barnes...and the drama just starts there.

Remember when Juliette made the poor life choice to cheat on her perfect boyfriend Avery (Jonathan Jackson) and drunkenly hook up with Jeff Fordham (Oliver Hudson, now a series regular), the skeezy head of Edgehill Republic, her old record label? That's going to come back around to bite her in the butt more than you can imagine.

As if Juliette doesn't have enough boy problems to deal with, not only did that ill-advised one night stand ruin her relationship with Avery, but it's also going to cause her some major baby daddy drama, since she doesn't know if the father is Avery or Jeff! Yikes.

While we can't wait to see how Juliette handles the impending responsibilities of motherhood, we can't help but feel bad for the poor girl. She's never had an easy life—from her drug addict mother, to her trailer park past, to her endless career and boy troubles—but she's always been able to claw her way to the top.

Will Juliette be able to find the joy in becoming a mother, or will she try to terminate the pregnancy to save her career and relationship? Will she finally get her happily-ever-after with Avery if the baby is his? Or in a less happier version, if the baby is Avery's, will the southern gentleman feel obligated to marry her and raise the kid? Now that's a wedding doomed from the start. No matter what the producers decide, the drama on Nashville is going to be a real mother this season.

Back in June, E! News confirmed Panettiere was pregnant with her and fiancé Wladimir Klitschko's first child together. Panettiere showed off her baby bump when she hit the beach last week with her boxer beau, who recently told us, "She's going to be more than an amazing mother."

Nashville season three kicks off with an episode filled with live musical performances on Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 10 p.m. on ABC.

Alexa Vega & Brette Taylor Join 'Nashville'

Motley Crue going out with a twang

But how about a twang?

In addition to touring North America this summer with Alice Cooper opening, including Sunday night at Toronto’s Molson Canadian Amphitheatre before a trio of western Canadian dates in October, the group is also being celebrated with the Aug. 19 release of Nashville Outlaws: A Tribute to Motley Crue.

Who knew?

“I grew up in Idaho and at my grandparents’ (country music) was on,” says Crue bassist Nikki Sixx, 55, seated beside the group’s lead singer Vince Neil, 53, in an elaborately decorated downtown hotel room.

“As a teenager I heard it all the time. But I was looking for my rock station. And I always had that as a foundation.

“As the years went, I was always checking in with all kinds of music. And I’d be listening to the Stones and reading the interviews about how they were influenced by country. It’s always the roots. It’s blues; it’s country. And then rock ’n’ roll in the ’50s.

“It was, for me, about 10 years ago when I was started listening to country radio in Los Angeles, sounds funny right there, and I started noticing how good these songwriters are. Like amazing lyrics, verses, choruses ... I was sucked in as a songwriter ... I became a fan that way. I guess you could call that new country and a lot of these artists that are on our album are those kinds of artists.”

Adds Neil: “My dad was from Paris, Tex., so I kind of had to listen to country. But once I found, say, The Eagles I was like, ‘OK, if this is country, this is really cool.’

“But my dad was a big Johnny Cash, Johnny Rivers (fan) — old acts like that, but then country became really, really country and I really wasn’t interested. Then this project came about, I started listening to country again and kind of realized that the new country is more rock ’n’ roll than rock ’n’ roll is right now.”

Neil even chimes in vocally alongside Justin Moore on the tribute album’s first track, Home Sweet Home, and in the video, too, which incorporates elements of the original clip plus features all four Crue members — including drummer Tommy Lee and guitarist Mick Mars — in a bar scene.

“We were blown away,” says Neil of when he heard the finished record. “Some of the artists kind of stuck with the track, but they put their own touches on it and some of them went in ... the other direction that they made some of the songs better, I think. Like Darius Rucker’s version of Time For Change. I listen to that and I go, ‘That’s the way the song should have been, our version.’ And you take the Mavericks’ version of Dr. Feelgood and now it’s like a Miami Vice-Latino-salsa-country song. It’s cool.”

Adds Sixx: “We didn’t have our fingers on any of it. We didn’t want to. We didn’t want to get roughs or demos of it and have our input because what’s the point? You don’t want to tell Rascal Flatts or Cassadee Pope or LeAnn Rimes what to do. Let them have creative freedom. And we were really pleasantly surprised.”

But will Crue’s hardcore fans be up in arms about their beloved metal band’s hits going country?

That remains to be seen upon the album’s release.

“We’re just kind of waiting but I think it’s going to work both ways,” says Neil. “I think the country fans are going to find rock ’n’ roll in Motley and be curious about it and see what we’re all about. I think the same thing with the rock fans. They’re going to go, ‘Wow, these country guys are doing this. Maybe I’m going to check out these artists.’ ”

Adds Sixx: “In the end, we didn’t make this record for Motley Crue fans. This is a country record with our songs for country fans. Now we do believe that they cross and I’ve heard many times that many people are ’80s rock fans listening to new country.”

Fun but bittersweet, no doubt, is Motley Crue’s final 2014-15 trek. (Their tour slogan is “All Bad Things Must Come To An End,” named after a similarly titled new song All Bad Things Must End — the band’s first in two years — which Sixx describes as an “aggressive and pretty funny” tune.)

Motley Crue have been performing it in their Final Tour set lists, but have yet to release it on radio.

“It’s pretty much us saying even the devil’s got to pay for his crime at some time, all bad things must die,” says Sixx with a chuckle. “We’re willing to be put up on the cross and be crucified here and say goodbye. And it’s kind of in a dark, snarky, Motley Crue kind of way of looking at our self.”

Known as much for taking debauchery to a whole new level off stage — essentially sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll personified with arrests, overdoses, divorces and sex tapes, too, if you read their 2002 autobiography The Dirt — the band still has a heart.

“I had been talking to the guys and I said, ‘We have to take our final bow in the city that we started it in,’ ” Sixx says. “Just the four of us, that didn’t even have a way to get around town, walking up and down Sunset Boulevard, putting up flyers and people not getting who we were; it slowly built into this local scene and national and international scene and it’s been over 30 years. It’s the same four guys. And we talk about taking that final bow in Los Angeles, Calif., and you start to go, ‘Whoa. Wow.’ Like after you get offstage, that’s it.”

The group even signed “a cessation of touring agreement” back in January to never tour together again after 2015, although they haven’t ruled out “one-off” performances if they get inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or get a Lifetime Grammy.

Until then, they’re excited about the direction of the as-yet-uncast film version of The Dirt, which is being directed by Jackass alumnus Jeff Tremain.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Neil says. “It’s a really great script.”

Adds Sixx: “We wanted this movie to be more in line with GoodFellas and Boogie Nights and even Trainspotting, meaning that it’s got edge, it’s got bite, it’s not a VH1 glossy, Rock of Ages, period piece thing.

“It’s a real story of a real band and it’s got some darkness to it, but it’s a beautiful story.

“And, for us, as far as casting, the worst thing we could do is cast a bunch of known actors. Maybe for a little role here and there, but the four characters of Motley Crue they need to be some unknown guys that are willing to just get in there and go for it. I don’t want to look at a famous actor playing Vince Neil. I’m not going to believe it.”

Post-Crue, Lee is already drumming with the Smashing Pumpkins for their new record; and Mars is writing songs for a solo project and possibly his memoirs.

Neil, who has various businesses, says he won’t give up on rock.

“I’ll continue making music and going out on tour so I don’t see not touring as part of my life,” he says. “I love to be out on the road and I love to be in front of people so I’ll continue on.”

Adds Sixx, who is also looking at a solo album and the Broadway version of his 2007 autobiography, The Heroin Diaries: “A friend of mine, Harry Nilsson, a great songwriter, used to live about two blocks from me and he’d retired and I would drive past his house and he’d be getting the mail in his robe. And I’d go, ‘What’s happening?’ And he’d go, ‘I’m retired.’ I’m not ready for that. Like Vince, there’s a lot of creative juice left.”

FIVE GREAT MOTLEY CRUE ANTHEMS IN ASCENDING ORDER (IMHO):

5. Shout at the Devil (from the 1983 album of the same name): What was it that Dana Carvey’s SNL Church Chat character used to say? “Could it be ... SAY-TAN?” Well, even if the devil made them do it — and he didn’t, although they were accused of being Satan worshippers at the time — some songs are just ready-made for arenas and this riff-driven, heavy-rocking song is one of them. “Shout! Shout! Shout, shout at the devil!” indeed.

4. Dr. Feelgood (from the 1989 album of the same name): Just say no drugs, kids. Or not. In the case of this groove-filled chugging rocker about a drug dealer, “He’s not what you’d call a glamourous man,” on the L.A. Sunset Strip scene, the band brought their not-so-secret drug taking out of the closet. It was also Motley’s first mainstream Top 10 hit, so it obviously struck a chord. Great guitar, too, by Mick Mars.

3. Girls, Girls, Girls (from the 1987 album of the same name): In this hard-rocking ode to exotic dancers all over the world, including Vancouver’s Marble Arch, the band extols the virtues of dancing on the pole. The lyrics aren’t exactly PC but they work in the context of the song: “I’m such a good, good boy, I just need a new toy.” Naturally, the video features strippers hard at work and the band on motorcycles.

2. Kickstart My Heart (from 1989’s Dr. Feelgood): Bassist Nikki Sixx wrote this hard-charging song, often used to open the band’s shows due to Mick Mars’ killer opening riffs, about an infamous 1987 drug overdose in which he was declared clinically dead before being brought back to life with two adrenaline shots to the heart. The lyrics and the accompanying video, however, is more about thrill-seeking with images of sky diving, and car-and-speed boat crashes. “Ooh, yeah, Kickstart my heart, Give it a start!” I dare you not to sing along.

1. Home Sweet Home (from 1985’s Theatre of Pain): I got an even greater appreciation for this piano-driven power ballad — a major left turn into the mainstream for the band — after its use by the Crue-loving loser character played by Rob Corddry in 2010’s guilty pleasure flick, Hot Tub Time Machine. Corddry sings, swigs booze, and does both air guitar and drums in his parked car, accidentally revving the engine so hard he almost dies from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Nashville Outlaws: A Tribute to Motley Crue track listing (country artist/Crue cover):

1. Rascal Flatts – Kickstart My Heart

2. Florida Georgia Line – If I Die Tomorrow

3. LeAnn Rimes – Smokin’ In The Boys Room

4. Justin Moore – Home Sweet Home

5. Cassadee Pope with Robin Zander –The Animal In Me

6. Aaron Lewis – Afraid

7. Big & Rich – SOS

8. Sam Palladio and Clare Bowen – Without You

9. Eli Young Band – Don’t Go Away Mad

10. Lauren Jenkins – Looks That Kill

11. The Cadillac Three – Live Wire

12. The Mavericks – Dr. Feelgood

13. Brantley Gilbert – Girls Girls Girls

14. Gretchen Wilson – Wild Side

15. Darius Rucker – Time For Change

Luke Bryan to film 'Nashville' scenes during 'GMA' appearance

Bryan and "Nashville" star Connie Britton will film a scene with "GMA" host Amy Robach for the country singer's cameo on the show, which will air on Oct. 1. He'll then be performing his new single "Roller Coaster" and a few other crowd favorites for the "GMA" concert audience.

Bryan's appearance on the show will add him to a long list of country stars who have tried out their acting chops on the show, including Brad Paisley and Vince Gill.

Season 3 of "Nashville" premieres Sept. 24 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC, with the first episode featuring live performances by some of the show's stars.

Natalie Zea To Star In ABC Series 'Members Only' Directed By R.J. Cutler

This marks Zea’s return to ABC, where she starred in another glitzy, soapy primetime drama, Dirty Sexy Money. Her series credits also include Justified, Under The Dome and Californication. She is repped by UTA, manager Robert Semon and attorney James Feldman. Cutler, repped by CAA, Brillstein and HJTHN, is in the ABC family, serving as an executive producer of the network’s soapy country music drama Nashville after directing the pilot and the second episode. His involvement with Members Only stems from a first-look development deal for scripted projects he has with CBS Studios. Additionally, Cutler has a first-look for documentaries at Showtime. His feature directorial debut, If I Stay starring Chloe Grace Moretz, opens August 22.

Hayden Panettiere Shows Off Her Baby Bump in a Bikini in Miami

After flashing her burgeoning belly while strolling the streets of Porto Cerve, Italy with her fiancé Wladimir Klitschko, the 24-year-old Nashville star flaunted her pregnancy curves while hitting the beach in Miami Friday.

Clad in a blue and white striped bikini, Panettiere was glowing as she stepped on the sand while enjoying a sunny day on the shore with her boxer beau.

The mom-to-be has yet to publicly comment on their baby news, but back in May 2013, she did talk about her desire to start a family with the 38-year-old athlete. "I've lived a very big life, and I don't feel my age, and I feel like I was born to be a mother," she told Glamour.

"Sometimes people speak about [having kids] like, 'Your life ends—you're never going to be able to do anything again!' And I'm like, 'What are you talking about?' Motherhood is the most beautiful, exciting thing, and there's nothing that I feel like I can't accomplish while having children in my life," she continued.

Klitschko, meanwhile, opened up recently to E! News about becoming a dad. "When you're going to become a father or a parent, your life is going to change," he told us. "So I look forward to having my life change for the good and I heard, just recently, somebody said, 'You don't know what love is until you have your first baby, then you know what love is.' So I think I know what love is, but I look forward to getting more knowledgeable about that."

He also gushed over his ladylove, saying, "She's an amazing person and I'm more than sure that she's going to be an amazing mom. Her wish to become a mother and have a child [was something] she's been mentioning and telling me about a lot. You know, every dream will eventually come true and she's going to be more than an amazing mother."

Nashville Season 3 Premiere to Feature Two Live Cast Performances

Charles Esten (as Deacon) and Chris Carmack (as Will) will both perform live from the show’s Bluebird Café set, TVLine has confirmed, and their performances will be integrated into the episode.

Carmack will sing “If It’s Love” by the Striking Matches, while Esten will perform “I Know How To Love You Now,” which he penned along with Deana Carter.

Aside from those two performances, the rest of the premiere will already have been filmed.

Nashville returns for its third season on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 10/9c.

Nashville Scoop: Will Juliette Be Pregnant in Season 3?

That's a question ABC's Nashville may pose when it returns for its third season this fall, producers have confirmed exclusively to TVGuide.com.

Though producers are keeping Season 3 specifics under wraps for now, executive producerDee Johnson tells TVGuide.com that the show will find a way to incorporate actress Hayden Panettiere's real-life baby bump.

"We are going to address the idea of pregnancy," Johnson teases. "That's as much as I'll say about that. ... She's faced with new obstacles, let's put it that way."

But if Juliette does turn out to be pregnant, who's the daddy? The possibilities: Avery (Jonathan Jackson), who walked out on Juliette after learning of her ill-advised hookup with smarmy Jeff Fordham (Oliver Hudson, who's been upped to a series regular this season) ... or, the smarmy Jeff Fordham himself. Let's hope it's the former!

At the end of Season 2, it's clear that Juliette is willing to do whatever it takes to win Avery back — and we're guessing that a baby of ambiguous paternal origin would throw a bit of a wrench into that.

"I don't think anything is simple in the world of Juliette," Johnson notes.

That's certainly an understatement!

Where do you think Juliette's storyline is headed in Season 3?

Laura Benanti Is Headed to Nashville

Jonathan Jackson + Enation's "Everything Is Possible" Lyric Video Premiere

“You and me are gonna take on the night / you and me are gonna burn out the lights,” Jackson sings on “Everything Is Possible,” while backed up on the track by his brother Richard Lee and bassist Daniel Sweatt.

Jonathan says of the song, “Love has a fight in it. It’s not passive. It’s fierce. There’s this proverb: Love is stronger than death. ‘Everything Is Possible’ takes that idea of rebellion and applies it to love.”

Watch the lyric video for Enation’s “Everything Is Possible” above.

Hayden Panettiere Bares Her Bump in a Crop Top

On Saturday, the mom-to-be, 24, flashed her growing belly in a loose navy crop top and matching harem pants while walking around Porto Cervo, Italy, with fiancé Wladimir Klitschko, 38.

And she couldn’t be any cuter. We’re already loving her laid-back yet chic maternity style.

The couple, who announced their engagement in October, put their wedding plans on hold because of unrest in Klitschko’s native country, Ukraine. (Maybe now they can incorporate their little one into their ceremony!)

Even though the Nashville star has yet to confirm her pregnancy, she previously hinted at her plans to start a family of her own.

“I’ve lived a very big life, and I don’t feel my age,” Panettiere told Glamour. “I feel like I was born to be a mother.”

Eye on Emmy: Nashville's Hayden Panettiere on Juliette's 'Trailer Trash' Monologue, Friendship With Rayna

And yet after a season where her country diva became an industry pariah by very publicly breaking up a radio titan’s marriage (and appearing to have denounced God’s existence in a viral video), then wound up betraying her soulmate Avery by drunkenly hooking up with the record exec who’d booted her from his label, “the brilliance of the writing” has made fans “very forgiving of Juliette,” says the actress. “They’ve actually managed to find empathy for someone who just makes mistake after mistake after mistake.”

Of course, Panettiere’s nuanced performance — full of humor, heartache and oodles of diva brass — wins over audiences, too, and made her one of TVLine’s Dream Emmy Nominees as Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

So, while Panettiere admits she was especially nervous about how Nashville fans would feel about Juliette’s aforementioned indiscretion with Jeff Fordham — “especially since they love Avery, and they love her and Avery together” — from a purely creative point of view, “the more fuel you put in my fire, the happier I’m going to be.”

TVLine caught up with the actress to talk about her epic season-finale monologue, her funniest one-liner and the way wardrobe helps delineate between Juliette’s public and private personas.

TVLINE | Let’s jump right in and talk about the Season 2 finale, your last scene with Avery (Jonathan Jackson) to be specific: After he asks her why she cheated on him, Juliette has that monologue about her difficult childhood, about her experiences with her mom’s “older guy” friends, about feeling like she’s just “trailer trash covered in rhinestones.” Tell me about coming to that point in Juliette’s character development, about making her that vulnerable.

You know, one of the things that has been such a blessing about playing this character is that, as forward as Juliette has been and as many times as she’s fallen on her face, there’s always something else to learn about her, to understand about her. For me, that scene was a big point of realization about my own character, about her and her past and where she comes from. Because I can come up with things in my head and speculate as to what’s gotten her to this place and why she is the way she is, but it’s not until you have monologues like that, that things really become clear.

[Juliette] really broke down. She really trusts Avery – and that’s the difference between him and all of the other relationships that she’s been in. She was on her knees going, “I am admitting to you something that I would never admit to anyone — nor have I ever really admitted to myself.” She’s that kind of person who puts a wall up in her head, and all that pain goes behind a door and it gets filtered and forgotten. But in that moment, she knew that she was going to lose the most important relationship she had ever had in her life. I’d say it was definitely one of my favorite scenes.

TVLINE | How many takes did it require to bring those emotions to the surface?

I love when they use as many cameras as they can — especially when you’re doing monologues like that. You want to be able to think about what you’re saying and come up with it in the moment. I knew the lines, but it wasn’t so set in my head that it just became repetitive to me. So, sometimes with emotional scenes, I’ll ask them to do the close-ups first, because the fresher I am with it, the better I feel. [In that scene], Juliette was speaking out of realization. She was going through it in that moment. This wasn’t something she had planned to say. She was almost speaking to herself, as much as to Avery. She was finally saying all this stuff out loud and coming to the realization about herself in that very moment.

TVLINE | The funny thing is, Avery wasn’t a terribly likeable character throughout Season 1 — or a good chunk of Season 2. Somehow he and Juliette bring out the best in each other — and their relationship has shown us her softer side, too. Was it fun this season to play that – to be able to leave her brattiness and hardness behind for a minute?

Absolutely. To play the “villain,” if you will, it’s only interesting when there’s a balance. If a character is constantly sweet you’re going to have a problem with it. If a character is constantly monstrous and evil, you’re going to have a problem with it. It’s the balance that makes it relatable and human — and that’s what we want to see. You forgive [Juliette] and you understand her and you love her, because the person that she is outside of the industry is a good person, a sweet girl. But she’s been through a lot. A lot of people will say “What a bitch,” but you know what? A lot of the time, while I don’t fully agree with the way she goes about things, most of the time I agree with her opinion about the situation. I genuinely do.

TVLINE | Speaking of balancing acts, the episode after Juliette has sex with Jeff is the one where the main characters go to the military base and perform. I thought that was an amazing episode for you because there wasn’t a single second where we couldn’t see that mistake haunting Juliette, see the panic and the sickness on her face. How did you achieve that?

It was probably as fresh and new to me as it was to Juliette, because I think that was the first time that she had ever cared enough to regret her actions. There have been very few things that this girl has allowed herself to feel guilty about in her life, and very few people, if any, that she’s genuinely hurt without going, “Well, take it, or leave it. This is life. I’ve been hurt too, and you’re not going to get sympathy from me.” So the guilt she’s feeling [over betraying Avery], it’s absolutely sickening, and you question your mind, “Even if I can guarantee a hundred percent that no one will ever find out, can I live with that? Can I live knowing that I did something that gives me nightmares?” Those scenes were really tough, because I was dealing with that hanging over my head, and also dealing with the fact that it was the first time that we realize that Juliette’s stepdad, who was her rock, and for all intents and purposes was her father, was a Blackhawk pilot and had died in a [training] accident. When people have been emotionally through a lot of trauma in the past, you almost become numb in a certain way where your brain shuts down. You tend to go into system overload — where things aren’t even in focus to you anymore. It’s such an intense emotional state that there are no words to describe it.

TVLINE | Watching the show, it’s almost like there are two Juliettes: Public Juliette, who’s always dressed to the nines with full hair and makeup, and Private Juliette, who in these moments of vulnerability at home is in sweats with her hair pulled back. Is that juxtaposition something you’ve worked on in developing the character?

Absolutely. Absolutely. I really, really wanted to make a huge differentiation — emotionally, mentally, verbally and physically. Physical acting is not something to be overlooked. It’s a huge part of feeling like the character and being in that emotional state. So, I wanted people to both physically and emotionally see the massive change in between those two people — and that is a choice that she’s made, exactly what you said. It is that suit of armor that she puts on. It’s like a lot of these amazing singers nowadays, these performers go up on stage and they’ve got their suits of armor on and they sometimes call themselves different names. They step into this character that they’ve created.

That is a huge wall that Juliette has put up, a boundary, and it is a major part of protecting herself. So, when you do get to see her with Avery and at home, she is as raw as humanly possible. She is not concerned with what she looks like, she’s not being anything but the little girl from Alabama who has gone through the ringer, and she is finally revealing herself to somebody, her true self, that vulnerability.

TVLINE | I also think that Juliette is one of the funniest characters on TV. Every episode, it seems like she has a classic zinger. Like when she tries to be nice to Layla in the elevator — to let her know she has her back if that radio programmer gets too sexually forward – and Layla shuts the conversation down. Juliette takes a moment, then says, “I guess nice just ain’t my color.”

I love that line. That was absolutely one of my favorites: When I saw it, I was like, “Thank you Lord. That is amazing!” The key to those moments is they’re believable and they’re real. She was a having a moment with that girl in the elevator, with Aubrey [Peebles]‘ character, and she was being genuine. There was a sense of, “All right. I don’t like this girl, but I know what she’s going through. I’ve been there. I’ve done that.” So she let down her wall for a second. And then when she gets rejected, it’s like, “Yep. That’s exactly why I don’t do this, and I just learned my lesson again.”

I mean, I’ve done the same exact thing where you go, “Okay. I’m going to be super nice to this person who’s not being great to me. I’m just going to kill them with kindness and make lemonade out of lemons.” And then, they bring you back, and you say, “That’s exactly why I needed to keep my guard up. That’s exactly why people behave the way they behave in this business — because it’s survival of the fittest. You’ve got to protect yourself.” It’s real emotion.

The writers for our show are also amazing at writing to their actors, not just me, all of the actors. They know who can pull off saying what and when — and even though some people may call it a soap opera, they know what they’re doing. There’s a cleverness behind their writing that I think is kind of rare.

TVLINE | Your show also really delves into what artists go through to succeed. As you straddle that dual role of actress and singer, how accurately does Nashvile get the politics of the music business? And what is it like seeing the chart performance of songs and soundtracks from the show?

One of the biggest compliments that we’ve gotten, I think I can speak for all of us, is how much Nashville as a city has accepted us and how much the country music industry has accepted us. And I don’t think they would if we weren’t hitting the nail pretty closely on the head. The show has revealed a lot about [the busines] without being disrespectful. But you have to realize to that we’ve got [executive producer] Callie Khouri, who’s married to T Bone Burnett, and they know this industry. They know what they’re writing about, they’ve seen it firsthand. We’ve been so lucky in that way — and we’ve had amazing producers and songwriters who love the show, too, and are here for us. And you’ve got people like [executive music producer] Buddy Miller, people that are so highly respected in the country music industry, right at the top of the pyramid. [Shooting] in [the city of] Nashville has kept it grounded, too.

TVLINE | Tell me a little bit about the Juliette/Rayna relationship. We’ve seen it go from adversarial to sort of a sisterhood. I loved that scene in the finale where Juliette is throwing up and Rayna’s holding her hair back. It’s a long way from where they started. How do you and Connie Britton approach these scenes now, where there’s this understanding, albeit with a little eye-rolling, between two women who are both a little larger than life?

There is a respect there that you have to keep in mind, because they’re two incredibly strong women that have overcome all obstacles in a way. In one sense, they’re from opposite sides of the fence, but in another sense they have a lot in common. They both have family issues. One might be in a mansion and one in a trailer park, but they both understand the pain of loss, and that becomes a connection.Also, Rayna is smart enough to understand that Juliette doesn’t mean 90 percent of what she says — not the way that she says it. She knows that it’s lashing out, so she can roll her eyes and walk away.

Sometimes, those treacherous relationships become the people that you actually care about the most — and that you become the most afraid to lose. That’s why I really wanted to make a thing out of [the start of Season 2], when Rayna was in a coma. On one hand, Juliette was pretending like she didn’t really care, but on the other hand she was not allowing herself to show that she cared because she cared so deeply. That’s why I loved the shot when they panned out from looking at a picture of Juliette’s [late] mom: The candles are lit and I’m in mourning for her, and then I put Rayna’s CD — an old CD of hers — next to it. I wanted [the CD] to be old, because I wanted it to show that she has been a fan of Rayna’s for years, and that there’s something more to it then just hating her. You don’t just hate somebody and give that negative energy to somebody without there being a good reason — some sort of sensitivity, some sort of vulnerability. I tried to equate it to [Juliette's] mom, maybe something that Rayna triggered in me, and that Rayna was almost as much a part of my past as my family. So, yeah, they do have a very, very tight bond — even though you see them constantly at odds and rubbing each other the wrong way. People don’t make you that angry unless you care what they think.

Pregnant Hayden Panettiere makes a splash

Panettiere, 24, and her fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko, 38, enjoyed a fun day on a yacht in St. Tropez on Sunday.

The “Nashville” star opted for a black one-piece bathing suit that hugged her belly.

Becoming a mother is something Panettiere has always felt strongly about.

“I’ve lived a very big life, and I don’t feel my age, and I feel like I was born to be a mother,” she told Glamour. “Motherhood is the most beautiful, exciting thing, and there’s nothing that I feel like I can’t accomplish while having children in my life.”

Pregnant Hayden Panettiere Gets A Shaggy Bob Haircut

That seems to be Hollywood's motto of the moment. Stars are chopping off their locks so often it's becoming the new norm.

Still, even if it's not exactly surprising when a celeb takes off a few inches we still are interested in seeing which bob style they decide on. And this weekend, a pregnant Hayden Panettiere went with a shaggy one. The actress—who just last week confirmed she is expecting her first child with fiancée Wladimir Klitschko—turned to Jennifer Aniston's hairstylist Chris McMillan for her new ‘do.

The star's makeup artist Amy Orseman posted a first look at the choppy style on her Instagram, writing: "It's a fun work day when you get to watch @mrchrismcmillan give #haydenpanettiere a fab new [cut]." The 24-year-old's new 'do isn't too different from her previous cut, which ended at her shoulders.

McMillian has famously given Aniston some very stylish bobs over their nearly two decades together. Most recently an asymmetrical version in November of last year. He also was the man behind Kim Kardashian's bridal hairstyle from her nuptials to Kanye West last month.

But back to his work with Hayden: Do you like her new cut?

Hayden Panettiere Pregnant With Her and Fiancé Wladimir Klitschko's First Child

The Nashville star is pregnant with her and fiancé Wladimir Klitschko's first child together, multiple sources confirm to E! News.

The 24-year-old actress has remained mum on her expectant status, but that seems to be her style—she didn't confirm that she was engaged to her boxing champ beau until October, a few months after she was spotted wearing a huge diamond ring.

Panettiere finally let Kelly Ripa get the scoop, telling the Live! With Kelly and Michael host that the ring "speaks for itself" but that, yes, she was engaged.

Since then, Panettiere has said that she and Klitschko, 38, are in no rush to get to the altar, for various reasons.

"We are very laid-back about the wedding plans; we don't want to rush anything," she said in British Cosmopolitan's March issue. "We want the day to be fun, happy and stress-free. Growing up, the thought of not getting married never crossed my mind. It was always: I'm going to get married and then I'm going to have a family."

As for the continued political unrest in her Klitschko's native Ukraine, where his brother Vitali is the leader of the Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform, Panettiere said at the time, "I spend a lot of time in Ukraine and I completely agree with what Wladimir and Vitali are fighting for; we want justice and democracy for Ukrainians."

She and the heavyweight fighter temporarily separated in 2011 after nearly two years of dating, but reunited in spring 2013 and never looked back.

It's unclear what Panettiere's pregnancy means for ABC's Nashville, which is scheduled to start shooting its third season next month, or her character Juliette Barnes.

But wouldn't having a baby on the way be a juicy twist for Juliette?!

Us Weekly was first to report the happy news.

ABC RETURNS TO MUSIC CITY FOR THE ANNUAL CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL AND SUMMER BLOCK PARTY

Schedule of events as follows:

FRIDAY, JUNE 6

Andi Dorfman, Jason Thompson, Laura Wright and Jonathan Jackson stop by for a Q&A session as well as an autograph signing with fans.

11:30am – 12:45pm – Jonathan Jackson

1:00pm – 2:00pm – Andi Dorfman

2:00 – 3:30pm – Jason Thompson and Laura Wright

SATURDAY, JUNE 7

Andi Dorfman, Jason Thompson, Laura Wright and Charles Esten stop by for a Q&A session and autograph signings, including a musical performance by Esten.

11:15am – 12:15pm –Andi Dorfman

12:45 – 2:15pm –Jason Thompson and Laura Wright

4:30pm – 6:00pm – Charles Esten

On TUESDAY, AUGUST 5, ABC will broadcast “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock” (8:00-11:00 p.m., ET), hosted by Little Big Town and featuring performances by Country’s hottest acts. The three-hour ABC special is a primetime postcard of the best Festival concert performances and behind-the-scenes stories with Country Music’s biggest superstars. This is the tenth time ABC will broadcast this special -- which features the very best from America’s biggest Country Music bash -- since the original Fan Fair® was launched in 1972.

Little 'Nashville' Stars -- We Got Ourselves Big Hollywood Agents

The real life sisters -- who play TV sisters Maddie and Daphne Conrad -- signed with CAA.

In case you don't know ... CAA reps a constellation of stars, including Jeniffer Aniston, J.J. Abrams, George Clooney, Tom Cruise, Carrie Underwood and Kanye West.

According to the contract -- They'll have to shell out 10% of what they make -- but in return they'll get the services and experience of two of the agency's heaviest hitters.

The bad news ... 10% of their salaries goes bye bye.

Fun Fact: 14-year-old Lennon and 9-year-old Maisy are the daughters of Canadian country music duo, 'The Stellas.'

How will Nashville Season 3 handle Hayden Panettiere's pregnancy?

On Wednesday (May 28), reports started swirling that Hayden Panettiere and fiance Wladimir Klitschko are expecting their first child together. If the 24-year-old actress is pregnant, she'll definitely be showing quite a baby bump when "Nashville" returns for Season 3. So how will the ABC southern drama handle the star's growing bump? Here are a couple ways:

Juliette Barnes -- mother-to-be? - At the end of Season 2, Juliette had just torpedoed her relationship with Avery because she cheated on him with skeazy Jeff Fordham. Obviously, the easiest way to handle Panettiere's real-life pregnancy would be to have her onscreen counterpart pregnant as well. Since this is essentially a soap, the juiciest way to have Juliette get pregnant would be to have the paternity in question. Is Jeff the father? Is Avery the father? Should she keep the baby? What happens to her already unstable career when this news gets out? Juliette just can't catch a break.

Juliette Barnes -- bride-to-be? - If "Nashville" does write in Juliette's pregnancy, there could be a happier version too. What if Avery takes Juliette back and they get engaged and have a child together in rapid speed? Or at a slower pace, but the show has a time jump? Juliette might actually get her happy ending after all.

Juliette Barnes -- shotgun bride? - There's a less perfect ending for her and Avery, too. What if Juliette finds out she's pregnant -- and it's definitely Avery's -- so he gets back together with her out of obligation to raise their kid together? Their relationship would be strained and full of doubt, and that always makes for good drama.

Juliette Barnes -- hiding behind furniture? - Since everyone knows Juliette is in no position personally or professionally to have a baby -- nor has she even hinted that that's what she wants in her life right now -- Juliette won't be pregnant. Although ill-advised and quite laughable, "Nashville" could follow in the same vein as "Scandal" and "Hart of Dixie" and hide its pregnant star behind strategically placed furniture and lamps, creative camera angles and looser and looser fashion. But given that Juliette is a sucker for anything tight and revealing (not to mention her own birthday suit) that could be difficult to pull off.

Juliette Barnes -- MIA? - Or "Nashville" could pull a different kind of strategy that "Hart of Dixie" employed with Jaime King: Have Juliette Barnes take an extended vacation somewhere until her "baby bump" is no longer a problem. Maybe Juliette heads off to take a nice relaxing vacation somewhere until she can make a comeback in the country music industry? Maybe she heads to rehab after her breakup with Avery sends her straight to the bottle? Maybe she's off on an international tour since she decided to go forward with a career in pop music just like Taylor Swift? Of course, that would mean less Juliette on "Nashville," and that would be awful.

However "Nashville" decides to handle Panettiere's pregnancy onscreen, it will no doubt offer up an endless supply of drama when Season 3 returns this fall on ABC.

Report: Hayden Panettiere Is Pregnant

The Nashville star, 24, has been engaged to Russian boxer Wladimir Klitschko, 38, for more than a year. In October, the actress finally confirmed the impending nuptials on Live! With Kelly and Michael, saying, "I mean, I think [the ring] speaks for itself."

The pair met in 2009, but split in 2011. They then rekindled their romance in 2013.

Speaking about future baby plans, Panettiere told Glamour last year, "I've lived a very big life, and I don't feel my age, and I feel like I was born to be a mother. Sometimes people speak about [having kids] like, 'Your life ends—you're never going to be able to do anything again!' And I'm like, 'What are you talking about?' Motherhood is the most beautiful, exciting thing, and there's nothing that I feel like I can't accomplish while having children in my life. I would sacrifice having more years of being wherever I want whenever I want for years with my kids."

A rep for Panettiere could not confirm the report.

Full 2013-2014 TV Season Series Rankings

Sunday Night Football mopped up this season — the franchise not only finished No. 1 for the season, in 2+ and the demo, but also among adults 18-34 and 25-54 — which included season wins not only with men 18-49, 18-34 and 25-54 but also with women 18-34 and 18-49. NBC also notes that 12 SNF games averaged at least 20 million viewers, tying the network’s Sochi Winter Olympics for most primetime telecasts with an average of 20 million viewers tuned in (not including pre-/post-shows).

As usual, the TV Season Rankers Lists are full of inequities. ABC’s Resurrection, for instance, makes the Demo Top 10 (and barely misses the Total Viewer Top 10 at No. 11), in part because it ran zero repeats in its time slot; other freshman dramas saw their season averages tugged downward by encore-episode ratings in their slots. I know — cry me a river. Yes, we did not include pre- and post-game shows — and yes, we went with actuals in the demo this year, eliminating all those pesky three- and four-way ties. And yes, the lists are a bit beauty-pageant, given that a series’ success tends not to be based on whether it finished the season as the country’s 33rd-most-watched series, but whether it improved the network’s ratings performance in its time slot, how much it costs to make, who owns it, ancillary market potential, etc.

Even so, we love our lists. Check them out: here.

Playgirl wants 'Game of Thrones' star

After Michiel Huisman, who plays the war- and women-obsessed warrior, dropped trou on Sunday’s episode of “Game of Thrones,” the nudie mag says he’s in high demand, TMZ reports.

While Huisman gave fans an eyeful when he bared his backside — sending social media into a tailspin — Playgirl publisher Vincent Stevens says his magazine is the perfect place to show it all off.

Stevens says he emailed the 32-year-old actor (who stars alongside Blake Lively in the upcoming film “The Age of Adaline”) to urge him to “correct the oversight” and pose completely naked.

ABC's 'Nashville' Staying Put In Music City With $8M Incentives Package

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, May 14, 2014

"The Middle" and the series finale of "Suburgatory" also ticked up for ABC, and "Survivor: Cagayan" rose for CBS. The "Arrow" season finale and "The 100" were steady for The CW.

CBS led the night overall with 9.9 million viewers and a 6.2 rating/10 share in households. FOX (8.8 million, 5.4/9) came in second. ABC (5.8 million, 3.7/6) beat out NBC (5.1 million, 3.4/6) for third place. The CW came in with 2.05 million viewers and a 1.4/2.

In the adults 18-49 demographic, CBS' 2.2 rating narrowly beat FOX's 2.1 for the top spot. ABC took third with a 1.7, followed by NBC, 1.4, and The CW, 0.7.

Wednesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.
CBS: "Survivor: Cagayan" (9.9 million viewers, 5.9/10 households)
FOX: "American Idol" (8.6 million, 5.3/9)
ABC: "The Middle" (6.85 million, 4.1/7)/"Suburgatory" series finale (5 million, 3.1/5)
NBC: "Revolution" (4 million, 2.6/4)
The CW: "Arrow" season finale (2.3 million, 1.6/3)
18-49 leader: "Survivor: Cagayan" (2.5)

9 p.m.
CBS: "Criminal Minds" season finale (12 million, 7.5/12)
FOX: "American Idol" (8.9 million, 3.6/6)
ABC: "Modern Family" (8.8 million, 5.3/9)/"Mixology" (3.9 million, 2.5/4)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" (5.3 million, 3.6/6)
The CW: "The 100" (1.8 million, 1.2/2)
18-49 leader: "Modern Family" (3.1)

10 p.m.
CBS: "CSI" rerun (8 million, 5.3/9)
NBC: "Chicago PD" (6.1 million, 4.1/7)
ABC: "Nashville" season finale (5 million, 3.5/6)
18-49 leader: "Chicago PD" (1.6)

Season 2 finale recap: Nothing will be the same after 'On the Other Hand'

Pretty much every single character on the ABC southern drama had to deal with some life-changing news, from Rayna to Juliette to Will to Deacon to Luke to Teddy to Avery to Gunnar to Scarlett ... seriously, nothing will be the same when Season 3 airs this fall.

Rayna, Deacon and Luke

After publicly proposing to Rayna onstage at her album launch concert -- pretty much guaranteeing that she'd accept, because you can't reject someone in front of millions of people, sneaky! -- Luke and Rayna were pretty comfortably planning on spending the rest of their lives together. But seeing Luke propose to Rayna awakened something in Deacon, inspiring him to go over to Rayna's house later that night.

After bonding with Maddie and coming a long way in his sobriety, Deacon knows he's matured and is finally the man Rayna always wanted him to be. He can love her the way she needs. He knows that they've tried before and failed, but he's changed now. He professes his love to her and tells her it's always supposed to have been them together, and it can be. He gives her her ring back years later and leaves before she can give him an answer, but based on the way she was kissing him back when he kissed her, things aren't looking too good for Luke in Season 3.

Juliette, Avery and Jeff Fordham

Juliette was struggling with Jeff's blackmail all episode long, until her guilt got the better of her and she got way too drunk at Deacon's charity event when Avery sings a song he wrote for her. Rayna notices the drunk Juliette, and after refusing to nullify Juliette's contract with Highway 65, she heads over to her home to see what's going on. Juliette drunkenly confesses her hookup with Jeff, and then pukes, and Rayna even holds her hair back! Major props to Hayden Panettiere for her authentic portrayal a crying, puking, drunk girl in this scene. Just perfect.

When Juliette feels a little better, Rayna tells her to confess the hookup to Avery before he hears it from someone else, but Gunnar and Zoey beat her to the punch. Avery comes over to see a crying Juliette and knows it's true. She says it was a mistake and meant nothing, and he wonders if "it" ever means anything to her. She says it does with him, but he can't believe that. He tells her she doesn't know what it truly means to love someone else, and he'll "have to learn to get over" how much he loves her. She begs him not to leave her alone, but this looks like the end of Avery and Juliette.

The silver lining of Avery finally learning the truth means that Rayna and Juliette are free to give Jeff Fordham the middle finger. Rayna has Juliette's back (they've come a long way since Season 1, haven't they?) and they even snake a big promotional deal out from under him at the last minute, ensuring that Highway 65 beats out Will's album and Edgehill Records for the No. 1 spot on the charts.

Scarlett, Gunnar and Zoey

At the beginning of the finale, Scarlett decides to go back to school at Ol' Miss and leave Nashville behind for good. She says all her goodbyes, but doesn't go to see Gunnar until after he asks Zoey to give Scarlett the song he wrote for her. She finally goes to see him for the first time since their fight about Zoey, and he apologizes for dragging her onstage at the Bluebird in the first place way back in Season 1, kicking off her failed music career. It's clear that he's been blaming himself for her breakdown this whole time, but she tells him her breakdown wasn't his fault. He just believed in her, and "even loved" her "for a little while."

Scarlett thanks Gunnar for the song he wrote for her, admitting it's the only thing she can listen to these days, so he sings it for her, and they end up duetting one last time. It's beautiful, incredibly emotional and has a major effect on both of them -- Gunnar tells Scarlett not to go, and it's hard not to assume that he has a personal reason for wanting her to stay. Since Zoey's about to leave on tour with Juliette, is there a chance at reconciliation for these two?

Gunnar, Will and Layla

The pressure from living a lie about his sexual orientation and the cameras always on him for his reality show with Layla finally took their toll on Will. After Will finds out Rayna's album stole the promotion that was going to cement his album as No. 1, he broke down crying in front of Gunnar, saying that everything in his life means nothing now.

Gunnar tells Will that he's been living a lie and if he can only be himself around Gunnar, then that's wrong. Inspired by his BFF, he finally comes out to a shell-shocked and horrified Layla! He does it in his bedroom where there aren't supposed to be any cameras, but what Will doesn't know is that the producers snuck in hidden cameras and catch his whole tear-filled confession on tape. Uh oh. Something tells us that the emotional coming out of a closeted country star to his new wife will make for some good reality TV, and his "secret" confession won't stay a secret for long.

Like we said, literally nothing will be the same after "On the Other Hand," and honestly, the emotional cliffhangers in the Season 2 finale were way more effective than the car crash in Season 1. "Nashville" Season 3 is going to look a lot different when it returns in the fall.

'Nashville' creator compares 'emotional' Season 2 finale to Season 1 finale's car crash

"It's an altogether different kind of feeling," creator and executive producer Callie Khouri tells Zap2it about the Season 2 finale. "All of the cliffhangers this season will be purely emotional. There won't be any asteroids or sudden deaths or anything like that."

Khouri reveals that the decision to make the Season 2 finale more emotional than eventful like the Season 1 finale came from the fan reaction to Rayna and Deacon's car crash. "We knew that this was something we had to do to make for how ... unexpected the Season 1 finale was," Khouri says carefully. "Last season, we literally threw all the cards in the air. This season we're kind of doing the same thing, but in a much -- well, I don't want to say 'quieter' way -- more emotionally grounded way."

But Khouri still stands by and defends the way they show ended Season 1. "Last season we knew that we were leading up to Deacon finding out about Maddie, and we knew what his reaction was going to be, and we knew we were going to knock him off the wagon," Khouri says. "So when we were talking about the story, it became more and more clear that we really needed to demonstrate to everyone the kind of emotional peril that Rayna was living with back in the day. That was who he was.

"So we wanted people to really see and understand why they didn't get together in the first place and that car accident was the perfect demonstration of exactly why they didn't end up together. Everyone was finally able to see the Deacon she had to deal with all the time all those years ago and it explained why she made the decision that she did, to be with the guy who could really be a father."

Deacon has come a long way since then, and his growth and maturity gives Rayna "a completely different set of challenges" in this season's finale, Khouri says. "I think fans are really going to enjoy it. We're excited about it."

Season 2 finale spoilers: 'On the Other Hand' shakes up everyone's lives

Airing on Wednesday (May 14), the Season 2 finale, "On the Other Hand," is less of a huge event cliffhanger like the car crash and more of an emotional cliffhanger for everyone on the ABC drama. Make sure to check out Zap2it's interview with creator Callie Khouri posting later today about why the writers decided to go with an emotional finale over a physical one.

But since we know that you're dying to see the finale, here's a couple spoilers to hold you over until "On the Other Hand" airs:

- Juliette's internal struggles over Jeff Fordham blackmailing her to leave Highway 65 for Edgehill become unbearable thanks to Avery's unfortunate use of the term "getting into bed with Jeff Fordham." Of course, Avery has no idea that Juliette literally did exactly that, so it's even more hilarious/painful.

- Maddie's getting even closer with Deacon and even further away from Teddy, and that hasn't gone unnoticed by everyone in their complicated family.

- In the race to release both Rayna's album and Will's album, there are a lot of business deals and political jockeying going on in the finale. We won't spoil who ends up winning between Edgehill and Highway 65, but it does go back and forth for pretty much the whole episode. Don't count either side out until the very end.

- The outcome of Edgehill vs. Highway 65 has many unintended consequences that change the relationships between Rayna and Juliette, Will and Gunnar, Will and Layla and Juliette and Avery forever.

- Scarlett makes a decision about her future in Nashville at the very beginning of the finale, but that might change thanks to a surprising encounter and one of the most emotional and beautiful performances of the series that takes place at the end of the finale.

- Before Rayna's big performance, there's a nice callback to the beginning of the season and how far Rayna has come since her coma. It's beautiful and understated and perfect.

- Literally everyone's lives are shaken up in one way or another by the time the finale ends, so much so that you're probably going to scream at your TV. Take a beat and thank the TV gods (and ABC) for renewing "Nashville" for Season 3, because if it truly ended after this finale that would have been the worst.

Rayna-Deacon-Luke Love Triangle "Will Come to a Head" in Season Finale

After Luke Wheeler (Will Chase) confessed his love for Rayna (Connie Britton) in last week's episode — and now that he's set to (mild spoiler alert) make an even bolder statement in the finale — will she push her feelings for Deacon (Charles Esten) aside for good?

"The whole Deacon and Rayna thing came from the mind and heart of [creator] Callie Khouri, and Callie Khouri wrote and directed our final episode," Esten tells TVGuide.com. "So, that should tell you that Callie will not leave that stone unturned. That is one of the things she loves to explore the most, is Deacon and Rayna. She would not leave you without some amazing storyline there."

But it remains to be seen whether Deacon-Rayna 'shippers will be satisfied with the direction the storyline takes. Luke is certainly not one to go down without a fight. And, according to Chase, while Luke knows Deacon will always occupy a special place in Rayna's heart, he's ready and willing to be a partner to Rayna in all the ways her former flame has historically fallen short.

"All bets are off now," Chase says of the final episode. "Deacon could have been that, a man who stands up for his family and all that stuff, and not been a drunk. And I think the sad part for Rayna is that she wished Deacon was. They could have had a life. ... Of course, the great thing is that Deacon is now finally taking complete control — which is why all this is going to come to a head, because she's going to see him for that, and go, 'Oh, no.' I've got this great thing, I've got this great thing."

So, who will she choose? Chase, naturally, is on Team Luke. "The thing that I like about Luke, and I think Rayna likes about Luke, is he's got his kids. He had a life with someone else. He's a grown-up," Chase notes. "Besides being a superstar, he is this normal guy who rides a tractor and owns a ranch and does all these things. He's kind of stable ... whereas Deacon is volatile. We don't know what he's going to be."

For his part, Esten describes Season 2 as "the remaking, the redemption of Deacon," thanks in large part to his new role as a father to Rayna's daughter Maddie (Lennon Stella). Regardless of how things turn out romantically for him and Rayna, it's clear that Deacon won't be going anywhere. And with the recent news that Nashville was renewed for a third season at ABC, Esten says he's looking forward to exploring a different father-daughter dynamic when the show returns.

"It's fine to be the cool dad for awhile, but what happens when we come through that and you're actually parenting?" Esten says. "If you're doing a good job, you're not just the cool dad. You've got to be the uncool dad sometimes. ... There's a whole lot of parents that just love being loved and like being liked. And it's the great ones that sort of know when to cross the line over into not being liked a little bit."

Who do you think Rayna should end up with — Luke, Deacon or neither one?

Charles Esten, Chris Carmack & Will Chase Tease 'Messy' Season 2 Finale Cliffhanger

But those fans will have to cowboy up, because the country-music saga will wrap its second chapter with a finale that leaves at least one emotional plot line without resolution. (And you thought the car accident destroyed you…)

“I was joking with Callie [Khouri], our creator, when we were shooting the finale,” Chris Carmack tells TVLine, “that our audience should probably just climb into a bathtub to watch it, because it’s going to be a very wet episode.”

The copious tears might start when Carmack’s sexually conflicted Will succumbs to the pressure in both his sham marriage and the reality show chronicling his life with Layla.

“The walls are closing in on Will. It’s a lot to handle,” Carmack says. “It’s going to expose how much he’s lying to himself, because the only reason he can keep up this lie is because he has these moments where he can explode, and then come back [to normal]. What you realize when the cameras are on you is, if you explode, that’s what they’re going to show.”

Of course, none of this escapes the new Mrs. Lexington’s notice, either. As the season’s final hour closes, “I would say the honeymoon is over,” he adds.

At least the Deacon-Rayna relationship seems to be on better footing coming out of last week’s episode, which found the two former lovers jamming on stage with their daughter and Daphne. Though the series this year has focused on Deacon and Maddie figuring out how to be father and daughter, Charles Esten says it’s all just an extension of the relationship fans clamor to see reignited.

“The interesting thing about it is that it doesn’t take away from Rayna; it connects him more deeply to Rayna than ever,” the actor explains. “We are [Maddie's] parents. There’s been a bond from the word go between Deacon and Rayna, and now there’s a physical manifestation of that bond, this beautiful, talented girl.”

The episode also features two concerts: a benefit Deacon throws for an organization that helped him during recovery and a Highway 65 launch for Rayna’s new album. At the latter, boyfriend Luke asks the First Lady of Country Music a very public question. (If you’ve seen the promo, you know what we’re getting at.)

Will Chase is aware that his good ol’ boy character isn’t beloved by Rayna-Deacon ‘shippers, but he maintains that situations like the one the redhead finds herself in at the end of the hour are “the most fun to watch… [People] want things to be messy, because things are messy,” he tells TVLine, grinning. “You want that kind of messiness in there.”

ABC's Fall 2014 Schedule: Thursday Gets Rearranged, S.H.I.E.L.D. on the Move

The network will move Grey's Anatomy and Scandal to 8/7c and 9/8c, respectively, to make room for Shonda Rhimes' new series How to Get Away with Murder in Scandal's current 10/9c timeslot.

Upfronts: Get all the latest news from ABC

Another shift in scheduling: Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is getting bumped back an hour, to 9/8c on Tuesdays. It will follow new comedies Selfie andManhattan Love Story.

New comedy Black-ish will air Wednesdays at 9:30/8:30c, with a lead-in fromModern Family. The Wednesday night comedy block will also welcome The Goldbergs at 8:30/7:30c

ABC will use new series Marvel's Agent Carter and Galavant to bridge the winter hiatuses of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Once Upon a Time, respectively. Other new series American Crime, Fresh Off the Boat, Secrets and Lies and The Whispers will be held until midseason.

Check out ABC's full fall schedule below. What do you think of the changes?

MONDAY
8/7c: Dancing with the Stars
10/9c: Castle

TUESDAY
8/7c: Selfie (NEW)
8:30/7:30c: Manhattan Love Story (NEW)
9/8c: Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
10/9c: Forever (NEW)

WEDNESDAY
8/7c: The Middle
8:30/7:30c: The Goldbergs
9/8c: Modern Family
9:30/8:30c: Black-ish (NEW)
10/9c: Nashville

THURSDAY
8/7c: Grey's Anatomy
9/8c: Scandal
10/9c: How to Get Away with Murder (NEW)

FRIDAY
8/7c: Last Man Standing
8:30/7:30c: Cristela (NEW)
9/8c: Shark Tank
10/9c: 20/20

SATURDAY
8/7c: Saturday Night Football

SUNDAY
7/6c: America's Funniest Home Videos
8/7c: Once Upon a Time
9/8c: Resurrection
10/9c: Revenge

'Nashville' gets Season 3 renewal from ABC

"Congratz and welcome back for Season 3 to @Nashville_ABC @conniebritton @CharlesEsten @CallieKhouri, the whole Nashville team and loyal fans," co-president of the Disney ABC Television Group Ben Sherwood revealed on Twitter.

"Nashville" was one of many shows not included in the network's original renewal announcement, which worried fans. There are still several other ABC shows in limbo, including "Black Box."

Part of the holdup reportedly had to do with the length of Season 3 -- reports say it will be 22 episodes -- and budget issues related to tax credits the show gets by filming in Tennessee. That's resolved now, and the show will be back in 2014-15.

'Nashville' Renewal Focuses On Tax Credit Issues

PREVIOUS 1:45 PM: After the slew of renewals and cancellations last night and this morning, the focus has turned to sophomore drama Nashville, which has remained in limbo. Nashville had been fully expected to get a third season renewal. I hear that indeed is the intention, though the size of the pickup is the subject of a debate. I hear ABC has offered a 13-episode order for the show, which is co-produced by Lionsgate TV and ABC Studios. Nashville is a very expensive show, so I hear the 13-episode pickup makes its production infeasible for Lionsgate. Talks continue.

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Overall TV usage was off, leading to series lows in adults 18-49 for "The Middle" and "Suburgatory" on ABC, "American Idol" on FOX (for a Wednesday show) and "Revolution" on NBC. The just-renewed "Law & Order: SVU" tied its series low, as did "Arrow" on The CW.

CBS drew 10.1 million viewers and a 6.5 rating/11 share in households for the night. FOX (7.8 million, 4.9/8) came in second. ABC (5.3 million, 3.5/6) edged NBC (4.8 million, 3.3/6) for third place. The CW trailed with just under 2 million viewers and a 1.3/2.

The adults 18-49 win also went to CBS, which scored a 2.2 rating in the demographic. FOX took second with a 1.7, followed by ABC at 1.5. NBC scored a 1.3 and The CW a 0.7.

The gory hour-by-hour details for Wednesday:

8 p.m.
CBS: "Survivor: Cagayan" (9.8 million viewers, 6.0/10 households)
FOX: "American Idol" (7.6 million, 4.8/8)
ABC: "The Middle" (6.3 million, 4.1/7)/"Suburgatory" (4.7 million, 3.1/5)
NBC: "Revolution" (3.8 million, 2.7/5)
The CW: "Arrow" (2.25 million, 1.5/3)
18-49 leader: "Survivor: Cagayan" (2.4)

9 p.m.
CBS: "Criminal Minds" (10.4 million, 6.8/11)
FOX: "American Idol" (8.05 million, 5.0/8)
ABC: "Modern Family" (8.1 million, 5.2/8)/"Mixology" (3.7 million, 2.5/4)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" (5.3 million, 3.6/6)
The CW: "The 100" (1.7 million, 1.2/2)
18-49 leader: "Modern Family" (2.8)

10 p.m.
CBS: "CSI" season finale (9.9 million, 6.6/11)
NBC: "Chicago PD" (5.4 million, 3.6/6)
ABC: "Nashville" (4.5 million, 3.1/5)
18-49 leader: "CSI" (1.9)

Callie Khouri teases Michelle Obama and Kellie Pickler's guest appearances

Zap2it could barely wait for the next new episode, "All Or Nothing With Me," airing on Wednesday (May 7), so we got "Nashville" creator Callie Khouri on the line to field all our questions and tease what's coming next. Check out our full Q&A with Khouri below.

Zap2it: Where to start, where to start. Last week's episode was, no pun intended, crazy!

Callie Khouri: Yes, this last one was a fun one. All the writers were watching together while live tweeting, and we knew what was coming, and were all just like, "Oooh, I can't wait to see this blow up!" People were going crazy.

After Scarlett's big breakdown, and everyone was blaming each other for being at fault, I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised to see Scarlett stand up and take responsibility for her own actions.

Leaving her in a mental hospital is not really something we wanted to do anyway. And we researched all this stuff quite a bit. We had her on an unnamed ADD drug, and on top of the alcohol, that's something that happens, unfortunately. All of sudden, you can start hearing voices and all kinds of crazy stuff.

So now that Scarlett is walking away from a career as a country music star, what's next for her?

Scarlett is throwing all of her cards in the air. She's not sure what she wants to do now, but she's sure of what she doesn't want to do. She's going to be on this journey trying to figure out if she goes back to being who she was, does she try to undo all that she's done, who is she now that she's had this experience? We're going to watch her navigate her way to a place where she can feel like herself again. And we're not really sure what that means to her. We were excited to show this journey with Scarlett, but the part we knew everybody would be freaking out about was the end with Juliette and Jeff's scene.

Yeah no kidding! I knew Juliette was going to make some kind of bad life choice, since she was drunk and upset and she's Juliette. But Jeff Fordham?!? Why would she hook up with him, of all people?

As we come up towards the end, we've really gone back and looked at where these people started off all the way back in the pilot. If you could even possibly recall the pilot now, which I can barely even recall it, there's a scene where Juliette gets a phone call from her mother and is very upset, and she drags her producer into a closet with her. You can see that it's a pure anxiety-driven response. It's just something that she's not doing because it's right, it's her reflex, for better or worse. So that's where this Jeff thing comes into play, it's harkening back to the pilot.

Obviously this is going to bite her in the butt, since people never get away with cheating on TV shows. Plus Gunnar spotted her and Jeff walking out of the room adjusting their clothes. What can you tease or reveal about how this is going to affect her relationship with Avery going forward?

As you would expect it's something that is definitely going to factor in to the last few episodes. She's finally in a relationship with somebody that she actually really, really cares about and it's one that was born out of a friendship. This relationship with Avery has different stakes for her than any other relationship she's ever had. This is someone that's been changing her slowly. And again, if you can remember back to the pilot, she bumps into Avery in the hallway at the Grand Ole Opry when he's with Scarlett, and she says, "We oughtta try that again sometime, only slower," getting them together was a real slow burn. We knew that we were going there from the pilot. And now it's become a relationship our fans are really invested in. Obviously, she's just put that in peril.

So what can you tell me about this week's episode, including a few very big guest stars?

This week's episode is very emotional. We'll start to really understand what Rayna and Luke's feelings are for each other, there's a big Maddie story line, and then we have this big fundraiser that takes place at an army base. The episode is very family-focused. Plus, we have Kellie Pickler doing a song, which we are very excited about, and the First Lady makes an appearance.

How did the First Lady get involved with the show?

That was thrilling to get to do. We reached out to them. And they're so committed to the cause of taking care of veterans and their families that they really jumped at this chance to send a message on primetime television. They are so utterly invested and sincere in this issue that it was kind of a no-brainer that they would be a really good fit. So we went to the White House and Michelle Obama made her address. She's an absolutely lovely and incredible woman and the whole experience was so wonderful. It's such an amazing moment, being able to bring this issue to the forefront of our show since country music has always had a very close connection with the military.

Something that's going to be less amazing is Will and Layla's new reality show. Obviously, having cameras following him around is just a terrible idea. How risky is it for him? Is this going to speed up his inevitable coming-out moment?

Yes, it is risky. But he is extremely committed to maintaining this persona, this good-ol'-boy, bro personality. He is going to keep that going at all costs. But it's certainly not without its challenges. That, you're just going to have to watch and see.

Hayden Panettiere Elegantly Trips and Falls After the Met Gala-See the Pics!

And the Dennis Blasso dress she wore to the big shindig definitely got people's attention. In more ways than one!

Yes, the gown looked simply elegant on the Nashville star, but its length also proved to be a bit of a challenge at one point.

As she made her way out of the event, the 23-year-old actress wound up slightly stumbling while walking down the stairs.

But without missing a beat, the gal quickly got back up, smiled that infectious grin of hers and held up the dress a bit so as to avoid a repeat performance.

Panettiere's attendance at the Met Gala came just hours after it was reported that she has postponed her wedding to Urkrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko due to the current conflict in Ukraine.

"Everything that's happening in Ukraine definitely put a hold on things. But we have time," Panettiere told Parade magazine.

Panettiere announced her engagement to Klitschko in Oct. 2013.

Hayden Panettiere: My Wedding Plans Are on Hold Because of Political Unrest in Ukraine

Due to conflict in Ukraine, Hayden Panettiere and her fiancé, Ukranian boxer Wladimir Klitschko, have decided to wait on picking out tuxedos and floral arrangements.

"Everything that's happening in Ukraine definitely put a hold on things. But we have time," the actress, 24, tells Parade magazine.

Panettiere and her husband-to-be are closely tied to the events in Ukraine – Klitschko's brother Vitali sits on the Ukrainian Parliament and is one of the leaders of the democratic reform movement. Panettiere even traveled to Ukraine last December to speak to protesters.

"It’s a beautiful country with beautiful people and a culture that I love," the Nashville star has said.

Lupita Nyong'o, Sofia Vergara and More Stars Set to Attend the 2014 White House Correspondents' Dinner

So which of your favorite Hollywood stars are expected to attend Saturday's bash besides President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and this year's host Joel McHale?

12 Years a Slave director Steve McQueen and star Lupita Nyong'o will be sitting at Time's table, along with director Alfonso Cuaron, Armie Hammer, Elizabeth Chambers and Dallas star Patrick Duffy.

New mom Kerry Washington won't be in attendance this year, but her Scandal costars Tony Goldwyn, Bellamy Young and Darby Stanchfield will be enjoying the night at ABC's table. Seated with them will also be Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet, Sofía Vergara and Hayden Panetierre.

NBC will be hosting Today's Matt Lauer, Al Roker, Savannah Guthrie and Natalie Morales. They will be joined by other NBC News organization members and celebs like Will.i.am, Kevin Hart and Carson Daly.

Kristen Bell, Dax Shepard and Anna Kendrick will enjoy the dinner at Arianna Huffington's table while Olivia Munn, Madeline Stowe, Darren Criss and Jack O'Connell with be with Thompson Reuters.

Meanwhile, Rosario Dawson, Freida Pinto, Jessica Simpson, Jeff Goldblum, Josh Gad and Orange Is the New Black stars Taylor Schilling and Uzo Aduba will be rubbing elbows at the USA Today table.

Other stars who will be there include Chace Crawford, Ryan Kwanten, Robin Wright, Gloria Estefan, Brad Paisley, Julianna Margulies and Spike Jonze.

R.J. Cutler Inks Deal With CBS TV Studios

Cutler most recently had a first-look deal at Lionsgate TV, where he executive produces the studio’s sophomore ABC drama Nashville (whose pilot he also directed). Cutler will continue as EP on the series if it is renewed for a third season, as expected. The Oscar-nominated filmmaker (The War Room) and Emmy-winning television producer (American High) also has a first-look deal at Showtime for documentaries. He directed the The World According To Dick Cheney for the premium cable network. Cutler, repped by CAA, Brillstein Entertainment and HJTHN, is currently in post-production on his feature film directorial debut If I Stay starring Chloe Grace Moretz, Jamie Blackley and Mireille Enos for Dinovi pictures, MGM and Warner Bros. Written by Shauna Cross based on the book by Gayle Forman, the film will be released on August 22.

Connie Britton Joins 'American Ultra'

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Despite that, it was still the No. 1 show in the demographic Wednesday, as "Criminal Minds" and "American Idol" were also down and "Survivor: Cagayan" was flat. On the bright side, "Chicago PD" was up for NBC (pending updates for a local pre-emption). "CSI" also improved a little week to week.

CBS averaged 9.9 million viewers and a 6.4 rating/10 share in households for the night, topping the 8.65 million and 5.2/8 for FOX. NBC (6 million, 4.0/6) took third, pending updates. ABC (5.5 million, 3.6/6) came in fourth. The CW was fifth with 2.1 million viewers and a 1.4/2.

The 18-49 title also went to CBS, which scored a 2.1 rating in the demographic. FOX grabbed second with a 1.8, followed closely by NBC, 1.7, and ABC, 1.6. The CW posted a 0.7.

Wednesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.
CBS: "Survivor: Cagayan" (9.6 million viewers, 5.9/10 households)
FOX: "American Idol" (8.3 million, 5.1/8)
ABC: "The Middle" (7.1 million, 4.4/8)/"Suburgatory" (5.1 million, 3.3/5)
NBC: "Revolution" (4.7 million, 3.1/5)
The CW: "Arrow" (2.25 million, 1.5/2)
18-49 leader: "Survivor: Cagayan" (2.2)

9 p.m.
CBS: "Criminal Minds" (10.25 million, 6.6/10)
FOX: "American Idol" (9 million, 5.4/8)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" (6.1 million, 4.1/6)
ABC: "Modern Family" (8.3 million, 5.0/8)/"Mixology" (3.65 million, 2.4/4)
The CW: "The 100" (1.9 million, 1.2/2)
18-49 leader: "Modern Family" (2.8)

10 p.m.
CBS: "CSI" (9.95 million, 6.6/11)
NBC: "Chicago PD" (7.2 million, 4.7/8)
ABC: "Nashville" (4.5 million, 3.1/5)
18-49 leader: "Chicago PD" (1.9).

Season 2, episode 20 recap: Everyone plays the blame game in 'Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad'

Avery immediately ran onstage to help his ex out, shouting to kill the spotlight and try and figure out what was wrong. The tour doctor gave Scarlett a sedative and Juliette flew her on her private jet back to Nashville to get medical help. No one knew what was going on, but everyone felt the need to blame everyone else. No one was taking responsibility for her condition, even though everyone, including Scarlett herself, had a part to play in her downfall.

Deacon blames Rayna because he thought that Rayna pressured Scarlett into continuing with the tour when she clearly couldn't handle the stress. Rayna blames Juliette, since it was Juliette's tour and because of who Juliette is (that one seemed a tad bit unfair, but Juliette did make Scarlett go onstage when she asked not to that night, so ... ). Avery also blames Juliette for pushing Scarlett onstage when she didn't want to. Scarlett's mom Beverly blames their family history (both Beverly and Beverly's mother had psychotic breaks in the past), Rayna for only looking out for her own label and not Scarlett's well-being, and Deacon for being a "mean old drunk" like their father was. And even Scarlett blames everyone else at first, from her mother for being an abusive mother and Juliette for forcing her onstage, even though her drinking and prescription pill abuse were major factors.

Scarlett was clearly in denial about the cause of her breakdown, and even the severity of it, too. She think she only had "a slight hiccup onstage," but she's forced to face the music when she watches a video of her breakdown. When Rayna comes back to visit Scarlett in the hospital once she gets the all-clear from the doctors that her breakdown wasn't due to a drug addiction, Rayna asks her for an honest answer: Does Scarlett really want this life? And she finally tells the truth. She doesn't. She can't handle it. Rayna understands and releases her from her contract, meaning Highway 65 is now going to live or die on her album alone. That's a lot of pressure, but at least Rayna is equipped to handle it.

Scarlett also finally tells her mother the truth, that it wasn't their family history that put her in the hospital. It was Scarlett's own bad choices that led her there, and she's finally going to take responsibility for them, unlike Beverly, who never has. It's good to see Scarlett stand up for herself, plus she told Beverly not to move to Nashville and to go back home. She needs distance from the "narcissistic, manic mess" that is Bevlery (those were Deacon's words, not Scarlett's).

When faced with a tough situation, Scarlett finally made the right choice. But Juliette did not. After being blamed by both Rayna and Avery for Scarlett's breakdown, and seeing Scarlett cling to Avery and hearing Avery tell Scarlett that she has "a permanent piece" of his heart, she decides to get drunk and go out without Avery. Anger plus booze never leads to anywhere good, and this was no exception. She ends up hooking up with Jeff Fordham, of all people! Ewwww. He was also feeling down after Gunnar turned down a contract with Edgehill and he realized he was in trouble professionally, so he decided to get drunk and make bad decisions too, clearly. At the party after they hook up, they leave the room adjusting their clothes (telltale sign), and Gunnar sees the whole thing. Busted.

At least Jeff did one thing right earlier. When Layla wants her and Will to star in their own reality show, Jeff tries to convince Will that's a bad idea seeing as how they both know Will is secretly gay. However, Jeff doesn't want to say that out loud (for "plausible deniability") and Will is still in major denial, so he agrees to do the show out of spite. That's a terrible idea, and it will clearly lead to Will's secret getting exposed, but hey, at least Jeff tried to stop it.

What's Scarlett going to do now that she's no longer going to be a star? Will Gunnar rat out Juliette to Avery or will she come clean on her own? Will Rayna's album be enough to support her label? With only three episodes left of Season 2, let's hope these questions get answered soon!

Eric Close Is A Busy Man

But before we get to any of that, I have to tell you what Close just revealed to me about Bradley Cooper. Close appears opposite the Oscar-nominated actor in American Sniper, the upcoming Clint Eastwood-directed real-life drama about the late Navy SEAL Chris Kyle (Cooper), who had more than 150 confirmed kills over his decade-long career as a sniper.

"He put on like 40 pounds," said Close, who plays a Defense Intelligence Agency agent in the film. "He's really been working hard. He looks great. He's really taken on this character…He really takes this story personally and wants to do an honorable job for Chris' memory and for his family."

And speaking of doing great work, the benefit at the Closes' home is actually the second time they've helped The Africa Foundation.

In 2009, they raised $55,000 to build a preschool in Welvierdiend, South Africa. This time, they hope to fund similar work in Zululand with a Nashville-style acoustic concert in their own backyard. Sam Palladio, who plays Gunnar Scott on Nashville, is one of the performers.

"We have two kids of our own and fortunately because of where they were born and their family, they have a lot of opportunities," Close said. "But there are a lot of children who don't have the opportunities so if you could somehow provide some of just the basic needs, that could make the difference in these kids' lives. You never know when one of those kids could grow up to be a leader in their community. They could end up becoming a leader like a Nelson Mandela."

For more information on how you could help, go to africafoundation.org.

Nashville Boss Callie Khouri: Does Scarlett's 'Really Bad Episode' Spell Disaster for Rayna?

Reason to “Yeehaw!” Number 2: TVLine has the skinny on Wednesday’s all-new installment (ABC, 10/9c), courtesy of creator/executive producer Callie Khouri.

TVLINE | Scarlett seems to be in a very bad place when we pick up with her again, and it’s not like we left her in a very good place to begin with.

She just — through a combination of pressure and whatever it was that Liam was giving her – had a really bad episode in front of a lot of people. It’s something you could probably look up on YouTube and find it with other artists. She, all along, has felt that there’s been this push/pull, wanting to perform and not wanting to perform at the same time. The crowds and the pressure make it more difficult for her.

TVLINE | Photos from the episode make it seem like she’s hospitalized. Does that happen?

They want her checked out so she does a very brief stay while they do all the tests and make sure that nothing is super wrong. The bigger problem that she has is her mother… We’ve heard a little bit about it from Deacon but more is revealed about the family that her mom and Deacon grew up in and how that affected her.

TVLINE | She had been drinking and taking some pills before her big breakdown on stage. Does she have a revelation that maybe she needs to stay away from that stuff, given her family history?

What she realizes — if she had any tendencies we would’ve seen them before now — so what she’s realizing is that what she did, the way she dealt with the pressure… was very much like her uncle. I don’t think she comes out of it thinking “Oh my god, I’m a drug addict” or anything like that, but she does really look at how she deals with stress and pressure, and works through some issues with her family.

TVLINE | There’s a lot of blame to be thrown around in the aftermath of Scarlett’s breakdown. Rayna is a very nurturing person, and yet Scarlett is one of her new label’s biggest investments. Can you tell me a little bit abut where Rayna’s head is at as this is all happening?

[Rayna] has put in a lot of time and money already with Scarlett, and to have something like this happen, especially at the point where she’s needing everything to go really well… Anything taking away from the focus of [Rayna's new] record and the quality of it would be really detrimental, so she’s obviously acutely tuned into what’s going on with her, because it does affect her. But more than that, she’s known Scarlett since she was a little kid. She doesn’t want anything to happen to her, either.

TVLINE | What kind of challenges are Avery and Juliette going to face as a couple as we head toward the end of the season?

Scarlett is going to lean heavily on the people she can trust, and Avery is still one of those people. It’s really stressful for Juliette to watch him in the same way that it’s stressful for Luke to see the connection [between Deacon and Rayna].

TVLINE | Also in Wednesday’s episode, Layla wants Will to agree to have a reality-show film crew follow them around. I’m assuming he doesn’t think that’s the best idea.

Right. However, like a lot of decisions he makes, he doesn’t often make the right one. I don’t want to give anything away, but he allows himself to entertain that notion very seriously.

Lennon Stella Has a Hannah Montana Moment on Prom Night

High-schooler Lennon Stella stepped away from her prom for a bit on Saturday night, leaving the big dance with her date in tow to join her younger sis Maisy and Nashville's Charles Esten for a few songs at the St. Jude Country Music Marathon & Half Marathon post-race concert.

The show, held at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena, featured performances by several stars of the ABC drama, on which Lennon, 14, and Maisy, 10, star as the daughters of Connie Britton's Rayna James. Esten plays Rayna's sometimes-soulmate – and Lennon's dad – Deacon Claybourne.

Lennon, still wearing her ivory prom dress and a halo of matching flowers in her flowing long hair, kept cute date Wes Theriau close during her performance. Afterward, everyone posed for photos before the teens headed back to their dance.

@lennonandmaisy: I just left prom to go sing at Bridgestone Arena, then went back to prom! So Hanna Montana of me haha. #reallifedisney

Fans of the Canadian-born Stellas Tweeted their appreciation and posted their own photos of the night. "Lennon Stella left her prom to go sing with Charles Esten at Bridgestone on Saturday night and she wore her prom dress the whole time," Tweeted fan Amy Roberts, who also took photos.

Also among Lennon's fans? Esten, who Tweeted out his gratitude as well.

@CharlesEsten: Thank you @lennonandmaisy for joining me for the encore! Lennon left the prom to be there!! #shewentback #gorgeous!

@AmyARoberts: @lennonandmaisy Lennon looked beautiful in her prom dress tonight.

Hot Mess! Hayden Panettiere Tries to Pull Off a Granny Shirt and Figure Skater Tights

First, did she grab that blouse out of granny's resort collection closet? Not only is the pattern way too stuffy for a 20-something, but the fully-bottoned styling is as conservative as it gets.

Then there are those silk mini shorts. We love them as the bottom part of a springy PJ set, but as actual clothing, they're slightly off.

And finally, the tights...

Unless TV's country bad girl plans to work on her triple lutzes after taking in fiancé Wladimir Klitschko's match, those leg covers have got to go! They make the petite star's gams look like they're covered in three inches of shellac! We know she's supporting her tall, dark and handsome beau in Germany, but these tights can't possibly be a European trend. And if they are, we're begging for them to stay within those borders.

Word to the wise Hayden: most ring-side style involves a sexy mini cocktail dress and giant fur stole. You'll need to get the hang of that as the wife of a heavyweight champion.

Jem and the Holograms Cast Pretty Little Liars and Nashville Stars-Get All the Details!

The cast for the live-action movie remake of Jem and the Holograms has just been revealed.

Nashville actress Aubrey Peeples will take on the main character for her first major film role.

Meanwhile, Disney star Stefanie Scott will play Jem's sister Kimber, Pretty Little Liars' Aurora Perrineau was play the Holograms' Shana, and The Fosters' Hayley Kiyoko has joined the ensemble as Aja.

The movie's official Twitter account also posted the first photos of the ladies in their characters.

The highly anticipated flick, based on the 1980s Hasbro toys which were also a favorite cartoon of many, will be produced by Scooter Braun Productions, Blumhouse Productions and John M. Chu.

Chu is also on board to direct the project.

It was only announced last month that the movie was taking place, and shooting has already begun on the action-packed feature film. Looks like things are moving quickly along!

At the time, the producers said that the new Jem film would be "for a whole new generation with themes of being true to who you are in a multitasking, hyperlinked social media age."

Ryan Landels wrote the script, which centers around an orphaned teenager who becomes an online recording sensation.

She and her sisters embark on a music-themed scavenger hunt across Los Angeles in order to uncover a final message that was left by Jem's father.

Are you excited to see Jem and the Holograms in the theaters?

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, April 23, 2014

ABC's "Modern Family" was also up compared to its most recent original episode, scoring the evening's top 18-49 rating. "Mixology" also rose with an original lead-in. "Survivor" was down a bit for CBS but still led its hour. "The 100" improved slightly for The CW, while "Arrow" was even with last week.

FOX averaged 8.9 million viewers and a 5.4 rating/9 share in households for the night. CBS (7.6 million, 4.9/8) finished second despite airing reruns for two of its three hours. ABC (5.6 million, 3.6/6) came in third. NBC (4.1 million, 2.9/5) took fourth, pending updates for a local NBA telecast in one market. The CW (2.1 million, 1.4/2) trailed.

FOX's 2.1 rating among adults 18-49 was good enough to snag the top spot in the demographic. ABC finished second with a 1.7, followed by CBS at 1.5. NBC posted a 1.0 and The CW a 0.6.

Thursday hour by hour:

8 p.m.
CBS: "Survivor: Cagayan" (9.3 million viewers, 5.6/9 households)
FOX: "American Idol" (8.5 million, 5.3/8)
ABC: "The Middle" (6.85 million, 4.2/7)/"Suburgatory" (5.25 million, 3.3/5)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" rerun (4.4 million, 3.0/5)
The CW: "Arrow" (2.2 million, 1.5/2)
18-49 leader: "Survivor: Cagayan" (2.2)

9 p.m.
FOX: "American Idol" (9.3 million, 5.6/9)
ABC: "Modern Family" (9.25 million, 5.6/9)/"Mixology" (4.15 million, 2.6/4)
CBS: "Criminal Minds" rerun (6.4 million, 4.3/7)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" rerun (4.4 million, 3.1/5)
The CW: "The 100" (1.9 million, 1.3/2)
18-49 leader: "Modern Family" (3.4)

10 p.m.
CBS: "CSI" rerun (7 million, 4.7/8)
ABC: Special - "Nashville: On the Record" (4.2 million, 2.8/5)
NBC: "Chicago PD" rerun (3.7 million, 2.6/4)
18-49 leader: "CSI" (1.2)

'Nashville: On the Record' special pays its dues to the songwriters behind the hit songs

And that's why "Nashville: On the Record," a special ABC aired on Wednesday (April 23), was so incredibly, well, special. It was an hour filled with performances by the stars of "Nashville," but they were also joined onstage by the real voices behind the songs the actors sing. The songwriters came out to perform the songs they wrote with the voices who have given them life, and it was truly touching to see the ABC southern soap pay its dues to these thankless artists.

It's one of the many ways "Nashville" is paying homage to the town that the show calls its home, along with having the special at the historic Ryman auditorium. That location along with the legendary Bluebird cafe gives the series the authenticity necessary to truly tell the story of the country music business. No matter how soapy "Nashville" may get plot-wise, it will always have the backbone of the country music industry and hometown to give it authority.

"Nashville: On the Record" also gave fans the opportunity to see the actors truly sing live and prove they have what it takes to represent the country music industry every week on ABC. There's no studio magic here to fix any mistakes or slip-ups. They had to rely on their voices and their talent, and everyone did an incredible job. From Bowen and Palladio's powerful duet to Palladio, Jonathan Jackson and Chaley Rose's boot-stomping number to Hayden Panettiere's soulful performance, everyone brought their A-game, making the special a can't-miss for any "Nashville" fans.

Michelle Obama Books Cameo In Military-Themed ‘Nashville’ Episode

Aside from numerous late-night appearances and docu-series, Obama has appeared in only a couple scripted series including Sesame Street in 2009 and in a cameo on Nickelodeon’s iCarly in 2012. Michelle Obama Appears On The Set Of "iCarly"Obama taped the iCarly appearance in June 2011 while in LA to promote a series of PSAs targeting her “Joining Forces” initiative, designed to raise awareness of military families; iCarly‘s lead character was the daughter of a U.S. service member stationed overseas. That plan was unveiled at the WGA Theatre during a panel sponsored by the Hollywood guilds (and moderated by JJ Abrams) designed to create a dialogue among film and TV folks about ways to share those families’ stories. The Nashville appearance would seem to jibe with that initiative: ABC says the episode’s storyline involves Reyna (Connie Britton) organizing of a charity concert on the Army base after finding out Luke (Will Chase) has been injured in Afghanistan, cutting short his tour.

Like last season, Nashville is on the bubble for a renewal again this year but appears in good shape and likely to return. Still, Obama’s appearance comes a week before the Season 2 finale May 14, after which such decisions are usually made. The stunt casting probably won’t hurt the series, produced by Lionsgate, ABC Studios and Opry Entertainment.

Hayden Panettiere Answers Our Pressing Questions About Her Wedding Day Hair, Nashville Love Interests and More!

Currently, the 24-year-old star is sporting a short cut, but when it comes time for her wedding day to fiancé Wladimir Klitschko she’ll likely be wearing some extensions.

“I would like some really long, loose boho beach waves and just a nice golden tan,” Panettiere tells PEOPLE. [Editor's note: It's nearly impossible to look away from the blinding 6-carat sparkler on her hand, which she designed herself, when talking to her.] “I want to be classy and elegant and sophisticated, but I also don’t want to forget my age. I want to be comfortable. I want it to be just sexy enough, but youthful at the same time. I don’t want to look so done up."

Since she’s planning a trip down the aisle (no date to report yet!) — and is tied to her Nashville character’s blonde hair, Panettiere won’t be doing anything drastic to her mane. But she reveals if she had the freedom to switch up her strands, she’d jump on the pastel hair hue bandwagon.

“I would probably do a combo of the light blue, lavender and maybe a really light pink,” she shares. “I mean if I did my whole head, I would probably go for lavender. My friend on set did her hair with this very, very light pink and it kind of has a multicolor look on the ends. It’s really light and really pretty. We would have to see what looks best.”

For now, she’s busy keeping her hair tresses healthy with Neutrogena’s Triple Repair Hair Care system. “Part of the reason I chopped it off because it kept getting so fried. I didn’t think I was going to be able to nurse it back to health. Here [Nashville] the weather is tough, you’re dealing with a lot of humidity, and I’ve got curly hair so it’s rising like dough at all times. When we do the big performance scenes and I’m sweating or outside, my hair turns really curly and gets really frizzy, which means re-blow drying it and using the flatiron, which is terrible for your hair. It just starts breaking it off. The products have given me a stronger base to work with and my hair is actually starting to curl back the way it naturally was before all the frying.”

And for all those Nashville fans out there who are dying to know if Panettiere raids Juliette’s wardrobe, let’s just say she really wants to.

“She’s got great clothes. I ask the wardrobe department sometimes, ‘Do you think they would let me have these?’,” she tells PEOPLE. “Her performance on-stage clothes are one thing, but her off-stage clothes are also really fun and wearable. There was this one Balmain dress, which I really wanted to use, but it [didn't work for] the scene. It was amazing.”

She also addressed the question on everyone’s mind: Deacon or Luke for Rayna?

“That’s so hard because Luke is so obviously a great guy for her life right now, but Deacon’s the one that she will always love because he’s the love of her life,” she explains. “Hopefully, we have many years to sort that out. I don’t write the script, girl!”

What do you think of Panettiere’s wedding day hair plan? Are you a fan of her Nashville wardrobe?

Hayden Panettiere Heroes - Cosmopolitan

Juliette wears so many sparkly, amazing outfits on Nashville. Has any of her fashion sense bled into your real life?

No. In fact, probably the polar opposite. I love being able to do it with Juliette and that character, but I tend to shy away from it in real life because that’s a dangerous association. I mean, people love Juliette, but they love to hate her as well. She’s kind of a, we’ll be nice and say quirky character, and I want to be able to distinguish myself aside from her, and to know that people can differentiate between the two of us. And I’ve heard from a lot of my co-stars, even — people constantly go up to them and go, “Hayden’s like that in real life, isn’t she?” And they say, “What are you talking about? No, she’s not; she’s a character.” But people don’t know how to distinguish between the two.

A lot of readers love your character Claire from Heroes, too, which is returning to NBC in 2015 as a miniseries, Heroes: Reborn. When did you hear it was going to come back? What was your reaction?

Well, it was a shock to me, and, in fact, I believe I became privy to that through my cousin. She sent me a text message and told me about it, and, I mean, we had nothing, nothing to do with it; it will definitely be interesting to see how they reinvent that.

Well, what do you think your character has been up to?

I think it’s a whole new set of characters. Who knows? It’s a little bit of an interesting feeling because you go, “That was our show, our home, our family,” something that we had a major part in creating as well, and, I mean, I hope that they don’t have somebody else playing our characters, that would be a little dagger in the heart. But, you never know. I wish them success in it, for sure.

Connie Britton just joined Twitter. What advice did you give her about it?

I have not given her any advice. You don’t look at somebody like Connie and go, “I’m going to give Connie some advice.” If anyone’s giving her advice it’s probably Chip [Esten, who plays Deacon]. He’s really good with the social media stuff.

Do you pay attention to your Twitter following, or can you see when things spike for you?

I don’t overly stress about it by any means. I think it has hurt me [that] I didn’t get my full name. I had to drop the “e” at the end, so I think it’s hard to find my Twitter, probably.

Have you gotten any advice from Connie? Not necessarily on Twitter but just about how to be the greatest woman of all time?

For a woman to come up to another woman and say, “Let me tell you how to be the greatest woman of all time,” would take some serious guts. I’m not sure how well that would go over.

Do you have any advice for any readers who are maybe trying to find themselves?

I think it’s important to stop trying to run away from yourself and change everything. Like, I have curly hair and I want to flat iron it all the time — and sometimes as I’ve gotten older I’ve just gone, “You know what? I have to stop trying to change what I have; I have to stop trying to change my body type and stop trying to change the texture of my hair. I’ve got to embrace it.” I want to look at myself and go, “I’ve got to work with what I’ve got.” It’s very empowering.

How has your hair regimen changed since you've started using Neutrogena's Triple Repair Hair Care line?

Well, it’s had to change just being here in Nashville, because of the weather and the extreme heat and humidity. I have really curly hair, so it’s constantly frizzing, and when we’re doing these big performance scenes and we are sweating, my hair starts curling so then they have to flat iron it again and then they have to spray more hairspray on it, and through all of that it got really damaged. Really, really damaged. And this repair system does exactly what it says it going to do — it repairs your hair.

You’re two years into the show. Do you look to anyone like Miley Cyrus or Taylor Swift and try to get inspiration from them?

I’ve watched a lot of females who have wonderful stage presence and who don’t have to go up there and do a choreographed dance. Because some people are great at it, but I was up there [on stage] going, “Guys, please, that’s not my forte, that’s not my background.” That’s the easiest way to make somebody — especially a young woman — look poppy and cheesy, is to send them up and make them do a dance that they really can’t do and that looks uncomfortable and they’re like puppies who haven’t grown into their feet yet, myself included. And I look at some of these girls, like, you know, you got Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert, who — they don’t have to go up there and do a choreographed dance, they can just sit there and rock out and they just take over the stage. But after a while I’ve developed little things that work for me.

Well, you look like a natural.

Thanks! I think it’s easier to look natural when you’re not going up there as yourself… It’s a character that you’re hiding behind. Beyoncé says her alter ego is Sasha Fierce because when you have that kind of barricade you’re not going up there going, “I’m standing up here for all to judge me.”

NEW DATE ADDED TO STARS OF "NASHVILLE" CONCERT TOUR MAY 5 PHILADELPHIA

Tickets for Philadelphia go on sale Saturday, April 19 at 10:00 a.m. at www.ticketmaster.com.

Connie Britton: My Son Is Learning 'How to Treat Women'

The Nashville star was recently named a Goodwill Ambassador for poverty eradication and women’s empowerment by the United Nations, and has no fears that her 3-year-old son will help her pave the way.

“Oh my gosh, he’s surrounded by loudmouthed women all the time. He’s always learning about women,” Britton jokes to PEOPLE of teaching her son Yoby about female empowerment.

“I am actually really proud, I think he’s going to grow up with a real strong sense of how to treat women because he’s around them so much — especially powerful, strong women.”

Motherhood’s biggest surprise since the 47-year-old actress adopted her son from Ethiopia in 2011, has been, well, that there are constantly surprises.

“Parenthood is surprising. There are surprises every day, which surprised me in itself,” says Britton. “People always say, ‘Parenting requires patience,’ and I heard that and I thought I understood why, but I had no idea really why I needed to be patient.”

But it didn’t take long for Britton’s patience to be put to the test. “I finally found out: it’s because kids are SO SLOW,” she explains. “Everything they do is slow, so that’s why everyone always told me I would need patience.”

Don’t get her wrong, Britton loves every minute of it. “My son wants to try everything, and I love that, but he’s young so everything he does is slow. I just have to watch and wait for him to finish each thing.”

One thing that isn’t slowing down for Britton? Her exciting career.

Connie Britton Named UN Goodwill Ambassador

The actress posted photos of her induction on Instagram (which she recently joined, along with Twitter), and captioned them "Making it official!"

The Friday Night Lights alum also tweeted: "So honored and thrilled to be new @UNDP Goodwill Ambassador! #endpoverty #Connie4UNDP."

Britton plans to focus her efforts on women's issues and eradicating poverty. "In my own travels, I've seen many places where people are living in extreme poverty," she said, according to The Associated Press. "It's unacceptable that, in 2014, one billion people live in such conditions, and a full 60 percent of the chronically hungry in the world are women. I look forward to working with UNDP to help change this and improve the lives of vulnerable people worldwide."

Do you think Britton will make a good ambassador?

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, April 2, 2014

"Idol" was even with last week, but it's still a startling sight to see it finish below first in both hours. Also Wednesday, "Modern Family" was down for ABC but still drew the night's top 18-49 rating. All three of NBC's dramas improved on their last original episodes, but "Arrow" and "The 100" fell for The CW.

CBS averaged 9.9 million viewers and a 6.2 rating/10 share in households for the night, beating FOX's 8.8 million, and 5.6/9 for the lead. ABC (6 million, 3.9/6) came in third. NBC (5.3 million, 3.5/6) took fourth, and The CW (2.1 million, 1.4/2) trailed.

CBS's 2.2 rating among adults 18-49 edged out FOX's 2.1 for the top spot. ABC finished a close third at 1.9, followed by NBC, 1.5, and The CW, 0.7.

Wednesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.
CBS: "Survivor: Cagayan" (9.55 million viewers, 5.8/10 households)
FOX: "American Idol" (8.3 million, 5.4/9)
ABC: "The Middle" (7.1 million, 4.4/7)/"Suburgatory" (5.2 million, 3.4/5)
NBC: "Revolution" (4.4 million, 2.8/5)
The CW: "Arrow" (2.3 million, 1.6/3)
18-49 leader: "Survivor: Cagayan" (2.2)

9 p.m.
CBS: "Criminal Minds" (10.4 million, 6.5/10)
FOX: "American Idol" (9.2 million, 5.7/9)
ABC: "Modern Family" (8.8 million, 5.5/9)/"Mixology" (4.4 million, 3.0/5)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" (5.8 million, 3.9/6)
The CW: "The 100" (1.9 million, 1.3/2)
18-49 leader: "Modern Family" (3.2)

10 p.m.
CBS: "CSI" (9.7 million, 6.3/10)
NBC: "Chicago PD" (5.7 million, 3.9/6)
ABC: "Nashville" (5.2 million, 3.5/6)
18-49 leader: "CSI" (1.9)

Season 2, episode 19 recap: Scarlett's toxic mom drives her 'Crazy'

Even though Maddie took down the video she titled "Maddie Claybourne," everyone knows the Internet is forever. Someone got hold of the video and it went viral. Even the ladies on "The View" made a cameo to discuss the murky waters of Maddie's paternity, calling her Rayna and Deacon's "love child." When the paparazzi get vicious, Rayna gets worried when she can't reach Deacon. She freaks out, thinking he might have started drinking again.

Knowing that Deacon would head to the lake house they were supposed to live in way back when, Rayna and Luke head there to find it trashed, with an empty liquor bottle on the ground. Assuming the worst, they barge in to find a sober Deacon -- he says he poured out all the alcohol -- but he thinks Rayna and "her bodyguard" came to talk about his breakup with Megan. He didn't even know about the whole Maddie issue, and when Rayna asks him to participate in a press conference with her and Teddy, he refuses. He tells Rayna to ask Teddy why he can't even be in the same room as him. After she confronts Teddy, they get into a big fight and Teddy says he won't step aside as Maddie's dad, especially to Deacon.

Meanwhile, things aren't going so well for Juliette professionally, even after signing with Rayna's label. Glenn tells Juliette that she needs to ask Charlie Wentworth for a favor to start supporting her music since he owns half the radio stations in the country, but she knows that might interfere with her relationship with Avery. But Avery surprises her and tells her that it's actually a smart idea. She meets with Charlie in Chicago, and Charlie hits on her, kissing her passionately, but Juliette tells him she's moved on and is in love with Avery. He agrees to help her anyway.

Later, Juliette confesses to Avery about her kiss with Charlie -- but only says he "tried" to kiss her -- and Avery tells her he expected that to happen. He doesn't even get mad or jealous, and it's obvious that Juliette's impressed with his level of trust. But when Charlie shows up at her show later, provoking Avery with comments about being nostalgic for being backstage at a Juliette show, Avery tells him to get over Juliette.

Back in Nashville, Gunnar gets his first royalty check for $400,000 and goes a little money crazy. After a few insane ideas of how to spend his cash, he decides to celebrate by funding Zoey's professional singing demo. He also gets a call from someone offering a gig for his band with Zoey and Avery, but since they broke up the guy wasn't interested in just Gunnar solo. He seems more than a little bummed, but hides it from Zoey, who's having the time of her life recording in a real studio.

Zoey's demo impresses her agent so much that she tells her to move out to L.A., where all backup singers are cast for any genre of music. Zoey considers heading out there for a few weeks to see what auditions she can land, but Gunnar wants Zoey to give Nashville another shot first. He even offers to use his check to help her get on her feet until she makes it. But Zoey tells him she doesn't want a "sugar daddy" and to spend his money on his own dreams. Do those dreams include a house? Because Gunnar seemed to take notice of a certain "For Sale" sign driving by ...

Rayna and Teddy decide to just steer into the skid and go on "Good Morning America" together to tell the truth about Maddie's paternity. Of course, they don't expect Deacon to show up, but he does, and he's surprisingly mature about it. They reveal that Maddie is Deacon's daughter but he's an alcoholic, so Teddy raised Maddie as his own. Deacon even praises Rayna and Teddy's parenting of Maddie through the years. But after the special ends, Deacon storms off and Luke notices Rayna's distress over it. Luke leaves and punches the car seat.

Rayna heads to the lake house to see if Deacon's okay after the show, and he finally confronts her about how she should have told him about Maddie long ago. He thinks that knowing about Maddie could have pushed him to stop drinking sooner. But Rayna tells him that there was no good time to tell him, and even when he did find out he just got drunk and almost killed her in the car crash. It's tough hearing them hash all this out yet again, because their love for each other is clear, but there is just so much standing in their way of being happy together. Could Deacon and Rayna ever really work, or are they doomed to repeat the same cycle over and over and over again?

And then here's where "Crazy" gets actually crazy. The big moment of the hour: Scarlett's mom shows up to her show in Chicago. This is the woman Scarlett wrote the hauntingly beautiful ballad "Black Roses" about, and to say their relationship is toxic is putting it lightly. Their complicated relationship spans all of Scarlett's life, but her mom always acts loving in public, so no one besides Avery really understands why Scarlett is so upset.

Seeing Scarlett and her mother together, it becomes clear why Scarlett is the way she is -- anything small sets off her mom in the nastiest way, like finding out via the news reports that Deacon and Scarlett didn't tell her she had a niece. She freaks out on Scarlett, hurling insults and grabbing Scarlett's wrists, and she becomes a completely different person minutes later, charming everyone onstage during Scarlett's sound check. Seeing her mother taking over her stage sets off Scarlett, and she sings the most killer version of "Black Roses," dedicating it to her mom and just singing the crap out of it. But instead of making her mom realize how she feels, it just sets her off even more and she attacks Scarlett backstage.

Shaken up by her mom's attack, Scarlett asks Juliette if she can take the night off, but Juliette tells her she needs to figure out a way to fight through her demons and go onstage anyway. So she heads back to her dressing room, drinks a ton and staggers her way to the stage. Avery notices that she's completely wasted and tries to stop her from going onstage, but she slips through his grasp when Juliette gets angry that Avery was trying to protect Scarlett from Charlie. She yells at him for not allowing Charlie to even speak to Scarlett and yet not get mad about Charlie kissing Juliette, and Avery gets upset that Juliette lied about the kiss.

During that distraction, Scarlett slips onstage before Avery can stop her and ends up having a complete mental breakdown onstage ... caught on everyone's phone cameras. This is clearly way more than a drunk mistake, or too many pills. This is a severely debilitating psychological problem that's been manifesting throughout Scarlett's entire life, one that she's never opened up about before until Liam stole her diary and made her write "Black Roses." Will this incident make Scarlett realize she needs help and seek out therapy, or is this something even worse? Has Scarlett just completely shattered under the tour pressure, pills and her mother's abuse?

What did you think of Scarlett's breakdown, Juliette's lie to Avery, Rayna and Deacon's argument and the rest of "Crazy?"

Lennon and Maisy Stella recognize that fame is a 'wild, wild thing'

Then there are the Stella sisters: natural on camera and easy in each other's presence. If you haven't been watching ABC's "Nashville" Wednesdays, you're missing a terrifically written and acted drama with multidimensional characters and great music.

And you're missing the quiet showstopping performances the girls regularly turn in. There's a purity to their voices, which blend seamlessly. The sisters, Lennon (named after John), 14, and Maisy, 10, have always sung together.

Recently, Lennon's character, Maddie, has had more drama. She posted a a video identifying herself as Maddie Claybourne, putting it out there that Deacon (Charles Esten) is her dad.

Her action leaves her mom, Rayna (Connie Britton), and others upset. With their roles expanding, the Stella sisters talk to Zap2it with their mom, Marylynne, close by. What follows is an edited version of the conversation.

Zap2it: It looks as if "Nashville" is your first acting job. How did this come about, and have you had training?

Lennon: At the end of the first season, we got an acting coach, our first acting coach. Other than that, we have just been learning.

Maisy: Our mom helps us a lot, and when we are not in a lesson, our mom is going over lines and being really helpful.

Zap2it: Did you always want to act?

Lennon: Maisy has. Since she was a baby, she would do the Maisy cooking show, the Maisy talk show, the Maisy news show.

Maisy: I am very, very shy. I would make like this is Food Network and this is bread, and this is peanut butter, and here's how you do a peanut butter sandwich.

Lennon: Any camera she had, she would pose for it. It was always in my mind it was kind of her thing, and I knew it was something she wanted to do, and I just eliminated it from my mind. I decided I would play music. I always thought we would do music together, and that's what I thought we would go for. And when the show came up, the show seemed like the best opportunity.

Marylynne: Maisy auditioned for the show, and they loved her and asked her, "Do you have a sister?"

Zap2it: How has life changed since being on the show?

Lennon: It's crazy, crazy different. Now people know us. We have done the same music and the same harmonies, and now people have heard it. Just the thought of someone in a completely different country or across the world knowing your name and hearing you sing is a wild, wild thing.

Zap2it: Lennon, Maddie's going through a lot. What has that been like?

Lennon: The path Maddie is taking is a crazy but very interesting one. She is very different than me. [Posting the video] was very selfish of her, and she did not realize at the time and she was thinking of what she wanted and how it would benefit her in ways and it went out of control and she feels very, very guilty and obviously didn't understand. She has a heart, and she didn't want this to happen.

Zap2it: And Maisy, what is it like working with your sister?

Maisy: It is really a neat thing. I would rather work with Lennon than a friend. We are very close, so it is really good. A lot of my friends have older sisters, and they fight a lot, and I can't imagine if Lennon and me were enemies. It would be really hard.

ABC TELEVISION SERIES NASHVILLE KICK OFF THEIR FIRST-EVER CONCERT TOUR

Tickets go on sale Friday, April 4, and information on dates, venues and how to purchase can be found below:

4/25 – Joe’s Bar, Chicago, IL
On sale: 4/4 at 10am CT www.joesbar.com

5/4 – Lincoln Theatre, Washington, DC
On sale: 4/4 at 10am ET www.ticketfly.com

5/6 – Best Buy Theater, New York, NY
On sale: 4/4 at 12pm ET www.axs.com

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Mar. 26, 2014

Elsewhere, new CW sci-fi drama "The 100," which had a big premiere for the network last week, stayed fairly solid in its second week, dipping slightly from its debut.

There's also good news for "Mixology" fans. The new ABC comedy had been steadily declining since its premiere in mid-February, but last night was back up to 4.9 million viewers, which is just shy of its premiere numbers of 4.98 million.

Despite losing head-to-head with "Survivor," FOX did win the night in total viewers, as CBS was in reruns for the two hours following "Survivor." FOX earned 9.15 million with a 5.6 rating/9 share in households for the top spot, followed by CBS at 8.15 million, 5.1/8; ABC at 6.1 million, 4.0/6; NBC at 3.7 million, 2.5/4 and The CW at 2.4 million, 1.6/3.

In the adults 18-49 demo, FOX won there as well with a 2.1 rating, followed by ABC (1.8), CBS (1.7) and The CW and NBC tied at 0.8.

Wednesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.
CBS: "Survivor: Cagayan" (9.8 million viewers, 5.8/10 households)
FOX: "American Idol" (8.6 million, 5.4/9)
ABC: "The Middle" (7.1 million, 4.5/8)/"Suburgatory" (4.9 million, 3.3/5)
NBC: "Prince Harry's South Pole Heroes" special (3.8 million, 2.6/4)
The CW: "Arrow" (2.6 million, 1.7/3)
18-49 leader: "Survivor: Cagayan" (2.3)

9 p.m.
ABC: "Modern Family" (9.7 million, 6.0/9)/"Mixology" (4.9 million, 3.2/5)
FOX: "American Idol" (9.6 million, 5.9/9)
CBS: "Criminal Minds" rerun (7.29 million, 4.6/7)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" rerun (3.5 million, 2.4/4)
The CW: "The 100" (2.3 million, 1.5/2)
18-49 leader: "Modern Family" (3.5)

10 p.m.
CBS: "CSI" rerun (7.4 million, 4.8/8)
ABC: "Nashville" (5.2 million, 3.5/6)
NBC: "Chicago PD" rerun (3.8 million, 2.6/4)
18-49 leader: "CSI" and "Nashville" tied (1.3)

Season 2, episode 18 recap: Will says 'I do' to a life of lies in 'Your Wild Life's Gonna Get You Down'

The deeply-closted rising country star wanted to make sure none of his past flings came out of the woodwork, so he put a ring on Layla's finger to quiet the naysayers. He promised Gunnar that he'll be a loving and committed husband to Layla, but that obviously can't and won't last. He won't be able to deny his true feelings forever, and it will ruin Layla's life when that happens.

The poor girl just gave up her family to marry Will, after all -- her parents don't agree with her decision to marry so young and fast, so they told her never to call them again if she goes through with it. But hey, at least Jeff Fordham thinks Will isn't gay anymore, right? Sigh.

So what else went down in "Your Wild Life's Gonna Get You Down?"

Rayna's professional and person troubles

Rayna's single isn't doing as well as she hoped, partly due to Jeff Fordham throwing all his support to go against her release with Will's, and mainly due to Juliette's premature announcement that Rayna signed her to Highway 65. The country music business isn't quick to forgive a controversial artist, after all. Both Rayna and Juliette are nervous that they won't be able to make back all the money they've been paying out of pocket for tour dates and their albums and promos. It doesn't help matter when Jeff straight up talks smack to Rayna about how if she fails with Highway 65, then she's really done -- her career will be over, her money will be gone, she'll lose her house, everything. There's a lot riding on this.

Rayna's home life isn't much better. Although things with Luke are going great -- they're even planning on introducing their kids to each other -- Maddie's the angriest she's ever been with Teddy. He grounded her from her music and won't let her see Deacon or go to his concert, but Rayna doesn't agree with his punishment since that was when she was planning on introducing Maddie to Luke's son Colt. It's the only chance they have to introduce their kids, so Rayna begs Teddy for a pass and he begrudgingly relents.

Backstage at the show, Maddie and Daphne meet Colt who is like the typical teen obsessed with social media, cool clothes and "sick beats," not country music. Maddie and Daphne show him up with their own "sick beats" -- clapping and snapping while singing -- and he's impressed. They even collaborate on a song together and upload it to his popular social media page, but Luke and Rayna make him take down the video because Rayna's family has strict rules about social media.

Later at the show while complaining about embarrassing parents, Maddie tells Colt that Teddy isn't even her real dad. She shows Colt her music video she uploaded titled "Maddie Claybourne" to prove it, and Colt shows Luke who finally understands why Deacon's always involved in Rayna's family drama. He gets angry at Rayna and Deacon for not telling him about Maddie, and Rayna convinces Maddie to take the video down to protect her. She explains that they're not ashamed of her, but they don't want her to have to deal with the press if they ever found out who her real dad is. Rayna smooths things over with Luke by telling him that Deacon has history with her but Luke is her present and future.

Love triangle on tour

In a shocking development, Scarlett agrees to open for Juliette on her tour, and since Avery is going to help her finish her album during the downtime, that means the most awkward love triangle ever is going out on tour together. Fun, right? Even though everyone knows Avery and Scarlett are done for good, they're still good friends, and he tells her he won't play with Juliette onstage until Scar's album is finished. He's committed to making her album the best it can be, which is sweet.

But of course Juliette doesn't see it that way. She gets pissed when Avery misses her best set ever, so she yells at Scarlett for not having energy during her own sets. She tells Scar to have "sparkle" and "make noise." Also: Juliette's "squirrelly" impression of Scarlett was the greatest thing ever. More of this, please.

After getting yelled at, Scarlett takes more pills because that's her go-to thing now, and heads out onstage. But instead of "making noise," she goes out and proves she's an artist who "whispers" by playing a beautiful, soulful, slow song, and as Juliette watches from the wings, she ... smiles. After the show, Juliette tells Scarlett that her sensitivity, raw nerve and talent is "it" and what's going to make her famous. Juliette tells Scarlett she has an idea on how to make the tour really click. But at the afterparty, Juliette gets the feeling that Scarlett is high because the way she was behaving reminded Juliette of her mother. But since Avery says that Scar would never do drugs, she drops the subject.

Teddy and lawyer chick are the worst

And in storylines that make us go, "Ugh," Teddy and lawyer chick get caught by Deacon talking about their "mistake," and he puts two and two together. He realizes that once again, Teddy screwed him over by stealing his girl, but instead of punching Teddy, he punches a wall.

Is he going to start drinking, throw away his career and ruin his life again, all thanks to two of the worst people ever? They're not worth it, Deacon!

NASHVILLE: ON THE RECORD

Among the songwriters appearing on the special are Trent Dabbs and Caitlyn Smith, who co-wrote the anthem, “Don’t Put Dirt on My Grave Just Yet,” which Hayden Panettiere and Jonathan Jackson’s characters have performed, as well as Striking Matches (duo Sarah Zimmerman and Justin Davis) who’ve co-written “I Ain’t Leaving Without Your Love” with Cary Barlowe, performed by Jonathan Jackson, Sam Palladio and Chaley Rose on the TV show. Also appearing is notable songwriter Ashley Monroe, solo artist and member of the Pistol Annies, who co-wrote “A Life that’s Good” with Sarah Siskind, which has been performed by Lennon and Maisy Stella and Charles Esten on the series.

“On the Record” is a documentary web series that follows the life of original songs performed on “Nashville” written by singer/songwriters in the music scene, from the songs’ inception to on-air premiere. The series offers an intimate look into the songwriting process, from guitar demo to music video and all the steps in between.

Buddy Miller is Executive Music Producer of “Nashville: On the Record” and George Flanigen is executive producer and director.

“Nashville” stars Connie Britton as Rayna Jaymes, Hayden Panettiere as Juliette Barnes, Eric Close as Teddy Conrad, Charles Esten as Deacon Claybourne, Clare Bowen as Scarlett O’Connor, Jonathan Jackson as Avery Barkley, Sam Palladio as Gunnar Scott, Chris Carmack as Will Lexington, Maisy Stella as Daphne Conrad and Lennon Stella as Maddie Conrad.

Chris Carmack Talks Will's Dilemma: 'He Can't Live a Lie for the Rest of His Life'

One of TV’s favorite questions takes on new meaning in Wednesday’s Nashville, which finds up-and-coming country star Will Lexington engaged to labelmate Layla Grant in a last-ditch effort to convince everyone he’s straight.

Is the mismatched couple seriously considering going through with a wedding? And will that even matter if someone from Will’s past comes forward to out him? Star Chris Carmack recently addressed his conflicted character’s quandry — and more — in a talk with TVLine.

TVLINE | Will and Layla come into this week’s episode (ABC, Wednesday at 10/9c) getting ready to get married. How much of it are you playing that Will is deluding himself, and how much are you playing it that he’s just doing what he has to do to have the career that he wants?

I honestly believe that he is deluding himself immensely. The career aspect of it is probably one of the biggest reasons he’s deluding himself… But I don’t think we could even remotely like Will if there wasn’t some degree of self-delusion, because what he’s clearly gonna do to this young girl, it’s gonna break her heart – or he’s gonna end up on the tracks again. He can’t live a lie for the rest of his life. It’s ridiculous.

In terms of the self-delusion, I think when he was younger and he was exploring his sexuality, it was natural and exciting – as it is for anybody when they’re young. But he got thrown out of his house. He got distanced from his family. There were a lot of repercussions. He probably grew up in a house where – and forgive my language – but the term “faggot” was probably thrown around. I think he grew up in a place where it was dangerous to be this. And so he turned it off. He shut it down and he’s repressed it. And that’s where all of this delusion is coming from, that’s where this self-denial is coming from.

TVLINE | It sounds like you think even if he weren’t in the industry, he would still find it very difficult to be honest with himself about who he is.

I think it would still be a struggle for him. I do not think it would be to the extent that it is [now]. Here he is, he met Brent in Austin and they had a fling. So clearly he was not completely shut off to that side of himself, to the exploration of his sexuality and the discovery of it. But I think now that the wolves are at the door, there is no question that he does not want to be discovered. So he’s basically trying to live a lie – not just construct a lie, but live that lie.

TVLINE | We keep hearing about Will’s buddy from Texas, the scripts have alluded to other people who are going to come forward. Can you tease anything?

I can’t really comment on that. Let’s just say that’s probably a recurrent theme that’s going to continue for Will. He’s scared to death of somebody coming out of the blue and outing him.

TVLINE | What are his feelings about Brent? Are there any romantic/lustful feelings that linger, or is that all in the past and now’s he’s just freaked out by him being around?

Brent strikes me – and it’s television, so you never know when somebody’s going to come back or what’s going to happen – so I can’t comment on the future of Will and Brent but I can comment on the present: I’m sure anybody can relate to the uncomfortable situation of being around an ex-lover where things are not resolved. It takes a good year-and-a-half before you can start hanging out with an ex-girlfriend again, you know, and it be cool and there aren’t mix feelings or jealousy. And Brent and Will have not had that time to process things.

TVLINE | Gunnar has some definite thoughts — which he makes known — about Will’s decisions in this week’s episode.

Gunnar starts to understand that the noose tightening around Will’s neck is very real and very threatening, and could derail his entire dream and his entire life in a way that would be very dangerous for someone who was, two months ago, on the tracks and talking about suicide. So Gunnar has to weigh what’s best for his buddy. Marrying Layla is clearly not the right choice, but who knows? Maybe it’s the lesser of two evils. I don’t know. He’s clearly got a conflict about that.

You also see Will not being honest with Gunnar. But I think whenever Will’s not honest with Gunnar, he’s not being honest with himself. That’s a good delineation: What Will tells Gunnar is the truth that Will believes. And what Will tells anybody else is anybody’s guess. [Laughs]

TVLINE | Let’s end on a happy note for your character: In this episode, he gets to perform a trio with Luke Wheeler and Deacon Claybourne.

Yeah. That was a blast. I haven’t seen it yet, so I don’t know how it turned out, but I know we had a lot of fun filming it.

TVLINE | You make Will light up when he’s on stage. It seems like maybe the only place he’s 100 percent happy and himself.

And that’s why he knows he wants to be a country singer, because it is the only place he is completely himself – his best self – and completely alive. The problem is, everybody has to come off the stage. [Laugh] Insome ways, he’s sacrificing everything off stage to be on stage. And that’s a choice that pretty much every performer I know has had to make at some point or another… That’s really where I connect with Will the most personally, the aspect of making personal sacrifices to follow a dream, understanding that side of him.

Hayden Panettiere -- I'm DUNZO With L.A.

Hayden recently bought a house in Nashville, where she's doing her show. As you know, she's engaged to boxing champ Wladimir Klitschko, who owns a penthouse in Hollywood, Fla, and she's spent a lot of time down there.

As for the L.A. home ... we've learned Hayden sold it for $3.075 MIL. She bought it in 2008 for $2.635 MIL.

It's interesting ... For years Hayden was a fixture in L.A. ... frequently hitting the town. But now she's high profile in Nashville.

Los Angeles ... it used to be a thing.

4 Join Clint Eastwood's 'American Sniper'

Negahban, whose credits also include The Mentalist, The Game and CSI: NY, is repped by the House of Representatives. Close, who plays Teddy Conrad on Nashville and also starred on TV’s Suits, Chaos and Without A Trace, is with Gersh and Untitled Entertainment. Ladin, whose credits also include The Killing and HBO’s upcoming series The Brink, is repped by Innovative Artists and Main Title Entertainment. Rey, who’s appeared on Sons Of Anarchy, 24 and Prison Break, is with GVA and Jeff Goldberg Management.

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Mar. 12, 2014

At 8 o'clock, CBS' "Survivor: Cagayan" topped "Idol" in both viewers and adults 18-49, pending updates for pre-emptions in a handful of markets. "Modern Family" led the 18-49 demographic at 9, while "Criminal Minds" eked out a total-viewer win.

CBS averaged 10.2 million viewers and a 6.4 rating/11 share in households for the night, just beating FOX's 10.1 million and 6.2/10. ABC (5.9 million, 3.7/6) came in third. NBC (5.6 million, 3.7/6) took fourth, and The CW (945,000, 0.7/1) trailed with a night of repeats.

FOX scored a narrow win in the 18-49 demo with a 2.4 rating, beating out CBS' 2.3. ABC finished third with a 1.8, followed by NBC, 1.5, and The CW, 0.3.

Wednesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.
CBS: "Survivor: Cagayan" (9.9 million viewers, 6.1/10 households)
FOX: "American Idol" (9.6 million, 6.0/10)
ABC: "The Middle" (7.2 million, 4.4/7)/"Suburgatory" (5.2 million, 3.3/5)
NBC: "Revolution" (4.7 million, 3.0/5)
The CW: "Arrow" rerun (1.2 million, 0.8/1)
18-49 leader: "Survivor: Cagayan" (2.5)

9 p.m.
CBS: "Criminal Minds" (10.7 million, 6.8/11)
FOX: "American Idol" (10.65 million, 6.5/10)
ABC: "Modern Family" (9.1 million, 5.4/9)/"Mixology" (4.2 million, 2.8/4)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" (6.25 million, 4.2/7)
The CW: "The Tomorrow People" rerun (694,000, 0.5/1)
18-49 leader: "Modern Family" (3.3)

10 p.m.
CBS: "CSI" (10 million, 6.5/11)
NBC: "Chicago PD" (5.85 million, 3.9/7)
ABC: "Nashville" (4.9 million, 3.3/6)
18-49 leader: "CSI" (2.0)

Season 2, episode 17: Juliette's jealousy almost tanks Rayna's label in 'We've Got Things to Do'

After signing with Rayna's label, Highway 65, at the end of last week's episode, Juliette was anxious to announce the big news and release her single, "Don't Put Dirt On My Grave Just Yet," as a digital download. However, Rayna has a different plan. She tells Juliette to keep quiet on her joining Highway 65 for now, because association with Juliette can harm Rayna's career the way things are right now. But with a calculated album roll out for Rayna, the association can be helpful for Juliette in the future. It's logical but obviously pisses off Juliette, who's ready to get back in country music's good graces. But Rayna tells Juliette the first step she should make now is separating herself from Edgehill, meaning dropping Will and Layla from her tour.

After the way Jeff Fordham dropped her, Layla hires Brett to be her new manager -- super awkward for Will, right? Having his secret ex-boyfriend manage his beard ... who doesn't even know that she's a beard in the first place. Oof. Even worse, Brett tells them both the news that Juliette dropped them from her tour.

Will storms over to Juliette's to ask her what happened and try to fix things, because he thought they were friends. It's truly heartbreaking hearing Will beg Juliette to tell him what he did wrong to make her not want him on her tour anymore and that he's given up too much to be a one-hit wonder (like his own happiness). He needs the tour to promote his album, but Juliette can't tell him why she dropped him. She just says it's not personal.

Another person who wants to make the right call professionally (and not personally) is Scarlett now that Liam's gone (to Westeros). When Scarlett tells Deacon that Liam was "called away" and can't produce any more tracks for her album, he tells her that he was never a fan of Liam's (gee, I wonder why?) and she can do the album without him. Scarlett tells Rayna she's not ready to trust another stranger to help her produce (because she'll probably sleep with him and develop another addiction in addition to her pill-popping), so she wants to ask Avery for his help since he knows her and is talented on his own. But when he has reservations on how it might make things with Juliette, she clears the air: "I'm so done with complicated it's not even funny."

When Avery tells Juliette about Scarlett's offer, she gets "pissed." She turned down her own imprint at Edgehill because Avery didn't want to ride her coattails but he'll do it for Scarlett, as Juliette sees it. But Avery says it's doing a favor for a friend, and the situation is different. They both get angry and storm off.

After Luke Wheeler offers Will a spot on his tour (so much tour-shifting going around! Scarlett left Luke for Rayna, so Luke's filling her spot with Will who left Rayna for him!), he breaks up with Layla. Will thinks Jeff wants him to distance himself from her after he tried promoting her album, and he obviously doesn't care about her romantically. But Brett tells Will later that Will can't break up with her. While Brett says he'll never expose Will for being gay, others in his past might as he gets more famous. Brett says rumors will start to swirl about why Brett got fired, and it could tank Will's career if he hasn't been "careful" with exes in the past.

When Will confesses to Gunnar later that there were indeed "others" in his past, he's worried about them coming out of the woodwork. So he comes up with a plan to shut them all up once and for all: He proposes to Layla! And she says yes! Whoa. This is going to end reallyyyyy badly for both of them. Never thought we'd say this, but poor Layla. Yeesh.

While Luke offered Will a 45-minute set on his tour, he also offered Deacon a spot as well! That's such a huge opportunity for Deacon, and it's obvious that he's excited about it. But he says he has to run it by his lawyer girlfriend first, because he's just the sweetest and best boyfriend ever. Too bad he's with a two-timing, lying, awful person, because she's got major feelings for Teddy. And since Teddy's pursuing her hardcore, it's obviously not going to end well. At least she tells Deacon to go on the tour. If she had ruined that chance for him, that would have been just the absolute cruelest thing ever.

At Rayna's album release party, Juliette gets tired of not being able to advertise the fact that she's been signed to Highway 65, especially when everyone's touting Scarlett as Rayna's next big project. When Juliette hears people saying that Scarlett's the best young singer/songwriter Rayna's ever heard, she gets way jealous. So Juliette hijacks the mic to introduce Rayna, and oh-so-slyly announces in front of all the press that Rayna signed her to Highway 65. Everyone in the room is clearly shocked that Rayna would make such a poor decision, but Juliette is satisfied.

Rayna gives Juliette an honest and frank talking to later on that night, telling Juliette that she put everything on the line for this label and is really doing everything to make it work for both of them. But Juilette needs to listen to her. Rayna comes up with a plan for damage control now that the secret's out, so they sing together at the Opry. It's not going to fix things totally, but it's a good start.

Meanwhile, in order to keep the peace in their relationship, Avery tells Juliette he'll say no to Scarlett's offer, but what he really wants is for Juliette to be okay with it so he doesn't have to say no. Especially since Scarlett told Avery she really needs him for her album.

In other news, Avery and Zoey tell Gunnar they just want to keep the band as something they do "for fun," because they've all got other things going on. Zoey tells Gunnar about her audition, and how it will take her away for six months if she gets it. But she doesn't, so it won't.

Also, Teddy gets super father figure-y with Maddie when she focuses more on music than her schoolwork and wears too much makeup and calls Deacon her "real dad." When he grounds her, she gets pissed, and uploads a video of her singing with Deacon's last name to YouTube. A.k.a. she's about to blow up the country music world with the secret that her real father is Deacon Claybourne. Uh oh.

What did you think of Juliette and Rayna's first big performance since becoming a team once more? How much do you think Maddie's little upload is going to affect all our favorite characters? Isn't Deacon's girlfriend just the worst?

'Nashville' fashion: Rayna, Juliette and Scarlett each have their own style

"I did a ton of research looking at templates for country music stars who would be models for Rayna Jaymes or Juliette Barnes," costume designer Susie DeSanto says of the characters played by Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere.

This season, Scarlett (Clare Bowen) has a much larger role and a distinctive style.

"Nashville is small but sophisticated," DeSanto tells Zap2it. "It is definitely a Southern place. It is because of the music scene here and the songwriters and the Opry."

Rayna has a more diverse wardrobe than the others because she has so many facets to her life: superstar, mom, politician's daughter, and former wife of the mayor.

Rayna's wardrobe reflects whether she's a little flashier when with Liam (Michiel Huisman), or subdued when driving her daughters to school.

Here she wears a Dolce & Gabbana blouse and her signature tight slacks. "That girl has never put on a pair of jeans that did not look amazing on her," DeSanto says. "She can put on shiny gold pants and look great."

For Rayna's wardrobe, DeSanto has a full-time shopper combing Saks, Neiman's, Barneys, Beverly Hills boutique Traffic, and Haven in Franklin, Tenn.

"Hayden and Juliette have a lot of the same moxie," DeSanto says. "Hayden is a tiny girl with a lot of power."

In this, she wears a Dolce & Gabbana top and typically very high heels, many of which are Louboutins or Jimmy Choos.

That fascinates DeSanto about Juliette, she says, is, "she is a damaged girl, an uneducated girl. She is a great songwriter and singer, but she is also 24 years old.

"Juliette has her own jet and flies around, and she spends money and is reckless and not thinking about anything except what is happening right now and how she can get what she wants."

Scarlett's outfits are usually a mix of flounce and country, filmy skirts and practical boots. DeSanto finds a lot of her wardrobe at Western Costume Company, which has a lot of vintage clothes.

Bowen already loved vintage dresses and was with DeSanto when they found the light blue, dropped-waist dress she's wearing here.

"Scarlett is the true artist," DeSanto says. "She is a poet, a dreamer. She truly is like one of those people who has deep emotional powers to dig in and write those beautiful songs."

She had a crisis of looks as well as one of career earlier this season when the label was trying to make her into a prefab person she is not.

"She still looks like she is taking her journey from the girl who was a waitress at the Bluebird [Cafe], writing her poems," DeSanto says.

Oliver Hudson & Will Chase Promoted To Regular On ABC's 'Nashville'

Hayden Panettiere: On Low-Key Wedding Planning, Dress Hunting and Hair Disasters

Panettiere recently tried on a variety of dress styles for Brides magazine, and she told PEOPLE all about the experience.

“I have a very specific body type, and you have to dress for your body type. As flattering as wedding dresses tend to be they can also go sour really quick,” the Neutrogena spokesperson said. “It was nice to see the different cuts on my body. And you just look at the cumulative likes and loves and hopefully that will lead to ‘the dress.’”

As for the rest of the wedding planning, the star does not have a date yet, but she definitely has a vision. “I have always dreamed of a wedding day! Not over the top or crazy, but yeah, I’ve always thought about it. It’s one of those things you have to just cross your fingers and hope everything will go smooth. You will plan and plan and at the end of day you just have to kick back and see what happens.”

If that wasn’t proof enough that she’s a laid-back bride, Panettiere recently did what most brides-to-be would probably avoid: Getting a major new haircut! But she has no regrets (and gets to wear extensions for her role as Juliette Barnes on Nashville).

“I like it,” she said. “My hair was so damaged before, I had to cut it off and give it a rest. I love having short hair. But the grass is always greener. You have it for a couple of months, and then you’re ready to go back to long.”

Like any girl, there are a few hair moves she definitely regrets. “Some of my school pictures when the crunchy hair was in, you would get out of the shower and put the most intense gel you could find in your hair. Welcome to my 8th grade picture — my mom was pleased. You could blow on your hair and it would snap in half,” she said. “And then I dyed my hair red once, which was also a terrible idea. It washed out into a lovely orange. It was a very unattractive part of my life.”

For now Panettiere keeps her hair healthy with Neutrogena’s Triple Repair Hair Care system. “I call my hair my ‘problem child.’ It’s blonde and curly. It gets blown out every morning, so the heat is damaging. This system has completely repaired my hair.”

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Mar. 5, 2014

ABC's "Modern Family" also improved its adults 18-49 rating over last week and was the night's top show in the demographic, while episode 2 of "Mixology" held onto nearly all of its premiere rating. "Criminal Minds" was also up for CBS. The news wasn't as good for The CW's "Arrow" and "The Tomorrow People," both of which dropped, or NBC's "Chicago PD," which tied its series low.

FOX scored 10.5 million viewers and a 6.4 rating/10 share in households in primetime, edging CBS' 10.1 million and 6.3/10. ABC (6 million, 3.8/6) came in third. NBC (5.6 million, 3.7/6) came in fourth, and The CW (1.8 million, 1.2/2) trailed.

FOX's 2.7 rating in the 18-49 demo was half a point better than the 2.2 for second-place CBS. ABC finished third with a 1.9, followed by NBC, 1.5, and The CW, 0.6.

Wednesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.
FOX: "American Idol" (10.4 million viewers, 6.4/10 households)
CBS: "Survivor: Cagayan" (9.6 million, 5.9/10)
ABC: "The Middle" (7.15 million, 4.5/8)/"Suburgatory" (5.6 million, 3.5/6)
NBC: "Revolution" (4.8 million, 3.1/5)
The CW: "Arrow" (2.2 million, 1.5/2)
18-49 leader: "American Idol" (2.8)

9 p.m.
CBS: "Criminal Minds" (11.4 million, 7.0/11)
FOX: "American Idol" (10.6 million, 6.4/10)
ABC: "Modern Family" (9 million, 5.5/9)/"Mixology" (4.5 million, 2.9/5)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" (6 million, 4.0/6)
The CW: "The Tomorrow People" (1.3 million, 0.9/1)
18-49 leader: "Modern Family" (3.3)

10 p.m.
CBS: "CSI" (9.2 million, 6.0/10)
NBC: "Chicago PD" (6.1 million, 4.0/7)
ABC: "Nashville" (4.85 million, 3.2/6)
18-49 leader: "CSI" (1.7)

Season 2 episode 16: Rayna and Juliette team up again in 'Guilty Street'

That's right, what fans have been waiting for all season long ever since Rayna announced she was going forward with her own label came to pass in the final moments of "Guilty Street" on Wednesday (March 5) night. Juliette, sick of being wooed by record labels who wouldn't let her make the music she wants to make or respect her as an artist, approached Rayna to ask if Highway 65 would sign her.

Rayna's look of surprise (captured for posterity above) was spot-on, but she shook off her wonder and agreed to sign Juliette because her label needs the money (Tandy's been so distracted that she hasn't been able to balance the label's accounts, and when checks bounced word spread around town, costing Rayna a potential artist). Just imagine all the diva fights and incredible music we'll get out of the Rayna/Juliette dream team once again!

Of course, Juliette first got to serve Jeff Fordham a slice of humble pie. Or more accurately, a 10 grand bottle of champagne, poured all over his dinner table after he came groveling back to her after dropping her so mercilessly from Edgehill. She almost ended up signing a new deal with them to start rebuilding the bridges she burned in Nashville, but Avery helped her realize that they would never truly respect her as an artist.

All Edgehill and Jeff care about is the bottom line, as evidenced by their cruel dismissal of Layla Grant. Not even support from her "boyfriend" Will garnered her a second chance, and the poor girl is without her career, and unknown to her, without a real boyfriend, since it's getting harder and harder for Will to ahem, perform with her in the bedroom. How long will he be able to stay in the closet? His fame is growing exponentially, so he won't be able to keep this a secret for long.

As for Will's roommate Gunnar, he got a little overzealous about his new band with Zoey and Avery. In fact, he started booking gigs right away without talking it over with the group first, and that ruffled Avery's feathers. The two guys almost get into a fist fight before their first gig, but after absolutely killing it onstage, they all realize they have something special. Avery, Zoey and Gunnar all smiled at each other, so is all forgiven? Hope so, because that music they're making is on point.

Scarlett is also making some sweet music with Liam, but the fact that they're hooking up is a bad sign. Sure, he's helping to bring out real emotion from her for the first time ever and the songs they're laying down are incredible, but Liam is a rock star and Scarlett is a young girl who falls too fast. Rayna was right to be worried, and when she catches the two of them hooking up, she fires Liam and tells him to end things with Scarlett before she falls for him even more.

Liam listens to Rayna, knowing she's right about Scarlett, and leaves. He tells Scarlett not to be upset about him leaving. "It's not tragic, it's just living life," he says, explaining that's how it goes in their business. Scarlett is disappointed because she thinks Liam's leaving means the end of her album but Rayna tells her that what Liam brought out in her was there all along. That's the mark of a true artist: Not being owned or controlled by anyone but themselves. Maybe hooking up with Liam was actually a good thing for Scarlett, because it helped her realize that she's had this talent in her all along and can do this on her own.

And in the biggest cringe-worthy moment of the night, after Teddy found Peggy's miscarriage meds that were prescribed before their wedding, he realizes she lied to him about her pregnancy. He gets drunk and confesses to Deacon's girlfriend that while he would have still married Peggy if she was honest about her miscarriage, he wouldn't have married her if he knew she was a liar and a manipulator. She comforts him, and they end up banging in her car. As if her cheating on Deacon wasn't bad enough, she goes back to him like nothing is wrong, after he turned down a really nice woman from his past because he loves the lawyer. She's totally going to break his heart. Poor Deacon.

What did you think of "Guilty Street?" Are you excited to see Rayna and Juliette team up again?

Aubrey Peeples: Finding Out Will's Secret Would Be "Devastating" for Layla

"They are struggling," Peeples tells TVGuide.com about the couple's arc in the next few episodes. "I don't think that it would be realistic for everything to work out [with them]. ... Layla is upset a lot in the last half of the season."

What started out as a mutually beneficial publicity stunt — Layla gets a beau, Will gets a beard, everybody wins! — has unfortunately turned into real feelings for the young starlet. "She does love him," Peeples says. "I think from the beginning, Layla was like, 'Oh, this is a great career opportunity, and he's cute and this would work. I think that him being good for her career was a huge factor in why they got together. But at this point ... she's totally head over heels for him, because she's 19. There will always be that aspect of her career that drives her, and that's what comes first. But she's a hormonal teenager. She's in love with him now."

As Will continues to wrestle with his sexuality, Layla has no idea what's really going on with him and starts to blame herself for issues with their relationship. "Layla at this point doesn't know that he is gay, but there's always a little something off," Peeples says. "I think [her finding out] would be devastating."

Things get a little "spicy" as Layla tries to salvage the relationship, Peeples teases. "At this point, [Layla's] living with Will and he's like her anchor," she says. "She's only 19 and she hasn't had a lot of experience in that realm, in that part of her life. So, how she handles it will be interesting."

But it's not just her love life that's causing insecurity for Layla. Having been thrown into the music industry after being the runner-up on a reality show, the young singer is having a hard time adjusting to being a small fish in a big pond. She already had a near-breakdown earlier this season while attempting to write a song with Gunnar (Sam Palladio). And making enemies of superstars like Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere) and Rayna James (Connie Britton) probably isn't the wisest career move.

"She's challenging because there are two dynamics to her," Peeples says. "She's really a vulnerable, lost little girl, which you're going to see more of coming up this back half of the season. But she covers it with this tough girl act, and she's defensive. So I think that's the challenge, that both of those are existing at the same time. And also, because she's so young and she has all of those emotions going on ... she hasn't developed a filter or a way to control herself."

Adds Peeples: "[Layla's] background in music is solely based on a competition, basically. ...I think that says a lot about her experience and a lot about what she's coming to the music industry with."

While it's unlikely that Layla will have a character transformation on the same level as, say, Avery (Jonathan Jackson), Peeples says viewers will see a more sympathetic side of Layla in upcoming episodes.

"It's been revealed that Layla comes from a very strict household, but it hasn't been delved into too much yet," Peeples says. "She realized [in the scene with Gunnar] that she's just sort of been following the path that her parents have set out. ... Fans are going to be very surprised."

Hayden Panettiere Talks Proposal, Tries On Wedding Gowns

"It wasn't about being overwhelmed by fireworks or a mariachi band," the Nashville star, 24, reveals in the April/May issue of Brides.

"I think it's amazing when people do that, but I like that mine was simple and from the heart."

Panettiere announced her engagement to boxer Wladimir Klitschko, 37, in October.

Though she hasn't started planning her nuptials, Brides gave the star a head start, dressing her in wedding gowns by designers like Oscar de la Renta, Marchesa and Monique Lhuillier for the cover shoot.

The bride-to-be admitted she's nervous to actually wear a white dress on her big day, calling walking the red carpet and walking down the aisle "polar opposite" experiences.

"When eyes have been on me in the past, it's been because of an event, where people see me as a persona, as Hayden Panettiere the actress," she explained.

"For the aisle, you're the purest, most emotionally stripped down version of yourself, sharing this raw moment with the most important people in your life. It seems very overwhelming!"

The couple hasn't set a wedding date, and Klitschko's native Ukraine remains embroiled in political conflict (his brother Vitali is a major player in the protests). But Panettiere, who spoke out to Ukrainians in December, says she's proud of her future family's homeland.

"It's a beautiful country with beautiful people and a culture that I love," she told the magazine. "With his brother running for president and the mass demonstrations [against the government aligning with Russia], it's an incredible thing to be a part of."

As for hints of what's to come when she and Klitschko do wed? Panettiere promises a classic ceremony with a twist.

"I love color, so that will play a big part," she says.

Hayden Panettiere in No Rush to Get Married, Talks Political Turmoil in Ukraine

"We are very laid-back about the wedding plans; we don't want to rush anything," the Nashville star tells British Cosmopolitan. (The full interview appears in the magazine's April issue, on sale March 4.) "We want the day to be fun, happy and stress-free. Growing up, the thought of not getting married never crossed my mind. It was always: I'm going to get married and then I'm going to have a family."

Of course, it wouldn't be all that surprising if the 24-year-old actress is holding off on tying the knot, in part, due to the political turmoil taking place in Klitschko's native Ukraine.

"I spend a lot of time in Ukraine and I completely agree with what Wladimir and [his brother] Vitali are fighting for; we want justice and democracy for Ukrainians," she says.

Last December, Hayden joined Wladimir in Kiev to show her support for the protesters who oppose the government's efforts to create closer ties with Russia instead of the European Union.

But the gal clearly has her wedding day on the brain nevertheless.

Case in point? The April/May issue of Brides, on which Hayden appears on the cover wearing a gorgeous white dress.

However, she does admit to a bit of trepidation when it comes to her eventual big day.

"When eyes have been on me in the past, it's been because of an event where people see me as a persona, as Hayden Panettiere the actress," she tells the publication. "For the aisle, you're the purest, most emotionally stripped down version of yourself, sharing this raw moment with the most important people in your life. It seems very overwhelming!"

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014

Elsewhere Wednesday, a crossover with "Law & Order: SVU" pushed "Chicago PD" to a series high in adults 18-49. "American Idol" was even with last week for FOX, and the premiere of "Survivor: Cagayan" improved on last spring's debut and was about even with the start of the fall cycle. "Arrow" was also fairly stedy for The CW.

FOX led the night with 10.6 million viewers and a 6.6 rating/10 share in households, beating out FOX's 9.7 million and 6.1/10. NBC (6.8 million, 4.4/7) came in third, followed by ABC (5.9 million, 3.9/6). The CW drew a shade under 2 million viewers and a 1.3/2.

The 18-49 crown also went to FOX, whose 2.6 rating narrowly beat the 2.5 for CBS. ABC and NBC tied for third at 1.8, and The CW trailed with a 0.7.

Wednesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.
FOX: "American Idol" (10.6 million viewers, 6.6/11)
CBS: "Survivor: Cagayan" premiere (9.9 million, 6.2/10)
ABC: "The Middle" (7.1 million, 4.6/7)/"Suburgatory" (5.3 million, 3.5/5)
NBC: "Revolution" (4.6 million, 3.0/5)
The CW: "Arrow" (2.5 million, 1.6/3)
18-49 leader: "American Idol" (2.7)

9 p.m.
FOX: "American Idol" (10.65 million, 6.6/10)
CBS: "Criminal Minds" (9.6 million, 5.8/9)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" (7.7 million, 5.1/8)
ABC: "Modern Family" (8.6 million, 5.4/8)/"Mixology" series premiere (5.2 million, 3.4/5)
The CW: "The Tomorrow People" (1.5 million, 1.0/2)
18-49 leader: "Modern Family" (3.1)

10 p.m.
CBS: "CSI" (9.5 million, 6.3/11)
NBC: "Chicago PD" (8 million, 5.2/9)
ABC: "Nashville" (4.7 million, 3.2/5)
18-49 leader: "CSI" (2.3)

Hayden Panettiere Reveals Why She Moved to Nashville With Fiancé Wladimir Klitschko

The actress moved to Tennessee when she was cast as Juliette Barnes on Nashville in 2012, and she recently decided to buy a home in the Volunteer State with her fiancé, heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko. "I like being in a place where people appreciate the little things and don't need a lot of stuff to be happy. You can put a group of Southerners in any scenario and they'll have a good time," Panettiere, 24, tells Southern Living. "At my core, this is the kind of person I am and want to be."

"The people here are amazing. Living in Nashville gives me a sense of normalcy that I wasn't sure I was ever going to get back in my life," she raves. "When I first got here, all my defenses were still up, and I was waiting for that world to suddenly creep back in. When it didn't, I realized that I can live a normal life here with people who don't judge you based on what you do or who you are in the public eye."

The March 2014 cover girl says the "toughest" part of living in Nashville has been adjusting to the humidity. "I've found it helps to braid my hair when it's wet, rather than letting it air-dry," the blond beauty tells the magazine. "It tames the frizz. Otherwise, in the summer I look like a Pomeranian!""

Panettiere's "tomboy" and "chic" style has changed a bit, too. "It's a lot more laid-back, which suits me better," the Golden Globe nominee explains. "In L.A. and New York, you go out to lunch and everyone is wearing high heels. In Nashville if I see someone wearing heels, I get the sense they might not be from around here."

Hayden Panettiere: 'Living in Nashville Gives Me a Sense of Normalcy'

"I like being in a place where people appreciate the little things and don't need a lot of stuff to be happy," the Nashville star tells Southern Living for its March cover story, which features a celebrity on its front for the first time in its 48-year history.

"At my core, this is the kind of person I am and want to be."

The New York native, 24, moved to Music City when she landed the role of Juliette Barnes on the ABC drama, and found such a home in the country music capital that she and Klitschko decided to plant permanent roots in the city and buy a home.

"Living in Nashville gives me a sense of normalcy that I wasn't sure I was ever going to get back in my life," she shares.

"When I first got here, all my defenses were still up, and I was waiting for that world to suddenly creep back in. When it didn't, I realized that I can live a normal life here with people who don't judge you based on what you do or who you are in the public eye."

Another fringe benefit to Nashville living for the actress and activist? Its approach to style.

"It's a lot more laid-back, which suits me better," she says.

"In L.A. and New York you go out to lunch and everyone is wearing high heels. In Nashville if I see someone wearing heels, I get the sense they might not be from around here."

Plus, she can't help but fall in love with those pointed Southern expressions. Her favorite? "Bless her heart."

"There is so much context there," says Panettiere. "So much more is said with those three words."

Christina Chang Joins ABC Pilot 'Sea Of Fire'

Connie Britton: Stop Asking About a Friday Night Lights Movie-It's Not Happening!

Not only has executive producer Peter Berg said a second FNL flick is unlikely, but sounds like Connie Britton has come to terms with it not happening.

Britton has said in the past that she was open to the idea, but "I really don't think it's going to happen," she told me at Savannah College of Art and Design's aTVfest in Atlanta, where she received the Icon Award. "That is where the decision had to come from."

In other words, she said, "Everybody needs to stop asking about that movie."

In December, Berg told Collider, "There's not gonna be a movie. We talked about it, some people thought it was a good idea, some didn't. I've come to believe it's probably not a good idea and I seriously doubt it's gonna happen."

Britton told E! News over the summer that it would "be fun" to reunite for the big screen.

But, now she says, "We all just have to move on."

Based on the 2004 film of the same name, the TV series ran for five seasons (two on NBC and three on DirecTV) and starred Britton, Kyle Chandler, Minka Kelly, Zach Gilford, Michael B. Jordan, Aimee Teegarden, Taylor Kitsch, Adrianne Palicki, Scott Porter, Madison Burge, Jurnee Smollett, Brad Leland and dozens of others.

'Nashville' Heading To Hulu Plus

Kimberly Williams-Paisley Joins 'Two And A Half Men' As Recurring

Kimberly Williams-Paisley on Mother's Dementia: I Had to Learn to Love Her Again

"I've watched a passionately joyful woman, a devoted mother, an engaged listener and friend deteriorate and transform into someone almost unrecognizable," Williams-Paisley, wife of country superstar Brad Paisley, writes in a heartbreaking but powerful personal essay for Redbook. "It's been agonizing to slowly lose her."

Her mom, Linda Williams, became another person due to her disease, unable to write clearly, recall certain words or even pronounce the name of her grandson Jasper, now 4½.

Eventually, Williams became too erratic to live at home with her husband, so she was taken to a long-term care facility.

"The move was the hardest change my tight-knit family has ever had to endure," writes Williams-Paisley, 42. "Our visits were agonizing for me. I couldn't look at her without seeing a fading picture of who she used to be. I resented this mostly manic, dangerous, crazy woman who had taken over my mother's body."

But Williams-Paisley found solace after talking to friends with similar experiences: She realized she had to love her mother in a new, "innocent" way. She learned to communicate wordlessly and found peace in small gestures, like rubbing cream on her mother's dry hands. And now, she says, she can remember her mother as she used to be without succumbing to the pain of her loss.

"She is, in many ways, a 'new' mom. But now it's easier to welcome memories of her as she used to be," Williams-Paisley writes. "I remember her as I run, the way she always used to, into a cold ocean when no one else wants to. I'm sure I know how she felt as I listen to my own children with all my heart."

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014

Elsewhere, the 200th episode of CBS' "Criminal Minds" scored the show's biggest total audience since May 2012 and matched a season high in adults 18-49. ABC's "Suburgatory" and "Modern Family" also rose ("Suburgatory" had its best viewer numbers in a year), and "Chicago PD" held steady for NBC.

FOX scored 13.3 million viewers and an 8.0 rating/12 share in households for the night, beating out CBS' 10.7 million and 6.7/10. ABC (6.7 million, 4.3/7) finished third. NBC (5.6 million, 3.7/6) was fourth, and The CW (2.1 million, 1.3/2) brought up the rear.

FOX's lead among adults 18-49 was wider: It drew a 3.9 rating in the demographic, easily outpacing the 2.1 for second-place CBS. ABC came in third with a 1.9, followed by NBC, 1.5, and The CW, 0.7.

Wednesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.
FOX: "American Idol" (13.4 million viewers, 8.0/12 households)
CBS: "Criminal Minds" rerun (8.3 million, 5.3/8)
ABC: "The Middle" (8.7 million, 5.5/9)/"Suburgatory" (6.2 million, 4.1/6)
NBC: Special - "The Making of an Olympian" (4.4 million, 2.8/4)
The CW: "Arrow" (2.75 million, 1.7/3)
18-49 leader: "American Idol" (3.9)

9 p.m.
FOX: "American Idol" (13.2 million, 7.9/12)
CBS: "Criminal Minds" (12.8 million, 7.9/12)
ABC: "Modern Family" (10 million, 6.2/9)/"Super Fun Night" (5 million, 3.2/5)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" (6.35 million, 4.2/6)
The CW: "The Tomorrow People" (1.4 million, 0.9/1)
18-49 leader: "American Idol" (3.9)

10 p.m.
CBS: "CSI" (11 million, 6.8/11)
NBC: "Chicago PD" (6.1 million, 4.0/7)
ABC: "Nashville" (5.1 million, 3.5/6)
18-49 leader: "CSI" (2.0).

Did 'Nashville' out-soap itself in 'Too Far Gone?'

Sure, the drama was always present in copious amounts, but as mayor of Nashville Teddy Conrad (Eric Close) watches his ex-con, ex-father-in-law Lamar Wyatt (Powers Boothe) drop to the ground in front of him with his second (!) heart attack and does nothing while the man dies right in front of his eyes as revenge for Lamar orchestrating Teddy's wife's murder, it can't be denied any more. "Nashville" is a soap opera.

Now, it's not like that's a horrible thing. Soap operas are entertaining with their over-the-top drama and are a great distraction from everyday life -- which is really all TV is. But what "Nashville" loses as a series by gaining the soap opera label is complete suspension of disbelief. Viewers no longer see the show as realistic or believable. And that has negative effects on the story lines that were breaking new ground and needed to be told in a realistic way.

Stories like Will's (Chris Carmack) struggle with his sexuality in an unforgiving industry like the country music business. With his thoughts of suicide firmly in the past, he's starting to accept himself for who he really is, albeit only in private. One step forward and all that, right?

But Will's friendship with Gunnar (Sam Palladio) is helping him to finally be okay with being gay. It's still a long ways off where he'll actually come out (seeing as how he just got his ex-lover fired from Edgehill in an effort to avoid his feelings) but by singing the song Gunnar wrote for Will about Will's situation, he's clearly coming around to being honest about himself -- someday.

With "Nashville's" new status as a soap, Will's journey loses some of its gravity, and that's a real shame. His story will still be compelling to watch, and we'll still be rooting for him to come to terms with who he really is, but it won't be as effective.

What do you think of "Nashville's" latest dramatic cliffhanger? Do you agree that the series out-soaped its own Season 1 ending, or do you still think it's not a full on soap opera?

Clare Bowen: Scarlett Is "Coming to the End of Her Tether"

"I think she's coming to the end of her tether, really," Bowen tells TVGuide.com. "She didn't anticipate any of this at all. ... She didn't have any grand ideas of being a performer. She just created things. So the whole thing, it's a big rollercoaster for her."

And of course, that's just in her professional life. Personally, Scarlett is reeling from the betrayals of her ex-boyfriend Gunnar (Sam Palladio) and best friend Zoey (Chaley Rose), and caught in an on-again, off-again back-and-forth with her other ex, Avery (Jonathan Jackson).

"She's been treated like a doormat by so many people, and she has let it happen because she's respected them and loved them. ... I hope that she lets go of her need to please people," Bowen says. "That's something I've been through as well. Eventually, somebody breaks you and you're like, 'Oh ... OK.' And it's not a selfish thing. It's self-preservation, I think."

But will Scarlett come to regret her latest act of self-preservation — her refusal to write more songs for Kelly Clarkson with Gunnar? Bowen doesn't think so, and says she supports her character's decision. "She doesn't want to write with Gunnar anymore, and frankly, I wouldn't either," Bowen says. "It's her moment of self-respect. ... I think it was actually really strong of her to say, 'I'm sorry, I can't.' ... If you're in a state where you're very sad and something is hurting you, often it creates a mental block. So that's why Scarlett says, 'You wouldn't get those beautiful love songs anymore, because he doesn't love me anymore.' You can't fake that."

However, Bowen wavers when asked if Scarlett and Zoe's friendship is beyond repair. "I wouldn't do that to my best friend. I'm really sorry, but that's horrible," Bowen says. "I don't know what happens with those two. She wishes she could go back and for it all to be ok, but it's not. It's very plain that it's not, and you can't force it to be. ... But at the same time, Scarlett is a very forgiving creature. Just at the moment, she doesn't want to talk to [Zoey]."

Though Avery and Juliette (Hayden Panettiere) seem to be taking their friendship to the next level, Bowen — who is thankful for Avery's character redemption "because Jonathan Jackson is an absolute gem" — says it's too soon to tell whether his split from Scarlett is permanent. "You can't tell what's going to happen in life," she teases. "You've watched [Avery's] character develop into a much more level, stable, amicable person who's a bit happier for other people now. And that's the boy she fell in love with. ... It's just like, holy s---, there's this boy that I fell in love with years and years ago. You're back. Because he disappeared for a long time."

Continues Bowen: "It's a difficult thing. Scarlett moved her whole life for Avery. They met in college. She thought she was going to marry him. He was this amazing creative musician [and]beautiful person. When he got to Nashville ... it changed him. And Scarlett was desperately trying to hold on to this person that she loved so much. I think we've all been there, watching somebody change. It's hard."

Perhaps Scarlett should just be single for a while? "That's what I think," Bowen says. "So we shall see."

Hayden Panettiere shocks with off-the-rack Tom Ford

Hayden Panettiere shocked the fashion world when she — gasp — wore an off-the-rack Tom Ford dress to the Golden Globes last month.

“[Ford] only dresses one woman per awards show,” a source says. “And he put a lot of effort into Naomi Watts’ dress, so all were surprised when Hayden walked the carpet in a Ford gown.”

Typically, a star’s stylists coordinate with a designer in advance to avoid such a fashion misstep. But the “Nashville” star wasn’t pleased with any of the gowns her first stylist pulled, so she hired a second stylist, who resorted to buying a Tom Ford frock straight off the rack.

Panettiere tells Alexa: “I simply fell in love with this particular look and made the purchase last minute. I felt great in it, and I was honored to wear Tom Ford.”

Insiders said that when Ford saw the petite actress wearing his mod black-and-white design on the red carpet, he was utterly stunned. (When E! host Giuliana Rancic asked Panettiere who she was wearing, the actress gushed: “Tom Ford. It’s the first time I’ve ever worn him, because I’ve been begging?.?.?.”)

The designer, known to be very choosy about which starlets he dresses, eventually embraced the unexpected attention.

“Tom graciously sent [Panettiere] flowers because she was speaking so kindly about him on the red carpet.”

Le sigh!

Connie Britton, Megan Boone to Be Honored at TV Festival

The auburn-haired beauty is going to be honored along with Megan Boone from The Blacklist at this year's aTVfest taking place in the Georgia capital Feb. 6-8.

Britton will receive the Icon Award. Boone will take home the Rising Star Award.

"Connie Britton is one of the most outstanding actresses on television today having created iconic roles on Nashville, American Horror Story and Friday Night Lights," aTVfest director of programming and operations Christina Routhier said in a statement. "Boone's performance on NBC's The Blacklist is one of the standout roles from this television season."

We Hear...

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014

A couple of the night's other big shows, "Modern Family" and "Criminal Minds," were in repeats, which resulted in a bit of a boost for NBC's "Law & Order: SVU," which was up for the second straight week. So was its lead-out, "Chicago PD." ABC's "Nashville" also ticked up, and The CW saw improvements from "Arrow" and "The Tomorrow People."

FOX delivered 12.4 million viewers and a 7.3 rating/11 share in households in primetime, finishing well ahead of second-place CBS (7.5 million, 4.8/8). NBC (6.5 million, 4.3/7) came in third. ABC took fourth with 5.2 million viewers and a 3.4/5. The CW (2.2 million, 1.4/2) trailed.

FOX dominated the 18-49 demographic with a 3.8 rating. NBC finished second with a 1.6, edging ABC, 1.5, and CBS, 1.4. The CW drew a 0.8.

Wednesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.
FOX: "American Idol" (11.75 million viewers, 7.0/11 households)
CBS: Special - "Super Bowl's Greatest Commercials" (9.5 million, 5.8/9)
ABC: "The Middle" rerun (5.8 million, 3.7/6)/"Suburgatory" (5.05 million, 3.3/5)
NBC: "Revolution" (5.1 million, 3.3/5)
The CW: "Arrow" (2.7 million, 1.7/3)
18-49 leader: "American Idol" (3.5)

9 p.m.
FOX: "American Idol" (13.05 million, 7.6/11)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" (7.5 million, 5.0/8)
CBS: "Criminal Minds" rerun (6.6 million, 4.4/7)
ABC: "Modern Family" rerun (6 million, 3.8/6)/"Super Fun Night" (3.9 million, 2.6/4)
The CW: "The Tomorrow People" (1.6 million, 1.0/2)
18-49 leader: "American Idol" (4.0)

10 p.m.
NBC: "Chicago PD" (6.9 million, 4.5/7)
CBS: "CSI" rerun (6.4 million, 4.3/7)
ABC: "Nashville" (5.2 million, 3.5/6)
18-49 leader: "Chicago PD" (1.7)

Nashville Signs Charlotte Ross

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014

The news was not as good at CBS, where both "Criminal Minds" and "CSI" hit all-time lows in adults 18-49. "Arrow" and "The Tomorrow People" dipped a little on The CW.

FOX drew 13.2 million viewers and a 7.8 rating/12 share in households for the night, easily beating second-place CBS (8 million, 5.2/8). ABC (6.5 million, 4.3/7) came in third, and NBC (6.1 million, 3.9/6) took fourth. The CW was at the back of the pack with 1.9 million viewers and a 1.3/2.

FOX also scored a win among adults 18-49 with a 4.0 rating, doubling ABC's 2.0. NBC, 1.7, edged CBS, 1.6, for third, and The CW trailed with a 0.7.

Wednesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.
FOX: "American Idol" (13.1 million viewers, 7.7/12 households)
ABC: "The Middle" (8.1 million, 5.2/8)/"Suburgatory" (6.1 million, 4.0/6)
NBC: "Revolution" (5.3 million, 3.4/5)
CBS: "Two and a Half Men" rerun (4.1 million, 2.8/4)/"Mom" rerun (4.15 million, 2.8/4)
The CW: "Arrow" (2.5 million, 1.6/3)
18-49 leader: "American Idol" (3.9)

9 p.m.
FOX: "American Idol" (13.4 million, 7.8/12)
CBS: "Criminal Minds" (10.4 million, 6.6/10)
ABC: "Modern Family" (9.7 million, 6.1/9)/"Super Fun Night" (5.15 million, 3.3/5)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" (6.6 million, 4.3/7)
The CW: "The Tomorrow People" (1.4 million, 0.9/1)
18-49 leader: "American Idol" (4.1)

10 p.m.
CBS: "CSI" (9.5 million, 6.2/10)
NBC: "Chicago PD" (6.3 million, 4.1/7)
ABC: "Nashville" (5 million, 3.5/6)
18-49 leader: "CSI" and "Chicago PD" tied at 1.6

Dee Johnson, Callie Khouri reveal Rayna and Deacon aren't done with each other yet

But time for the good news: Executive producers Dee Johnson and Callie Khouri reveal that all might change sooner than you think. "Rayna and Deacon are always going to be our star-crossed lovers. They are tethered to each other," Johnson tells Zap2it. "We began the season with them in the worst possible situation. They'll always be drawn to each other but she's in a completely different world now. She's dating someone who's a celebrity peer and it's working really good for her. But when you have the kind of love that they have, can you really deny it?"

Khouri adds that sharing a daughter, Maddie, will help bring them closer. "That's a spark that is never going to be fully extinguished just because they are just as star-crossed as two people can be, and they are now literally sharing DNA," Khouri tells Zap2it. "Rayna had all of that pretty well put to bed but with the revelation of Maddie's paternity and all of that coming out and her having to face him with that information, it brought it all back."

However, those hoping for a Rayna and Deacon romantic reunion should be warned that it won't be an easy road. "Yes, there are very real things that happen when those two try to get together but Rayna is consciously trying to be a realist about things," Khouri says. "These are two characters who are never going to have an easy answer. He's involved with Megan and this relationship that she's having with Luke Wheeler, that's a relationship that actually makes sense. For the first time she's in a relationship that she can go, 'This could work.'"

Khouri continues, "As difficult as it is to have a relationship between two people who are doing the same thing, she certainly sees the merits of someone who is in her world and on her level. Whatever her feelings are for Deacon, neither one of them are in a place where they're like, 'We're going to make this work.' That accident changed everything."

Luke may be on Rayna's level when it comes to fame, but Deacon's not out of the game. In fact, he's going to really try and make a name for himself as a solo artist. "Deacon's trying to make something happen. He's a mature artist now, and he's in it for the music," Johnson says. "He doesn't want to be a superstar but he's going to make a go of it. To watch someone who has been there and done that go back and try and do it again, you learn that some things are a lot more pleasant when you're 25 than when you're 45. It will be an interesting, fun road for him."

So what's coming up for the rest of our favorite "Nashville" characters?

Juliette: After some creative non-fans released a doctored video of Juliette claiming that "There is no god," the public opinion of Juliette is as low as ever. "Juliette can't get out of her own way sometimes," Johnson says. "But in order to rise, you do have to hit rock bottom. She has hit rock bottom, but she might find an unlikely lifeline. She is not one who's going to be kept down. She's got a lot of moxie. She'll spring back again."

Will: Will's failed suicide attempt has only pushed himself deeper into the closet in the name of furthering his country music career. "Will is going to try very hard to remove all temptation from his life," Johnson says. "He probably thinks that it all rather simplistically lies in the hands of one guy. He thinks that if he puts his blinders on and if he just keeps his eyes on the prize and meets a nice enough person that maybe it will be okay. That's his plan. He needs to do this in order to continue on the career trajectory that he's on."

Of course, secrets don't stay secret forever and his demons will rare up sooner or later. "How could that not loom always?" Johnson says. "Whether or not it blows up is a different story. But that threat is always going to be there. It's certainly not going to go away."

Thankfully, Will has his best friend Gunnar to lean on for support, especially after he stepped up to find his friend after he disappeared. "I love their friendship," Johnson says. "They have such a great friendship and rapport. It's interesting because Gunnar's straight, Will tried to kiss him months ago, but they've managed to get through all that. But as Will continues to pursue his dream in the way that he thinks he can achieve it, there are going to be some bumps in the road between them because Gunnar knows. Gunnar knows the reality whether or not Will is willing to admit it to himself."

Avery: One of the most rehabbed characters of the series is Avery. He's come a long way since his early Season 1 days as a jerk, and Johnson is happy with how the writers were able to reform him. "I always knew we could do it. I never thought of him as a villain," Johnson says. "We always viewed him as someone who was very ambitious, started believing his own hype, and succumbed to the mistakes and bottomed out. He had it all and had to eat a fair dose of humble pie to become the person that he was when he first met Scarlett so long ago. It was always going to be a journey in our minds for him to ascend too quickly to experience all of these other things."

Scarlett: While Avery is finally achieving success -- and not letting it go to his head -- his now-ex-girlfriend Scarlett won't be dealing with her success in a healthy way. "I think Avery's going to do pretty good now, but the question is how does everybody handle success? Because you can be successful and still be a wreck," Johnson says. "Scarlett was always an artist but she doesn't have the thickest skin, so how does she handle the stress of being out there all the time? She's grateful but it takes a toll. We wanted to show that side of the journey. The reality of what you have to do to make it is grueling and demanding, especially for women. We wanted to show that side of it."

Scandal Star Was Connie Britton's Nanny: "I Was So Upset When She Got Her Little Show!"

Fun fact we just learned: Scandal star Katie Lowes, one of our favorite human beings, worked as a nanny for Connie Britton's son Eyob before scoring her big role on one of the most buzzed-about shows on TV. Talk about a small world!

"Can you believe that?" Britton mused to E! News, before joking, "I was so upset when she got this little pilot. I think it was really pretty selfish on her part, I'll be honest."

As any Scandal fan can tell you, Lowes' character, Quinn, recently got a tooth yanked out of her mouth in one of Scandal's craziest torture scenes yet. When asked if working for Connie Britton is more or less torturous, Britton cracked: "I haven't gotten out my teeth pullers lately, but let's just say that Katie knew they were there. You know what I'm saying? I run a tight ship."

Oh, how we know. And that sense of humor is just another reason to love Mrs. Coach!

Speaking of her iconic role, Britton also told us she's not above using "blackmail" on her Friday Night Lights costars and boss Peter Berg to make the FNL movie happen, further proving she is a perfect human being.

Perhaps because of his early exposure to the awesome Katie Lowes and perhaps not, Britton also revealed that her son is basically a baby genius. "Well, he's talking up a storm. And he really enjoys it. And also now, he really likes to read his books to me even though he's only two. I try to remain humble about my incredible skills that have obviously created genius."

Connie Britton Admits She's Not Above Using "Blackmail" to Make the Friday Night Lights Movie Happen

Friday Night Lights fans were left devastated when executive producer Peter Berg announced that plans for the highly anticipated film has been scrapped, saying a return to Dillon was "probaby not a good idea." And when we chatted with star Aimee Teegarden, she echoed Berg's sentiment, admitting it might be "too soon."

However, Mrs. Taylor is not pleased by this development, y'all! We chatted with Tami Taylor herself, Connie Britton, at ABC's TCA Party at the 2014 Winter Press Tour, and she is going to make this movie happen, people! Clear eyes, full hearts, can't say no when she's got blackmail!

"Listen honey, I don't know what to tell you," Britton told E! News' Kristin Dos Santos about the scrapped movie. "At this point, I only have to defer to Pete Berg."

But come on, Britton must have some form of blackmail to use on Berg, Chandler and the rest of the FNL gang in order to force them to gift the world with an FNL film, right?!

"I have blackmail information on all of them," the Nashville star admitted. "I am just choosing the right moment to use it." Now. Now would be the right time!

Of course, Britton does have her hands full right now, thanks to her current hit show, Nashville, as well as her adorable son, Eyob.

"Life as a mom is amazing," Britton gushed, before admitting, "Most of the time I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing. I can't believe so many do this because how can they know what they're doing? Then I have my cute, sweet adorable boy and I'm like 'Oh, we'll figure it out!'"

And Britton, perfect human being that she is, revealed that her son is basically a baby genius. "Well, he's talking up a storm. And he really enjoys it. And also now, he really likes to read his books to me even though he's only two. I try to remain humble about my incredible skills that have obviously created genius."

To hear more from Britton, including what "tragedy" is coming up next on Nashville, watch our interview with the gorgeous star above.

Calie Khouri, Dee Johnson & Connie Britton On Show's Rising Soapiness

At TCA today we caught up with Nashville creator Calie Khouri (who is married to Burnett), showrunner Dee Johnson and Britton to talk about the show’s evolution and the the network’s rumored involvement in making it more soapy. “I don’t actually know much about that, I don’t know where things come from,” Britton said when asked about any outside influence on the show’s creative direction but made her position on turning it into a soap opera clear. “I always talk to anyone I can about making the show less soapy,” she said. “But there are a lot of things that come into play as far as that goes.”

Johnson said a firm “no” on the network pressure question. While the show has to keep its audience, “the music keeps us grounded,” she said. It’s “real industry,” she said, saying each episode typically includes 3 songs. Johnson did acknowledge there is pressure to move story fast in a TV landscape so soapy it bubbles (Downton Abbey, Scandal, Revenge to name a few). “You have 42 minutes . . . you have to tell story more creatively,” she said.

For her part, Khouri said “we’re soapier than I thought we would be at the beginning, but I also think we can tell good stories without being as soapy.” She said that part of going in a sudsier direction is about her getting her sea legs in her first foray into TV. “We walk a fine line,” she observed.

'Nashville' says goodbye to one character while Scarlett turns down the chance of a lifetime

That's right, in the first few moments of the midseason premiere of "Nashville," we found out the fate of Teddy's new wife. The bullet that was meant for the mayor went wide and hit Crazy Peggy, killing her immediately. "Nashville" didn't waste any time in revealing that Peggy's death is the one that sticks, but it certainly took its time in letting us know what happened with Will.

Turns out, after contemplating suicide by train for being gay, Will realized he couldn't kill himself. He then spent some time camping in the mountains alone to come to terms with who he is, because he's "disgusted" with himself. After Gunnar went searching for him, he "talked" some sense into him (a.k.a. threw him to the ground for even thinking about suicide) and their bromance is back on. What's also back on is Will's closeted ways, as he's back to faking a relationship with Layla and ignoring Brent. One step forward, two steps back. This won't be able to last. Will's demons will resurface, and it won't be pretty when they do.

Back to Crazy Peggy's death: unfortunately for the pork blood enthusiast, Teddy seemed to be the only one really mourning for the dearly departed. Sure, Maddie said "she was nice" to her dad, but you could tell no one else was really affected by Peggy's death, which makes everything that much sadder. Teddy's suffering on his own, and channeling his grief into figuring out why someone wanted him dead. He's getting closer and closer to the truth -- that it was Lamar getting revenge. Unfortunately for everyone involved, Lamar's revenge is misplaced since Tandy is the one who put him in jail, but that secret hasn't come out yet -- but you can bet it will soon enough.

Plus, Kelly Clarkson's here, y'all! The country/pop star wants to record a song Scarlett and Gunnar wrote together, and when she watches the two perform it for her, she can sense the emotions between them was the real magic. She wants them to spend a weekend locked away together writing more songs to let that magic flow, but Scarlett, being petty Scarlett, tells Kelly that she can't do it. Gunnar is obviously appalled that Scar would take her anger at him and Zoey and tank this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity because honestly, who does that? It's Kelly Clarkson! Scarlett, you're such an idiot. A child. Stupid. Also stupid? Zoey says "I love you" to Gunnar who, in shock, says it back to her. But he totally didn't mean it, right? He was just caught off guard.

Avery also can't believe Scarlett would turn that down, rightly guessing it's because she still has feelings for Gunnar. They have a fight, Scarlett brings up Juliette's 2 a.m. visit, and they realize they've changed and don't work together as a couple anymore. They're like "old slippers," meaning they tried to pick up where they left off. Scarlett and Avery break up once again, freeing Avery up to call Juliette to offer his support for her, "anytime day or night," during her tough time.

Juliette's "tough time" is actually more like the worst time of her career to date. Thanks to a little video editing after some horrible person says some horrible things to her about her dead mom "burning in hell," her protestors get more fuel to add to their fire and their animosity grows. Even though Juliette gets Layla to support her publicly, things don't get better. Is this the end of Juliette's career?

On the flip side of that, Deacon's solo career is only just starting. But he's having a hard time writing songs because for the first time in his life, he's happy. He's sober, has a wonderful girlfriend (who isn't Rayna, though, so grrrrrrr), and is in a good place with daughter Maddie. So he draws on that relationship and writes a beautiful song with Maddie, and you can tell Rayna's heartstrings were tugged.

Will that propel Rayna to work with Deacon again? Now that she listened to the market research about her new album, she realized that she needs a single to launch it. Obviously a Rayna/Deacon song is gold, but can they write together without getting their emotions in the way? We'll find out next week!

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014

Elsewhere Wednesday, "Suburgatory" made its return to ABC with so-so numbers. It held onto most of its lead-in audience from "The Middle" but was below its ratings for last season. "Chicago PD" dipped in its second week for NBC, but "CSI" built on its last original episode for CBS. "Arrow" held up fairly well for The CW.

FOX drew 15 million viewers and an 8.7 rating/14 share in households in primetime, easily beating second-place CBS (8.65 million, 5.6/9). ABC (6.1 million, 4.0/6) came in third. NBC finished fourth with 5.3 million viewers and a 3.5/6. The CW (2 million, 1.3/2) trailed.

FOX's 4.6 rating among adults 18-49 more than doubled the 1.9 for second-place CBS. ABC finished third at 1.8, followed by NBC, 1.4, and The CW, 0.8.

Wednesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.
FOX: "American Idol" season premiere (14.7 million viewers, 8.7/14 households)
ABC: "The Middle" (7.5 million, 4.8/8)/"Suburgatory" season premiere (5.3 million, 3.4/5)
CBS: "Two and a Half Men" rerun (5.5 million, 3.6/6)/"The Millers" rerun (4.95 million, 3.3./5)
NBC: "Revolution" (4.9 million, 3.2/5)
The CW: "Arrow" (2.5 million, 1.6/3)
18-49 leader: "American Idol" (4.3)

9 p.m.
FOX: "American Idol" season premiere (15.3 million, 8.8/14)
CBS: "Criminal Minds" (10.5 million, 6.7/10)
ABC: "Modern Family" (9.1 million, 5.7/9)/"Super Fun Night" (4.6 million, 3.0/5)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" (5.5 million, 3.7/6)
The CW: "The Tomorrow People" (1.6 million, 1.0/2)
18-49 leader: "American Idol" (4.8)

10 p.m.
CBS: "CSI" (10.3 million, 6.7/11)
NBC: "Chicago PD" (5.5 million, 3.6/6)
ABC: "Nashville" (5.05 million, 3.4/6)
18-49 leader: "CSI" (1.9)

Brad Paisley Heads Back to Nashville

Like before, not much acting required for him. He'll portray himself as he inducts Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere's character) into the Grand Ole Opry.

His wife, actress Kimberly Williams Paisley, also stars on the show as Peggy Kenter, the woman we all love to loathe as the old flame who swooped in to snag the heart and left ring finger of Mayor Teddy Conrad after he split from country queen Rayna Jaymes.

Or is Williams-Paisley still on the show? When we last left Nashville during the midseason winter finale, we knew someone's life was hanging in the balance until the show's return this week. As it turns out, it will either be hot young gun Will Lexington (played by Chris Carmack) or -- you guessed it -- Peggy.

In the teaser clips for the show's big return Wednesday night (Jan. 15), Rayna's family -- which would technically be Peggy's family now, too -- is shown wearing black in mourning.

So there may be sad times ahead on Nashville. Brad Paisley could be returning to the set without his wife. However, that may not make him nearly as uncomfortable as he felt when he watched some of her character's antics earlier in the series.

Before his first appearance on the show, Paisley talked about his reaction to watching his wife on the screen.

"It's a little odd, having Kim on there playing somebody else," he told Parade magazine. "I can't watch it. It is really good, but it's disturbing to me, too close to what I do."

Hey, he may not have to worry about that anymore. We'll all know more when we learn of Peggy's fate during this week's episode.

Callie Khouri teases whether Will or Peggy will die in the midseason premiere

Zap2it tried to squeeze all the scoop we could out of "Nashville" showrunner Callie Khouri, but she wouldn't reveal who the unlucky soul was (though we certainly have our opinions on who it should be). She did, however, spill that whoever does die, the consequences will be felt by all of the characters. "I can't tell you who it is. We have been lectured sternly and sworn to secrecy so I cannot tell you," Khouri tells Zap2it. "I feel really terrible because there have been so many people asking me, like my close friends, they're like, 'Which one's dead?' and I'm like, 'Guys, seriously, I really wish I could say.' But I signed things!"

After a little more prying, Khouri opened up about how if Will is the one to go, that would certainly be a heartbreaking way to die -- committing suicide by train because he's so deeply closeted. "The thing that has been the most interesting to us about a character like this is Chris has just totally blown me away at the sensitivity that he has shown playing this character. It has been really incredible watching him," Khouri says. "The writers all felt like we've seen the character who is gay and out enough but knows in real life, people aren't going to be accepting of it. But to see a guy who is in a world that isn't accepting of it, and himself is not accepting of it, his own self cannot come to terms with it, and the self-destruction that it causes in him, we felt like that was something that we hadn't really seen. We really, really wanted to explore that. Chris has been brilliant at it. He's just been so heartbreaking."

While Will was contemplating suicide, Peggy's death would be the result of a hit gone awry -- the bullet that hit her was actually meant for her husband Teddy. Should we assume that this was the work of Lamar, getting revenge on who he thought put him in jail (even though it was his daughter Tandy)? "I wouldn't wave you off of that theory totally," Khouri says with a laugh. "It certainly does beg the question of why when Lamar's in the midst of all these problems which he of course brought on himself, who does he think got him into all these problems? It certainly wouldn't be totally far-fetched to suspect that he might have had something to do with it. But that doesn't mean that he did."

If Peggy does die, that also begs the question: will Teddy ever find out that she wasn't actually pregnant? Or will she get away with her pork blood fake miscarriage? "Those kinds of secrets are really hard to keep, no matter how hard you're trying. One day, it's likely to come out," Khouri says with a laugh. "We're trying to walk a fine line here. Obviously there's an amount of soap involved that we have to give in to. But this is also a show that is really in most ways more committed to the reality of the music business and the reality of the characters. So when we find ourselves in that territory, we're still trying to understand why somebody would be doing what they're doing."

Khouri thinks that Peggy wasn't totally crazy ... she was just caught in a lie and got desperate. "It's not like we were like, 'Oh let's have someone who's crazy and psychotic.' Let's see why she felt the need and see how desperate somebody gets. That's more what we were trying to do than just have her be psychotic," Khouri says about the pork blood mishap. "Peggy was really in love with Teddy and frightened that at any point, he could decide as he had done earlier in their relationship to not go forward with her. She was just looking for a way that she could fulfill her dream that she had had with him for years. They dated before he and Rayna ever started going out so she thinks that by all rights, Teddy was really hers first. She got a little screwed up trying to make sure she had a real claim on him and his heart. She's not a bad person, let me put it that way. She's misguided. I don't think she was proud of what she was doing. I don't think she was sitting around feeling self-satisfied."

Aside from the melodrama surrounding the mysterious death, Khouri is really excited for what's coming up in the second half of the season. "We've got some great music coming up and our characters' relationships with each other are getting deeper and more complicated," Khouri teases. "Story-wise, I don't think people will be disappointed at all. But I'm just most excited for what we have coming up musically. The second half of the season is going to be really fun."

"Nashville" returns Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.

Where We Left Off on Nashville: 12 Burning Questions for the Second Half of Season 2

TVGuide.com turned to series creator Callie Khouri for some teases about where the show is headed. (Spoiler alert: For at least one plotline, even the producers aren't sure!) Check out our full Q&A below:

Let's start with the biggest cliffhanger. The most recent episode left the fates of both Peggy (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) and Will (Chris Carmack) up in the air. Any chance you can tell us whether one, both, or neither survive?

Callie Khouri: (Laughs) I wish I could tell you. I wish I could answer the question, because can you imagine how many times I've been asked? No, I can't say.

Hypothetically, if Will is still alive, what is his struggle going to be going forward?

Khouri: He's just a guy who not only is in a business that doesn't really seem to be very accepting of gay characters or gay artists, but he himself has a tremendous amount of trouble accepting himself as gay. I think that has been almost more than what other people think, more his own feelings about it. ... Because it's not just about how he's perceived. It's in fact how he judges himself that has caused him all this anguish. He's not a guy that's just like, "I'm here, I'm queer, get used to it." It's like, "I'm not gay."

Regardless of her fate, will Peggy's pregnancy deception ever come to light?

Khouri: I think all dark secrets eventually come to light. ... It's very likely that she will be found out eventually.

Juliette (Hayden Panettiere) also had a huge moment in the fall finale, going to Avery's (Jonathan Jackson) house to confess her love. She's not a character who often allows herself to be vulnerable. What are the repercussions from that?

Khouri: Whenever Juliette allows herself to be vulnerable, she very quickly gets her hand slapped. And so, she's pretty shaken. I think she's in kind of a bad position, because I think for the first time, she's in a position where this whole thing has caught her off guard. The fact that she even is registering feelings for this guy is not anything that she expected to be feeling. She ends up holding her cards very close to her vest for a bit, because she doesn't go looking for pain. That's for sure. She just kind of waits and it comes her way. And so, I don't know that she's going to go running back to his arms.

After seeing that Avery's likely back with Scarlett (Clare Bowen), will Juliette return to her old ways in terms of romance?

Khouri: The thing I love about Juliette is she's a character that really does grow. It was one of the great things about catching somebody at that age, in their early 20s. I find it really interesting watching Taylor Swift and some of these other younger artists, because they have to just grow up in front of everybody, and all their mistakes are in magazines. But Juliette is a person who is really prone to mistakes and they hit her hard. I think when we started out, everybody just kind of thought, oh, she's so ambitious that she's kind of without feeling. But she's really, really sensitive. I think that was a huge moment for her, to actually go to his house. To say, "I want to be able to say 'I love you' to someone." That's one of my favorite moments of performance that Hayden has ever delivered. I just felt so awful for her. All the embarrassment and shame that she was feeling that minute was so apparent.

Is Avery and Scarlett rekindling their romance a result of him changing, or is it more about her wanting to get over Gunnar (Sam Palladio) with someone who's comfortable?

Khouri: We've been really having fun this season with turning the Avery character into a very different guy than where he started out. He's the other character that I feel like has really come a long way. I think there's a little of [Scarlett wanting to get over Gunnar]. I think it's natural. I think if you've been in a relationship for a really long time, as they have — because they were together in college and she moved there to be with him — there was a real foundation there for that relationship. I think falling back into that for both of them was really kind of where you go to pull yourself back together again.

Will they face a bit of a rocky road going forward?

Khouri: Well, it's Nashville. Come on. (Laughs)

What about Layla (Aubrey Peeples)? Is she ever going to get taken down a peg?

Khouri: Layla is 19. She's a snake in the grass, but the grass is over her head. So, she is going to make a lot of mistakes too. Some people, their ambition can be their undoing, and I think she really walks that line. I think she thinks of herself as invincible, and I also think that she has never not been somebody's adorable darling. Even on her TV show that she came from, when she came in second, you're still the favorite of millions of people. And I think that she just doesn't ever consider that people aren't just looking at her feeling like, "Oh, isn't she fantastic?" And she's not in a world where that's happening right now. People are thinking,"You don't know your place."

Is there hope for Deacon (Charles Esten) to get his career back on track? Will he and Gunnar (Sam Palladio) collaborate?

Khouri: I think that both of them were surprised at how well their thing went. So, yeah. All those characters musically start to explore things with each other. All the young ones really look up to Deacon, and Deacon is just kind of a man without a country at the moment. He doesn't want to keep doing what he's been doing. He doesn't want to keep being somebody's side man. And he's not going to go out and be Mr. Lead Guitar, as he's been for most of his career. [But] he can still write songs.

Deacon and Maddie (Lennon Stella) sing together in Wednesday's episode. What is their relationship going to be going forward?

Khouri: He's starting to learn a whole new skill set. This is the last thing in the world he ever expected, is to have to be a dad. Even if he had secretly wanted it, he certainly didn't know it was going to come to him the way that it did. And I think he certainly is starting to understand that that has some meaning to it. It puts him and Rayna in a proximity that certainly neither one of them expected to be dealing with each other on that level either. Rayna thought she had things pretty well under control when the show started. And the fact that I think Maddie seems to really want to have a relationship with Deacon too really puts Rayna in a tricky position. Because Teddy is still very adamant that he is Maddie's father and really just thinks of Deacon as if he were a sperm donor.

Things have been strained between Maddie and Teddy (Eric Close), to say the least. Will they grow any closer in the wake of Peggy's shooting?

Khouri: Clearly, something like that is so huge, and I think the whole family is in shock. Because I think for better or for worse, they were starting to accept that this woman was going to be in their lives. They weren't seeing the sides of her that we were showing the audience. They were seeing a woman who is really nice to them. They were kind of coming to terms with the fact that their father was in love with somebody that was going to be around for a while, and were feeling comfortable enough to treat her like teenagers treat their stepmothers. (Laughs)

Finally, what's going on with Rayna (Connie Britton) and Luke (Will Chase)? And is there any chance Jeff Fordham (Oliver Hudson) will be a love interest for Rayna down the road? It seems pretty unlikely, but that was something that was teased before the season began.

Khouri: It does seem unlikely at this point. Jeff and Rayna are really chalk and cheese. They really do not get along. They will continue to have many interactions throughout the season. And the Luke love interest, we weren't really sure when we started how we wanted that to go. We literally were just like, "Wow, wouldn't it be interesting to see Rayna in a relationship with somebody that's more her equal?" So, we're really playing that a little bit by ear. It's very interesting to us to kind of explore the ramifications of that, as we put her in these different situations.

Nashville airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on ABC. Who do you think will die?

Hayden Panettiere's Golden Globes Dress: She Loved It So Much, She Bought It Off the Rack!

So it’s super-unlikely to see a celeb wearing a gown they’ll actually take home with them, which is why it was so refreshing to find out that Hayden Panettiere picked out her Tom Ford gown off the rack to wear to Sunday’s awards show. She gushed about the designer to PEOPLE (“I’m obsessed with it! I freaked out that I’m even wearing it. Anything he makes is just stunning,” she said) and she was ready to put her money where her mouth is.

At the HBO post-Golden Globes party, the star confessed to trying on tons of dresses before finding the one — “More than I feel like I usually do!” — but the search was worth it when she found this dress. “I bought this one. I actually get to keep it, which is really weird to me, that I don’t have to worry about somebody showing up on my doorstep going, ‘Where’s the dress? Give it back!’” she said. “It’s like buying a piece of art. You can hopefully keep it forever."

She also showed off a shorter haircut to complement the “sexy, vampy and comfortable” vibe of her dress. Why the new do? “Fried ends, split ends,” she said. “That’s the inspiration. I got to chop off my hair and it’s fun and I can finally get away with it again” [after having to wear long hair for Nashville for the past two seasons].

'Nashville' casts 'Orange Is the New Black's' Michael Chernus

After being lampooned by the media and her fans for being a home wrecker, Juliette's (Hayden Panettiere) PR image is in need of a huge makeover. Too bad there's more troubling times ahead for this country starlet: When "Nashville" returns, her reputation will take another blow as creative video editing seems to show her proclaiming there is no God, further fueling her detractors. Oops.

Thankfully, a new face is heading to the ABC southern soap to help Juliette with her PR disaster. Michael Chernus ("Orange Is the New Black") has just been cast to guest-star on at least one episode, TVLine reports.

Chernus, who plays inmate Piper Chapman's outdoorsy brother Cal on "OITNB," will play Howie V., a very successful yet manic and avant-garde Los Angeles-based music producer who wants to turn Juliettte ino the next Beyonce. Does the country diva have what it takes to become the next Queen Bey?

"Nashville" returns Wednesday (Jan. 15) at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.

Costume Designers Unveil CDG Awards Nominees

Michael Huisman Upped To Regular On HBO's 'Game Of Thrones' For Season 5

Deacon from 'Nashville' -- Honky Tonks in Legendary Bar ... And He Wasn't Even Drunk

We've learned ... Chip Esten rolled into Robert's Western World in Nashville on Thursday with his wife, their kids and roughly 15 other people to hang out and listen to some live country music.

Sources tell us ... Chip sprung for lunch for the entire group (which only ran around $100 'cause everything is so reasonably priced ... try the fried bologna sandwich) ... and then surprised the whole bar with an impromptu performance of the Hank Williams classic "Lovesick Blues."

The performance was actually pretty damn good ... considering Chip started his career as an improv comic (seriously, he was a regular on "Whose Line Is It Anyway?").

There's more ... our Nashville sources tell us Chip was great to his fans -- taking pics and signing autographs ... and then left the bar staff an "excellent" tip.

Oh, one last thing ... Chip didn't take a sip of alcohol during the outing.

Deacon would be proud.

Spoilers: Will Crazy Peggy or Will die in 'I'll Keep Climbing?'

While we have our preference over who should survive the events of the fall finale, the network just released the official synopsis for midseason premiere episode, "I'll Keep Climbing" ... and it doesn't tell us much about who will live to see another episode. Read the full synopsis here:

"In the aftermath of the death of someone in their circle, lives are changed forever in the world of 'Nashville,' and a new mystery arises. Kelly Clarkson guest stars as herself and makes Gunnar and Scarlett a once-in-a-lifetime offer. Juliette's reputation takes another body blow as creative video editing seems to show her proclaiming there is no God, further fueling her detractors. Rayna's bought herself out of Edgehill, but the the pressure to succeed is greater than ever, and Deacon struggles to write during his sobriety and relative stability and finds help from Maddie and Daphne."

What do you think the new mystery is? Will Clarkson be a factor in Gunnar and Scarlett's inevitable romantic reunion? (You know it's going to happen.) Will Crazy Peggy or Will die?

"Nashville" returns Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.

ABC Limits Next-Day Availability of Full Episodes

The network announced on its Watch ABC portal that starting Monday, Jan. 6, only those who can verify their cable subscription* — or those who use the Hulu Plus premium service — will be able to access full episodes the following day.

Those aiming to play morning-after catch-up without a valid cable service log-in or via Hulu’s free service will need to wait eight days after broadcast before new episodes become available for streaming.

Next-day downloads as always will be available for purchase on iTunes and Amazon Instant Video. On-demand viewings are also still an option, but again — cable.

* Providers include AT&T U-verse, Cablevision Optimum, Charter, Comcast XFINITY, Cox Communications, Google Fiber, Midcontinent and Verizon FiOS — but not DISH, DirecTV and Time Warner Cable

Connie Britton: I'm OK With No FNL Movie

Though she waxed enthusiastic about the possibility of a Friday Night Lights movie earlier this year, Nashville star Connie Britton apparently has made her peace with the recent news that a big-screen adaptation isn’t happening.

“You know what, I actually feel like it’s good,” the actress, who starred opposite Kyle Chandler in the football-themed drama, tells Vanity Fair. “I think that the decision needed to be made, and there’s been so much going back and forth about it now for so long.”

She continues: “And I feel like the only way that was ever going to work is if it just fell into place beautifully, and if everybody was on board, because we couldn’t do anything to risk what Friday Night Lights has already been.”

Calling the series — and its production process — “very unique” and “groundbreaking,” Britton said, “We really weren’t too worried about doing things the way that everybody else did them — we sort of wanted to do it our own way, and that will always be really special to me.”

Golden Globes 2014: Nominations

Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries, or TV Movie

Jacqueline Bisset, Dancing on the Edge
Janet McTeer, The White Queen
Hayden Panettiere, Nashville
Monica Potter, Parenthood
Sofía Vergara, Modern Family

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013

Also Tuesday, night two of "The Sing-Off" put up decent ratings without a "Voice" lead-in, topping "The X Factor" from 8 to 10 p.m. "Arrow" was steady in viewers and adults 18-49 and posted the show's best ratings ever among young men.

CBS led all three hours of primetime in viewers, averaging 10.3 million and a 6.4 rating/10 share in households. ABC (6.75 million, 4.4/7) came in second. NBC (5.7 million, 3.6/6) beat out FOX (4.9 million, 3.1/5) for third. The CW came in at 2.2 million viewers and a 1.4/2.

CBS also scored an demographic win, earning a 2.2 rating in adults 18-49 to beat ABC's 1.9. NBC took third with a 1.7, followed by FOX, 1.4, and The CW, 0.8.

Wednesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.
CBS: "Survivor: Blood vs. Water" (9.8 million viewers, 6.0/10 households)
ABC: "The Middle" (8.1 million, 5.1/8)/"Back in the Game" (6.1 million, 3.9/6)
NBC: "The Sing-Off" (6 million, 3.6/6)
FOX: "The X Factor" (4.8 million, 3.1/5)
The CW: "Arrow" (3 million, 1.9/3)
18-49 leader: "Survivor: Blood vs. Water" (2.5)

9 p.m.
CBS: "Criminal Minds" (11 million, 6.9/11)
ABC: "Modern Family" (10.5 million, 6.6/10)/"Super Fun Night" (5.5 million, 3.5/5)
NBC: "The Sing-Off" (5.9 million, 3.6/6)
FOX: "The X Factor" (5 million, 3.2/5)
The CW: "The Tomorrow People" (1.4 million, 1.0/2)
18-49 leader: "Modern Family" (3.5)

10 p.m.
CBS: "CSI" (9.95 million, 6.4/11)
NBC: Special - "Kelly Clarkson's Cautionary Christmas Music Tale" (5.3 million, 3.5/6)
ABC: "Nashville" (5.15 million, 3.6/6)
18-49 leader: "CSI" (1.8)

Nashville Books Kelly Clarkson

American Idol champ-turned-Grammy winner Kelly Clarkson, who won raves for her stint on CBS’ The Crazy Ones earlier this season, is set to guest-star in an episode of Nashville, TVLine has learned exclusively.

“As you recall, one of the most popular songs of last season is a song that Gunnar and Scarlett wrote – ‘Fade Into You,’ showrunner Dee Johnson tells TVLine. “And in fact, in real life, [Clarkson is] actually cutting that song.”

Look for Clarkson to show up in the ABC series’ Episode 11, which will air in January.

Fall finale: Did both [SPOILER] and [SPOILER] die in 'Tomorrow Never Comes?

Spoilers below.

Did you guess they would kill both Crazy Peggy and Will? We were only prepared for one death, but now two lives hang in the balance. And while Crazy Peggy getting shot was super soap opera-y, Will's apparent suicide is like a punch to the gut. Here was a bright, young, talented man with his entire future as a country superstar ahead of him, and he walked in front of a train because he was in so much pain from being closeted. He couldn't deal with being gay in the country music business, even after he finally gave in to his feelings and slept with Brent. He should have been happy at connecting with the guy he'd been longing for, but instead he took his own life.

Did Will actually go through with it? We don't know yet, but we do know that Crazy Peggy's odds aren't looking so good. What was up with that random security guard pulling a gun on Mayor Teddy? Our guess is it was orchestrated by Lamar from inside jail, but that backfired when Teddy wrestled the gun away and the shot went wide, hitting Crazy Peggy. Will she survive the gunshot? We don't know that either.

So what else happened in the game-changing episode? It's time for the Music City Music Festival, y'all, and all our favorite (and not-so-favorite) characters were in attendance.

After Teddy pulled Deacon from the festival lineup, he didn't even have the decency to tell him. Deacon had to find out from some assistant who couldn't find his packet of info at the check-in tent. What a jerk move, Teddy. Is it bad if we were wishing the gunshot hadn't missed its mark? Too harsh? Gunnar still has his spot on the lineup, but it's at the stage next to the porta potties -- a.k.a. an 11 a.m. slot at Toilet Town, according to Deacon. He's regretting giving up the rights to his favorite song right about now for that, ahem, s***ty slot. But thanks to Deacon's quick thinking, they decide to partner up and do their own thing outside of the festival's fences, where Teddy and Jeff Fordham don't have any say.

Deacon has the idea that they should start playing near the main stage after the headliner ends -- they'll have the crowds already, and they won't be "inside" the festival, just next to it in the parking lot his friend owns. Deacon needs Gunnar to do that "tweetering" thing to get the word out, and he'll call his A&R friends. When Gunnar asks why he's not doing the gig with Rayna or Juliette, Deacon turns on that Southern-boy charm and melts hearts across the country: "I think I'm done being on the side. I wanna be out front a little bit." Oh Deacon, you'll do just fine in the spotlight. Juuuust fine.

Scarlett's home from her tour, and she's so pissed at Zoey hooking up with Gunnar that she isn't even acknowledging her. Because of course that's how she would handle things: like a child. And when Scarlett catches Deacon and Gunnar planning their concert in the house she shares with Deacon, she gets even angrier because Gunnar had the audacity to be in her home. Gunnar's surprised when Deacon doesn't want to fight him later or give him free advice about the situation, because according to Deacon, as long as Gunnar never cheated on Scarlett, then they never have to talk about it. Gunnar has to figure out his "soap opera" with Scarlett and Zoey on his own.

Juliette invites Avery to play with her during her big headlining set, but things take a turn for the PR-worse when news finally breaks that Juliette's the reason behind the Wentworth divorce. She's trying to play it off like it's some rumor, but manager Glen is right: She's Juliette Barnes, and the public won't believe her side of the story. Plus, country music fans like cheating songs, but they don't like the cheater. Juliette won't talk to the press about it until she can give them a name to tear to shreds: the person who outed her to them in the first place. Uh oh, Layla, better watch your back.

Things heat up when Juliette confronts Layla after finding out from Charlie he didn't leak the details. Layla basically threatens Juliette, which is not the wisest of moves. And then Layla makes the biggest mistake of them all: She tries to trash-talk Juliette to Jeff. He turns around and fires back that Juliette has years of albums and singles that are important to Edgehill whereas Layla is still new -- and if he finds out Layla's behind the rumors, her contract will be in serious jeopardy. This little girl just realized she made a big mistake.

Things are going great for Rayna and Luke -- they're even using girlfriend/boyfriend labels (in secret, though) and doing a radio tour together to promote their new single. So obviously, things can't last like that. This is "Nashville," y'all! Luke tells Rayna he heard Jeff is still planning on releasing her album, so she ambushes him at his home -- while he's skinny dipping! -- to confront him. He is planning on releasing the album, since the single isn't going to make his quarterly earnings. He wants to chop up the album she made with Liam to release only the best songs. That doesn't fly with Rayna, who thinks that the album is complete as is. Jeff gives her two options: Either he releases the album his way, or she gives him a check for $20 million to buy her masters back.

Rayna decides to focus on getting that $20 million, but with her tour income she doesn't have enough. Tandy offers $3 million for a corner office at Highway 65, which gets her closer to her goal. Luke doesn't understand why Rayna would want to give up being on a label, and methinks we've found the flaw in their heretofore perfect relationship. Luke's a little too close to Jeff, and that isn't a good sign. But Rayna decides to go all-in and mortgage her house, sell her stocks, and put it all on the line to give Jeff his check. And it looks like it might be over for her and Luke when she tells him she won't be promoting their single together since it's an Edgehill release. The kiss he gives her seemed an awful lot like a goodbye kiss. That's music business romance for ya, I guess.

Layla's still banging Will to make their music business romance a reality, but seeing as how he's making moony eyes at a photo of Brent on his phone, that's not a good sign for her. Things look up for Will when Brent later tells him he broke up with his boyfriend Craig after he found out the guys Will beat up in Houston were the ones harassing him at the hotel for being gay. Sparks are flying between these two ... until Will tells him that Layla's his type "across the board." Uh, yeah, sure Will. We totally believe you, especially after you sleep with Brent.

But then. OH GOD. DOES WILL COMMIT SUICIDE?

Back at the festival, Crazy Peggy is getting way too into her "new family" and new role as "mom." Watching Crazy Peggy call the girls "sweetie" is just sickening. We agree with Rayna's face: Stop that right now, Crazy Peggy. She tries to pull motherly rank on Maddie, who wants to see Deacon's (not-so-scheduled) set, but that fails miserably because hello, you can't keep Maddie from her real father. Nice try. (We're seriously going to miss making all these barbs at Crazy Peggy if she really does bite the dust. Not Crazy Peggy!)

Scarlett finally talks to Zoey and tells her that she misses Zoey's good-girl side, since she hurt fewer people that way. Uh, Scarlett, time to face the facts: People change, but they still can be friends. We don't agree with the way Gunnar and Zoey got together or how they handled telling Scarlett, but she's upset about the wrong thing. Zoey breaks up with Gunnar while she figures out what's going on with her and Scarlett ... and promptly gets back together with him, since she says Scarlett should be happy for them. This is going to get uglier before it gets better.

After avoiding the press, Juliette takes the stage for her set, but breaks down when the crowd hoists a big "homewrecker" banner and starts booing her. She almost walks offstage, but Avery stops her and starts to duet with her, basically saving the set. They sound awesome together, but Juliette breaks down in her dressing room afterward. Avery talks her through things and gives her an idea of how to handle the situation. She finally talks to the press and tells them her private life is just that: private. She then goes to profess her love for Avery, but Scarlett's over and half naked, and though she never said the words to Avery, from the look on his face, he was expecting it and didn't know what to do. It seems like he's got feelings for her too, but after Scarlett confides in him that he's the only one she trusts, he can't break up with her.

Gunnar and Deacon's unofficial set goes great, and Rayna congratulates Deacon on his first outing as a frontman. When he gets a call from his girlfriend Megan, she looks a little sad. Are we seeing the romantic re-emergence of Rayna and Deacon? We're definitely seeing the emergence of Deacon as a solo artist, since he gets an offer from one of his A&R friends.

After both the set and the festival end, Rayna and Teddy have a polite conversation about Rayna's future with Edgehill, where she tells him she's planning on mortgaging the house. He gives her his blessing and all seems well ... until some rando security guard pulls a gun on Teddy, who wrestles it away and the shot that went off hit Crazy Peggy. Like ... whaaaaaat?

Did you see that coming? Who do you think is going to die, Crazy Peggy, Will, both, or neither?

Midseason Finale: Did [Spoiler] Really Just Die? Get the Scoop!

Hold onto your hats, country fans, because Nashville just gave us a jam-packed hour of what-the-hell-just-happened?! Not one, but two lives are hanging in the balance after tonight's shocking midseason finale.

We've been preparing you for tonight's deadly twists and turns for the past few weeks, and now we're here to catch you up on everything you may have missed. Plus, we've got scoop on the fate of these two characters when Nashville returns in January.

First things first: Let's talking about everyone's favorite heartthrob, Will Lexington (Chris Carmack). Did anyone else shriek "Noooooo!" as Will turned on the train tracks to face his deadly (and yet totally avoidable!) fate? Our rising country star decided that he would rather end his life than admit to himself—and his adoring fans—that he is attracted to men.

We were absolutely heartbroken to see that this character would choose to stand before a speeding train in the dead of night than embrace who he really is. It gets better, Will, we promise!

With the train rushing towards him, the screen cut to black before fans could tell if Will really decided to take his own life.

Now onto the second potential casualty of the night: In the last minute of the episode, Teddy (Eric Close) had just finished telling Rayna (Connie Britton) that he and Peggy (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) are very happy together—and then all hell broke loose! As Teddy turned to walk back to his wife, a random passerby pulled out a gun and fired a shot in the air while our mayor wrestled the pistol out of his hand.

Rayna (and her gorgeous head of hair) was just fine (as was the hair), but unfortunately we can't say the same about Peggy. As the camera turned, we saw Teddy's new bride was lying on the ground completely motionless. Did the bullet hit her?! We're not quite sure…

However, we can reveal that when the ABC country smash returns in January only one of these doomed characters will survive.

But the question is: Which character will say goodbye? Peggy or Will?

Spoilers: Who dies in 'Tomorrow Never Comes?'

We. Were. Wrong.

After watching the fall finale, "Tomorrow Never Comes," early, our jaws were left on the ground. "Nashville" is really going there, y'all. We're impressed, we're shocked, we're horrified, and we can't wait to see how all the characters attempt to pick up the pieces when "Nashville" returns in early 2014.

To tide you over until you get a chance to watch the game-changing episode, here are 10 teases about the big death and everything else that goes down in "Tomorrow Never Comes" , which airs at 10 p.m. ET Wednesday (Dec. 11):

10. There will actually be not one, but two lives hanging in the balance by the end of the episode.

9. Both of those lives will be put in danger in the last act of the episode, so keep watching until the very end.

8. One will be quite obvious when it's coming (and it's rather soap-opera-y in its execution), but the other will take you by complete and utter surprise.

7. Both characters are major characters. One, we will be extremely heartbroken over if he or she does in fact die, due to the circumstances surrounding the death and the way it happens. The other we will be shocked about, because we can't believe the show would actually go there with this character, but none too heartbroken about.

6. It's time for the Music City Music Festival, and it affects all our favorite characters.

5. Though Teddy took Deacon's name off of the roster of performers, Deacon's not giving up on his first solo performance.

4. Scarlett deals with Gunnar and Zoey in the exact way you'd expect her to: like a child.

3. Juliette comes to a realization about her romantic life, and it changes more than a few lives around her drastically.

2. Rayna comes to a realization about her professional life, and it changes more than a few lives around her drastically.

1. Will comes to a realization about his romantic and professional life, and it changes more than a few lives around him drastically.

So, place your bets: Whose lives are in the balance on "Nashville"?

Hayden Panettiere Shows Support for Protesters in Ukraine

"There's a movement happening here, and you have a chance to make things right, to make things just. You have a right to a democracy," the Nashville star told the crowd gathered in Independence Square.

She added, "As an American, I want you to know that I stand by you, I support your fight, and I will support it until the country of Ukraine in its entirety reflects the beauty, the true beauty of Ukrainian people. Keep fighting. I love you all."

Hayden Panettiere and Fiancé Wladimir Klitschko Are Calling Nashville Home

The 24-year-old, who's engaged to boxer Wladimir Klitschko, is buying a home in Tennessee.

While a lot of her fellow cast and crew were buying homes in Nashville "pretty immediately" after the show began shooting, Panettiere tells PEOPLE that she wanted to take her time.

"That's a big investment and a big commitment for something [like a TV show] that can be very fleeting," she explained at the CMT Artist of the Year awards on Tuesday.

"But after a year and a half of living here, I felt that I had enough personal investment here, that I want to have a grounding here, even if something happens to the show. Knock on wood it won't! But I have amazing friends here and this just feels good as a home base."

When asked how her 6'6"-tall Ukranian fiancé will adjust to life in Nashville, she smiled and said, "He fits in anywhere. He's a very worldly man!"

As for any wedding plans? "With both of our schedules, it's crazy trying to schedule anything, much less a wedding," Panettiere admits.

But she does have her perfect dress – and perfect day – in mind. "I can picture it," she says, but admits she's a bit uncomfortable about having all the attention focused on her on her big day.

"I'm very shy in some ways," she says. "Obviously I'm in the spotlight professionally, but to be that vulnerable, standing up in front of people doing something so personal, that's kind of a new thing for me and not exactly in my comfort zone."

She adds: "There are many ways to get married and we'll figure one out that is comfortable for both of us."

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2013

"Survivor" had its best performance of the season in viewers and rose by a couple tenths of a point in 18-49. "Arrow" scored its biggest total audience in more than nine months for The CW while also hitting a season high among adults 18-34. NBC's "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" had its best 18-49 rating since 2006.

On the down side, "Modern Family" and the rest of ABC's comedies all fell some. "The X Factor" was up over last week but still finished fourth in each of its hours.

CBS delivered 8.9 million viewers and a 5.6 rating/9 share in households for the night, beating out NBC (8.2 million, 5.0/8) for the lead. ABC (6.4 million, 4.1/7) came in third. FOX took fourth with 5.3 million viewers and a 3.3/5. The CW (2.5 million, 1.6/2) trailed.

NBC led the 18-49 demographic with a 2.5 rating. ABC and CBS tied for second at 1.9, half a point better than FOX's 1.4. The CW drew a 0.9.

Wednesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.
CBS: "Survivor: Blood vs. Water" (10.6 million viewers, 6.2/10 households)
NBC: Special - "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" (9.9 million, 6.1/10)
ABC: "The Middle" (7.5 million, 4.7/8)/"Back in the Game" (5.2 million, 3.3/5)
FOX: "The X Factor" (5 million, 3.1/5)
The CW: "Arrow" (3.2 million, 1.9/3)
18-49 leader: "Survivor: Blood vs. Water" (2.6)

9 p.m.
NBC: Special - "SNL Christmas" (8.5 million, 5.1/8)
CBS: "Criminal Minds" rerun (8.1 million, 5.3/8)
ABC: "Modern Family" (9.4 million, 5.8/9)/"Super Fun Night" (4.9 million, 3.2/5)
FOX: "The X Factor" (5.7 million, 3.5/5)
The CW: "The Tomorrow People" (1.8 million, 1.2/2)
18-49 leader: "Modern Family" (3.1)

10 p.m.
CBS: "CSI" rerun (8 million, 3.7/6)
NBC: "SNL Christmas" (6.3 million, 3.7/6)
ABC: "Nashville" (5.7 million, 3.8/6)
18-49 leader: "SNL Christmas" (2.4)

Robert Wisdom Cast In FX Pilot 'Hoke'

Hayden Panettiere on Having Kids with (Tall) Wladimir Klitschko: 'They'll Be Normal Height'

"I'm small, but he's large," the 5'2" Nashville star said on Wednesday's Ellen DeGeneres Show about her 6'6" fiancé, heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko.

"That's how we met. I said, 'You're huge.' He said, 'You're tiny.' "

Panettiere said the on-again, off-again relationship between the couple, who confirmed their engagement last month, was "God telling us [that we] were too far on either end of the spectrum. He needs to make normal people."

Joked Ellen DeGeneres about the couple's having kids, "The two of you are going to make normal people between you and him?"

"Yeah," Panettiere said with a laugh. "He's got bowlegs. I've got knocked knees. They're going to have straight legs. They'll be normal height."

Although Panettiere, 24, told DeGeneres that Klitschko, 37, is a "good dude," as a Ukrainian "he's very confused about our traditions," the actress said, imitating Klitschko's not understanding why he's not allowed to see a bride in her dress before the wedding – or the meaning of a honeymoon.

Still, there's an upside, she notes: "He doesn't know the woman's side of the family is supposed to pay for the wedding. Sssshhh!"

"Oh, that's smart," DeGeneres acknowledged.

Concluded Panettiere, "We don't need him to know that."

Kimberly Williams-Paisley Laughs Off Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood Cheating Report

In fact, she thinks they're hilarious.

The 42-year-old Nashville actress laughed off the infidelity rumors when asked what she thought of the story at the 5th Annual African Children's Choir Gala Thursday in New York City.

After bursting out laughing, Kimberly told Us Weekly, "Are you serious? Wow! I hope it helps our careers! That's all I can say."

The National Enquirer report claimed Brad and the "Blown Away" singer, who hosted this year's Country Music Awards together, had been hooking up.

As for what keeps their marriage strong, Kimberly told the mag, "We have family Sundays together. We spend as much time as we can. We're very down-to-earth people. We come from good families, and we appreciate family."

The country star also isn't shy about gushing about his ladylove, recently telling iHeartRadio his latest single, "I Can't Change The World," was inspired by how he felt when he and Kimberly first started seeing each other 12 years ago.

Paisley said before they got serious, he told her he "wasn't sure what she was looking for, and admitted he had his limits, but would do everything he could for her," the site reported.

Aww!

The couple, who tied the knot in March 2003, has two children together, 6-year-old Huck and 4-year-old Jasper.

Second-season 'Nashville' cast soundtrack due Dec. 10

Produced by Buddy Miller, who also serves as Nashville's executive music producer, The Music of Nashville: Original Soundtrack Season 2, Volume 1 spotlights the voices of cast members Connie Britton, Hayden Panettiere, Charles Esten, Jonathan Jackson, Clare Bowen, Sam Palladio, Chris Carmack, sisters Lennon and Maisy Stella, Aubrey Peeples, Chaley Rose and Will Chase.

An iTunes pre-order of the 13-track album starts Monday. Target's exclusive version adds four bonus tracks.

The first season's two volumes have sold a combined 2.6 million digital downloads.

Nashville airs at 10 p.m. ET/PT Wednesday on ABC.

The Music Of Nashville, Season 2, Vol. 1: Get your copy here!

Track listing:

1. What If I Was Willing

Performed by Chris Carmack / Written by Billy Montana, Randy Montana, Brian Davis

2. Can't Get It Right

Performed by Sam Palladio / Written by Matthew Perryman Jones, Lily Costner

3. A Life That's Good

Performed by Lennon & Maisy / Written by Sarah Siskind, Ashley Monroe

4. Ball And Chain

Performed by Connie Britton, Will Chase / Written by Tammi Lynn Kidd, Paul Kennerley

5. This Town

Performed by Clare Bowen, Charles Esten / Written by Jaida Dreyer, Andrew Rollins, Cory Mayo

6. Trouble Is

Performed by Hayden Panettiere / Written by Kate York, Marv Green

7. Playin' Tricks

Performed by Charles Esten / Written by Justin Davis, Sarah Zimmerman, Adam Wright

8. Why Can't I Say Goodnight

Performed by Clare Bowen, Sam Palladio / Written by Angelo Petraglia, Kim Richey

9. Tell Me

Performed by Aubrey Peeples / Written by Jaida Dreyer, Andrew Rollins, Cory Mayo, Jody Stevens

10. Wayfaring Stranger (a cappella version)

Performed by Chaley Rose / Public Domain

11. Share With You

Performed by Lennon & Maisy / Written by Garrison Starr

12. How You Learn To Live Alone

Performed by Jonathan Jackson / Written by Mary Gauthier, Gretchen Peters

13. Can't Say No To You

Performed by Hayden Panettiere, Chris Carmack / Written by Sarah Buxton, Jedd Hughes, Gordie Sampson

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2013

Elsewhere, the news wasn't so good. "Modern Family" had its lowest 18-49 rating of the season, although it was still the night's top show in the demographic. "The X Factor" was off slightly for FOX, and "Arrow" pointed down as well. "Revolution's" last episode of 2013 improved a bit in viewers but was flat in adults 18-49.

CBS delivered 11.1 million viewers and a 6.8 rating/11 share in households for the night. ABC (6.9 million, 4.4/7) finished a fairly distant second. FOX (5.5 million, 3.5/5) edged NBC (5.3 million, 3.5/6) for third. The CW trailed with 2.1 million viewers and a 1.3/2.

The 18-49 title also went to CBS, which drew a 2.4 rating in the demo. ABC took second with a 2.0. FOX came in third with a 1.6, followed by NBC, 1.3, and The CW, 0.8.

Wednesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.
CBS: "Survivor: Blood vs. Water" (10.1 million viewers, 5.9/9 households)
ABC: "The Middle" (8.4 million, 5.2/8)/"Back in the Game" (6.1 million, 3.8/6)
FOX: "The X Factor" (5.5 million, 3.4/5)
NBC: "Revolution" (5.25 million, 3.4/5)
The CW: "Arrow" (2.5 million, 1.6/3)
18-49 leader: "Survivor: Blood vs. Water" (2.4)

9 p.m.
CBS: "Criminal Minds" (12.3 million, 7.6/12)
ABC: "Modern Family" (10 million, 6.1/9)/"Super Fun Night" (5.7 million, 3.6/6)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" (5.9 million, 3.9/6)
FOX: "The X Factor" (5.5 million, 3.5/5)
The CW: "The Tomorrow People" (1.7 million, 1.1/2)
18-49 leader: "Modern Family" (3.3)

10 p.m.
CBS: "CSI" (11 million, 7.0/12)
ABC: "Nashville" (5.6 million, 3.8/6)
NBC: "Dateline" (4.8 million, 3.3/6)
18-49 leader: "CSI" (2.1)

Recap: 'I ain't dead, and I ain't done'

On Wednesday (Nov. 20) night's all-new episode of "Nashville," we didn't see Deacon's realization until the very end of the hour. First up: the resolution to the big shocking cliffhanger at the end of last week when Olivia Wentworth started making out with Juliette (seriously LOL). She immediately pushes the forward woman off of her, and Olivia tells Juliette that Charlie told her to get to know Juliette so the three of them could "have fun" together. As in, threesomes, and possibly a twosome with Olivia and Juliette while Charlie watches. Um, whoah. Juliette's not into it and is appalled at the married couple's "adventures," and kicks Olivia out of her room. She then blows off the Wentworth's business meeting the next day.

Scarlett's got the chance of a lifetime to open for Luke Wheeler on his tour. It's her first big arena tour, and she is acting as excited about it as you would expect from her, i.e. not at all. Not helping matters? Gunnar's on her tour bus for the next few weeks, as he is shadowing Luke. Awkward.

As Rayna is walking out her front door to join Luke and Scarlett on their tour, she is served by Edgehill, and has to hand over the masters to her new album or face prosecution. She begrudgingly hands over the masters and books a new flight to Tampa, pissed off at Jeff Fordham and ready to get her revenge.

She runs into Jeff at the concert right as he's getting in Scarlett's head, making her even more nervous. What a jerk! Between her stage fright, Jeff's comments, and a faulty ear piece, Scarlett bombs her first show to the point where everyone was booing her and throwing things at her onstage. Rayna comes onstage to scold the crowd and reintroduce Scarlett, and she kills it. Of course, she doesn't see it that way and refuses to let both Gunnar and Deacon comfort her. Rayna's words of wisdom do work, however, and she promises Scarlett that they won't let Jeff bully them anymore. Deacon tells Rayna that he doesn't think that Scarlett is ready for an arena tour, but she disagrees, saying that Scarlett will toughen up.

Of course, Jeff's bullying endgame is just pure business. He wants to release Rayna's album ASAP to capitalize on the heat from her accident, and even goes so far as create the key art for the album and it is heinous. "Rayna Jaymes: Rising from the Ashes?" Just horrible and tacky and awful. It kind of looks like a "Supernatural" title card reject, no? Rayna realizes she needs a new plan of attack to prevent Jeff from releasing her album before it's ready and with the horrid cover art.

Back in Nashville, Juliette opens up to her new friend Avery about her Wentworth issue. He tells her about his Season 1 sugar mama drama, and gives her the confidence to stand up to them. She confronts them in Dallas, calling Charlie an empty person, and he flies back to Nashville to tell her he's in love with her. Uh oh.

After writing a couple of dud songs for Luke, Gunnar writes a hit with Scarlett (who kills it on her second night, prompting Deacon to admit to Rayna that he was wrong), and Rayna and Luke think it's the perfect duet for them. They debut it the next night during Luke's set, and they wow the crowd and Jeff. He then agrees to release the new duet as a single instead of Rayna's album with the cover art. Chalk that up as a win for Ms. Jaymes, y'all!

And this is where Deacon finally gets the push to go for a solo career once more. He told Scarlett that he had messed up every chance he had in the past, but watching Rayna and Luke sing onstage gave him the courage and passion to try it once more. "I ain't dead, and I ain't done," he confidently told his niece before heading back to his hotel. Are you ready for the return of Deacon, the country star? Because we sure are!

Back in Nashville, Teddy was starting to show interest in coming with Crazy Peggy to the baby doctor, so she knew the time had come to tell the truth about how there was no baby. Hahahaha sorry, just kidding, this is Crazy Peggy we're talking about. She fakes a miscarriage with pig blood! Teddy's probably more disappointed that he's already stuck with her in a marriage than he is about the lost baby. But oh well. No backing out now.

What did you think of "Hanky Panky Woman?" Are you a little nervous to see how unhappy Gunnar is with not being able to perform his own songs? Are you as excited as we are about Deacon's possible comeback? Do you want to smack those new pink streaks out of Scarlett's hair as bad as we do? Yeah, that last one's obvious.

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013

CBS' "Criminal Minds" scored the biggest improvement, drawing its biggest total audience of the season and growing by three-tenths of a point in adults 18-49. "The X Factor" also rose for FOX, and three of ABC's four comedies improved while "Modern Family" was even with its last original episode. "Arrow" was also up a bit for The CW.

Wednesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.
CBS: "Survivor: Blood vs. Water" (9.8 million viewers, 6.0/9 households)
ABC: "The Middle" (8.9 million, 5.5/9)/"Back in the Game" (6.4 million, 4.1/6)
FOX: "The X Factor" (5.7 million, 3.6/6)
NBC: "Revolution" (5.1 million, 3.3/5)
The CW: "Arrow" (3 million, 1.8/3)
18-49 leader: "Survivor: Blood vs. Water" (2.4)

9 p.m.
CBS: "Criminal Minds" (11.6 million, 7.3/11)
ABC: "Modern Family" (10.6 million, 6.5/10)/"Super Fun Night" (5.9 million, 3.8/6)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" (6.1 million, 4.1/6)
FOX: "THe X Factor" (5.8 million, 3.6/6)
The CW: "The Tomorrow People" (1.7 million, 1.1/2)
18-49 leader: "Modern Family" (3.8)

10 p.m.
CBS: "CSI" (10.1 million, 6.5/11)
NBC: "Dateline" (5.32 million, 3.7/6)
ABC: "Nashville" (5.26 million, 3.7/6)
18-49 leader: "CSI" (1.9)

Bizarro 'Nashville' recap: Teddy marries Crazy Peggy? Juliette gets some lady action? Avery and Deacon sing together?

Seriously, there were so many WTF moments, literally jaw-dropping events, and confounding headscratchers, that we have decided that "She's Got You" was an hour pulled from some alternate dimension. How else can you explain the fact that Teddy married Crazy Peggy (Ugh, Crazy Peggy), Juliette got some sexy lady action from the woman whose husband she's been screwing, Avery and Deacon sang together (and got along), all in the same episode? You can't. Hence, bizarro "Nashville."

While Teddy was off marrying Crazy Peggy, Rayna decided to take her mind off of things by spending the day with hunky country star Luke Wheeler. At first it seemed a little icky, like Luke and Rayna were trading a date for Scarlett's spot on Luke's tour, but that ickiness faded fast when it turned out that Luke had some great advice for how to cope when your ex remarries. Rayna spends the day at Luke's home, shooting guns, getting advice on being a divorcee, making out and hooking up. That's right, Rayna is having all of the sex this season, with different hot guys because why not? She's Rayna Jaymes, y'all!

Maddie was having a less-than-stellar day unlike her mother since Teddy was pretty much forcing her to sing at his wedding. Also, fun fact: Maddie and Daphne still don't know that Peggy's preggers. That's not going to be a fun day when they find out. Oof. Maddie's struggling with Teddy remarrying when she's not even his biological daughter, and she worries that he'll stop spending time with her. Teddy wants to postpone the wedding to fix his relationship with Maddie, but Crazy Peggy does some fast talking and convinces him otherwise (she's also still very much faking her pregnancy).

After a daddy/daughter talk, and seeing how happy Teddy looked at the reception, Maddy and Daphne get on stage and sing. But later on that night, Maddie goes to see Rayna and asks to see Deacon. They go watch him perform at the Bluebird for the first time since before his accident, and they have an adorable daddy/daughter bonding session.

How did Deacon rustle up the courage to perform at the Bluebird? After he accidentally catches Avery's walk of shame (guess he's still hooking up with Scarlett, but it's okay this season because Season 2 humble Avery is pretty cool unlike Season 1 douche Avery). Deacon asks Avery to play the guitar for him in a bar where no one he knows and respects him will see him. He's nervous to get back onstage since he can't play the guitar ... he can only sing.

Avery helps him loosen up now that he can't hide behind a guitar, and he's so uncomfortable it's absolutely hilarious. Partly because he's just extremely awkward, and partly because he's so stubborn it physically pains him to ask Avery for help. But somehow, this dynamic duo works, and the two of them are rocking out together onstage at the Bluebird. More Avery and Deacon scenes, please and thank you!

Gunnar was having a pretty great day ... until he wasn't. You see, not only is he still sleeping with Zoey, but Jeff Fordham was wining and dining him to get the rights to his song for Will. Gunnar gives it up for a mentorship with an Edgehill artist and a spot on the Music City Music Festival lineup. The problem is ... the artist Jeff pairs Gunnar up with is Scarlett, out on her tour. How much do you want to be these two rekindle things on the road? Things are going to get messy.

Also messy? Pretty much everything about Will's life. He's still struggling with being in the closet, especially since the guy he's been crushing on debuts his adorable boyfriend. But when a couple homophobes give them a hard time at the hotel bar, Will finds them later and beats them up. All riled up from his rage, he then pays his fake-girlfriend a real booty call. That's right, Will and Layla did the deed.

But the biggest jaw-dropper of the night goes to Juliette. She and Charlie are still screwing around behind closed doors and flimsy lies, and he ends up inflating her ego even more by telling her she bows down to no one ... until she then "bows down" to him, if you catch our drift. Ahem. ABC is getting a little raunchy in the 10 o'clock hour, huh?

Juliette decides Charlie's got the right idea, and she blows off a big loud mouth pervy radio show host who's known as Santa Claus because -- and try not to gag here -- he has girls sit on his lap in order to get air time on his show. Ewwwww that's so wrong. However, he doesn't take Juliette's brush off very well, and gets all the other press to leave after Layla's set and write bad things about Juliette's concert.

Back in her hotel room, Juliette shows real emotion when she realized what a mistake she made by listening to Charlie, and reveals just how much of a struggle it is for young girls to make it in the country music business. It actually made us shudder to think about what Juliette has had to in the past to make it to where she is today, and you could tell it affected Charlie as well.

Since the radio show is owned by a Wentworth subsidiary, Charlie gets the pervy host fired, but Juliette demands that he rehire him, saying she can take care of her own problems. She then puts on a confident front and tells "Santa" if he ever even looks at another young girl again, she'll have him fired again. Plus, she now gets twice as much air time as Layla. That's a double win for Juliette. Later, in a bizarro show of kindness and compassion, she even tries to help out Layla avoid the same kind of situation but Layla knows exactly what she's getting herself into, and even embraces it. She's not the innocent girl she's purporting herself as.

When Juliette opens her hotel room door later that night expecting to see Charlie, she's surprised and a little nervous to find Charlie's wife Olivia at the door instead. She waltzes in and confronts Juliette, saying that she knows Juliette's been screwing her husband. But the mistake Juliette made? Not hooking up with Olivia! She grabs Juliette and starts furiously making out with her. What?!?

Like we said, bizarre. But in a really good way, right?

On the Set of Nashville: Can Deacon and Teddy Get Along?

"Unfortunately, I don't know how it's going to work out, [but] probably not too well," Eric Close tells TVGuide.com in the video interview below. (Perhaps he's referring to this.)

As if the Conrad family didn't have enough to deal with between the divorce, and Teddy and Peggy's (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) quick engagement, Teddy also learned that Maddie (Lennon Stella) isn't his biological daughter. Of all the possible baby daddies, the last person Teddy wants it to be is Deacon (Charles Esten). "Teddy would prefer that Deacon doesn't have any part of this relationship, but he's got to find a way to deal with it," Close says. "In the beginning, it definitely put a strain on his relationship with his daughter, but he's trying his best to make that work ... it's up and down."

Watch below for more: Video.

'Nashville' Star Jonathan Jackson Signs Record Deal

Jackson's spot on the country-infused TV show has landed him a record deal with Loud & Proud Records, Billboard can exclusively reveal.

The Daytime EMMY-winning Jackson, who first broke through in the acting world as a series regular on the show "General Hospital," was no stranger to the music world even before his "Nashville" gig. Along with his brother Richard (drums) and bassist Daniel Sweatt, Jackson fronts the rock act Enation, which has been in commission since 2002.

For Jackson, finally breaking into music as a signed artist, rather than doing all the work independently, is a breath of fresh air, though he's thankful for what has come before.

"It felt like the perfect timing for everything," he says of the record deal. "The last decade, really, I've had an amazing time just working really hard developing a sound and continuing to write songs and play everything. So I'm really grateful for the time that we've been doing things independently, but at the same time it feels great to have this happen."

Working on a TV show like "Nashville," which features vocals from its cast members (as well as the occasional songwriting credit, too), is a fairly effective way for musicians to get their names out there, whether the program takes off in a big way -- see: "Glee" -- or not. As such, Jackson figured right off the bat the show would at least gain his music more exposure -- though he didn't necessarily see a record deal on the horizon immediately.

"Being a part of a show like 'Nashville,' [with] the music side of it, I knew from the very beginning that it was extremely important and that they were obviously putting a lot into it," Jackson says. "It was pretty easy to see that at the least, I would get more exposure as a singer. For years, I've thought about a project or a way where I could do acting and music together, and I never really thought that would happen. Then 'Nashville' came along, and it was like a dream come true to marry both of those worlds.

"At the same time, the last however many years of my life, I've started to get to the place of not having expectations about how things are supposed to turn out and really just try to live day to day. So I haven't thought about the specifics much, but I knew the exposure was there."

(Video) The deal with Loud & Proud puts Jackson in a direct relationship with label head Tom Lipsky, who told Billboard he's incredibly excited for the opportunity to work with the actor and his band, recounting their first meeting. "It was a combination of his music and how charismatic he was," Lipsky says. "His band did a private showcase for my team -- about a 45-minute set -- and I came away thinking [Jackson] was an absolute, unequivocal rock star."

"Tom has been extremely enthusiastic and supportive," Jackson notes of Lipsky. "He has a unique model of transparency with artists, and especially since we've been doing it independent as long as we have, we felt good about his vision. They have a great track record with promoting their bands and having a long-term vision for careers.

Enation's previously-released music, which includes tunes steeped in indie/alternative rock traditions, will certainly inform what Jackson accomplishes as a newly-signed musician, though his experiences on "Nashville" will have some bearing as well. "It's definitely a furthering exploration and development of what we've been doing in Enation," he says of the band's direction. "Being on 'Nashville' and working with some incredible people like T-Bone Burnett and Buddy Miller -- so many wonderful, incredible musicians that I've been blessed to play with and observe -- that has continued to shape the process of arranging music, writing music."

A timetable for an initial release has not been set, though Jackson, like most of his ilk, says he's been recording and demoing music for quite awhile, with the record deal giving those sessions a "concentrated vision."

As for "Nashville," which returned for its second season last September to strong ratings, Jackson can reveal very little about what's to come moving forward -- relenting only that "a lot of good drama is in store."

Charles Esten on T-Bone Burnett's exit: 'I don't mind anybody fighting over excellence'

“I have no problem working with Callie,” Burnett said of his wife, Nashville creator and executive producer Callie Khouri. “I have a problem when people don’t treat Callie right. I like to see artists treated with tremendous respect, and I like the executives to say, ‘How can I help you do what you do?’ That’s what I do.”

He continued, “Some people were making a drama about real musicians’ lives, and some were making a soap opera, so there was that confusion. It was a knockdown, bloody, drag-out fight, every episode. You remember that show The Prisoner? If I were to tell you the truth, you’d think I was insane.” Yikes. Tell us how you really feel, T-Bone.

Well, EW caught up with Nashville star Charles “Chip” Esten (a.k.a. Deacon Clayborn) on the red carpet of the BMI Music Awards last week in Nashville, and though the actor didn’t deny the behind-the-scenes tension, he said he was proud to be part of a show for which people like Burnett care enough to argue.

“T-Bone is a fighter for what he believes in, and what he believes in is great, great music,” said Esten. “So, that’s naturally going to occur in some situations where he wants it to be the best that it can be, and other people have their opinion about the best it can be.

“For me, I don’t mind anybody fighting over excellence, and I don’t mind him fighting for it,” Esten further explained. “And I don’t mind the fact that he left Buddy Miller in charge, who also has that same passion. What I would mind is if it became a really congenial path toward mediocrity. I would rather knock this out, bang this out, and get this the best it can be. That’s what it was, and God bless him, that’s what he did.”

So there you have it. Nashville isn’t all roses behind-the-scenes, and for now, that’s all right with Esten as the show tries to become great. Still, if Nashville hopes to return for a third season, it will need to smooth out its onscreen tone and climb in the ratings quickly — and it sounds like that might be difficult given its offscreen struggles.

As a bonus, here’s a clip of Esten singing “This Town,” which he called his favorite song from this season, with co-star Clare Bowen: Video.

On the Set of Nashville: Deacon's Upcoming Duet with His Daughter Is a "Major Step Forward"

At the end of the show's first season, Deacon (Charles Esten) learned that Rayna's daughter Maddie (Lennon Stella) was actually his biological child. The information sent Deacon to the bottle and a downward spiral that caused a near-fatal car wreck with Rayna (Connie Britton) and landed him in jail. Since the , Deacon has shied away from getting close to Maddie, but the two will finally get their defining moment during a duet in an upcoming episode.

"The music is such a great way to bond, and you see it through all the different characters on the show that the music takes whatever relationship you have to another place and another level because you can say things behind a guitar that maybe you can't say without it," Esten told TVGuide.com during our recent visit to the Music City set. "This is a major step forward for the two of us to be standing there while she plays the guitar and voices in harmony. It's just a father and daughter and it takes us a long way. So, there's no discounting how much it means to do that music together."

While that relationship is moving more slowly, Deacon is going full steam ahead with the new woman in his life, Megan (Christina Chang). And from the sounds of it, she's not going anywhere anytime soon.

"I don't know what it is that she finds in Deacon, but I know what it is that he finds in Megan. .. She's very clear eyed," Esten said. "She offered him a new way to look at himself during that tough time when he was at his lowest, and she looked at him and said, 'You don't need to beat yourself up over this.' That was a real lifeline in that moment."

Watch our full interview with Esten here.

Nashville's Connie Britton: Rayna and Deacon Will Be Thrown Together a Lot

As Nashville's fan-favorite couple Rayna (Britton) and Deacon (Charles Esten) was on the brink of rekindling their tumultuous relationship, the revelation of Deacon's paternity, the resurfacing of his drinking problem and a near-fatal car crash dashed all those hopes in one fell swoop. But since Deacon is the father of Rayna's daughter Maddie (Lennon Stella), Britton says she's happy to see that they'll always be in each other's lives.

"I'm always a big Rayna and Deacon fan, so anytime they get to be together I'm happy about it," Britton told us in our video interview from the show's Nashville set. "I think it'll be interesting this season to see the different ways their lives intertwine because after the accident they both realized, 'OK, better not to try to spend too much time together,' and yet they're thrown together a lot."

Do you hope the two will get back together? Or are they better apart? Check out the rest of our interview with Britton here.

Hayden Panettiere Wears Creepy Contacts, Flashes Engagement Ring-See the Pic!

The Nashville star took to Twitter on Friday, Nov. 8, to post a picture of herself wearing a rather colorful, if not a wee bit creepy, pair of contact lenses.

"Halloween contacts finally came....better late than never I guess," she tweeted.

Well, at least the actress is good to go for next year.

And while it's normally pretty easy to get lost in the 24-year-old's eyes, we were slightly distracted this time around.

After all, the gal is posing with her engagement ring.

Then again, it's not the first time we've had the pleasure of gazing upon the rock that was presented to her when boyfriend Wladimir Klitschko popped the question.

In fact, E! News not only got to see it up close and in person at the Environmental Media Awards last month, but the actress even revealed to us at the time that she created the ring herself with Montblanc.

"They made me this amazing book where they did a bunch of sketches," Panettiere said. "I told them my idea over time and tweaking things here and there, and it came to fruition."

Panettiere officially announced her engagement during an Oct. 9 appearance on Live With Kelly & Michael, though speculation of an engagement began back in August when she was spotted in Los Angeles wearing the bling on her ring finger.

Brad Paisley and Wife Kimberly Williams-Paisley Say They Were Victims of "Dying Daughter" Hoax

But just a short time ago, the country music star and his wife Kimberly Williams-Paisley experienced a tragic event. The talented duo was the victims of an online hoax.

On Wednesday's Nightline, the couple opens up for the very first time about how they fell victim to a fake internet relationship.

It all started with an email from a complete stranger. A mother in need said that her daughter was dying of cancer and simply wanted to reach out to share her story.

"It sounded very sort of real," Kimberly recalled. "But she wasn't dying to get a hold of me. You know, that was kind of the beginning of the manipulation."

Over the next two weeks, Kimberly communicated with the mother over emails, phone calls and text messages. The Nashville actress also received photographs and a phone call from the sick girl who was believed to be named Claire.

With all the communication back and forth, even Brad was convinced this was the real deal.

"In the middle of it, there's no way that's not real," Paisley explained. "How can that not be real?"

Unfortunately, the famous twosome was fooled.

People's Choice Awards Nominees

Why Did Music Producer T-Bone Burnett Really Leave Nashville?

The Oscar- and Grammy-winning songwriter, musician and soundtrack supervisor behind Crazy Heart and O Brother, Where Art Thou? served as the executive music producer for the show's entire first season. However, he suddenly left the show in June, despite the fact that Burnett is married to Nashville's creator, Callie Khouri.

Now, four months later, Burnett is opening up about the difficult circumstances which led to his exit. "I love working with Callie," Burnett told The Hollywood Reporter. "I have no problem working with Callie. I have a problem when people don't treat Callie right. I like to see artists treated with tremendous respect, and I like the executives to say, 'How can I help you do what you do?' That's what I do."

Burnett specifically says it was the conflicting visions people had about what the show was really about that led to other differences in opinion. "Some people were making a drama about real musicians' lives, and some were making a soap opera, so there was that confusion," he said. "It was a knockdown, bloody, drag-out fight, every episode. You remember that show The Prisoner? If I were to tell you the truth, you'd think I was insane."

Burnett's right-hand man Buddy Miller has since stepped into the executive music producer role for Nashville. Burnett has bounced back since leaving the series. He serves as the executive music producer on the upcoming film Inside Llewyn Davis, which follows a folk singer-songwriter, and comes from the Coen brothers, with whom Burnett worked with on O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Inside Llewyn Davis hits theaters on Dec. 6. Nashville airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on ABC.

Connie Britton on Possible Return to American Horror Story: "I Hope It Happens"

However, one of the show's original stars, Connie Britton, has yet to return since starring as Vivien Harmon in Season 1. But even though Britton is busy starring on ABC's Nashville, she has thought about popping back up on AHS.

"I hope so," Britton told Rolling Stone when asked about possibly coming back to the anthology series, which is currently shooting Season 3 in New Orleans. "I've actually have been talking to them this season, because they're down in New Orleans and I'm in Nashville. I said, 'Okay, let's see if we can try to figure this out.'"

American Horror Story: Coven, airing Wednesdays at 10/9c on FX, is about a group of witches at a school that trains other witches. Britton, who was nominated for an Emmy for her role on AHS, says she would be happy to ditch her cowboy hat for a witch hat. "I'm like, 'I'll put that on and jump on a plane and go to New Orleans,'" Britton said. "Yes, I would do that. As long as we can figure it out with both productions, I'm in. I hope it happens."

Do you want to see Britton back on American Horror Story? Who should she play?

Recap: Juliette makes another terrible life choice while Avery and Scarlett ... reconnect

By a string of coincidences, Rayna, Deacon, Julitette, Tandy, Teddy, Luke Wheeler, and Charlie and Olivia Wentworth all found themselves in their country club finest, watching a bunch of guys on horses hit a ball around a field. The event was good for some, and pretty disastrous for others. First up, Rayna and Tandy found themselves shut out of the wallets of the rich (Rayna was looking to find the capital to buy herself out from Edgehill now that Lamar's assets are frozen) because everyone suspects that Tandy was the one to rat out Lamar (which she was, but Rayna still doesn't know that). Teddy was working his politician's connections to get Charlie to invest in a music festival he's putting together, and Charlie gets Juliette to headline it. Deacon was on a date with his lawyer girlfriend, and she proved she wasn't threatened by his past with Rayna, which made him happy. And Luke Wheeler found out that Rayna was single, which made him happy.

Juliette, who had no idea how she got invited to the polo match, was furious when she found out it was because Charlie, the married man she drunkenly slept with, invited her. He's still really interested in her since she gave him back the car he got her, and he's not used to people saying no to him. Juliette just thinks he's a spoiled rich boy, but he proves to her that he's actually a hard-working, good guy ... who likes to cheat on his nasty witch of a wife because theirs is a loveless marriage.

Rayna saw the two of them talking, and correctly guessed that something was going on between them. She gives Juliette some good advice: sleeping with Charlie Wentworth, a powerful married man, might be bad for Juliette's reputation as the country music business is made up of primarily female fans, and they don't take too well to "the other woman." But since Juliette is Juliette, and the advice came from Rayna, she does the exact opposite of what Rayna says, and decides to work with Charlie for six weeks planning the music festival. And by work, we of course mean have lots of sneaky sex. Too bad Charlie's wife Olivia walked in on them having sex, snuck out before they noticed that they had been caught, and got a conniving look on her face. Oops. That can't be good for both Charlie and Juliette ... but we're not really all that worried about Charlie.

As for the "Nashville" characters not at the polo match? All-around terrible person and friend Zoey tries to the right thing by breaking things off with Gunnar, a.k.a. her best friend's ex-fiance. She cites the girl code, calling herself and slutty bad friend, and we could not agree more.

Zoey changes her tune, however, when she finds out that Scarlett and Avery ... reconnected. How on earth did that happen? Scarlett went to get advice from Avery on how not to handle her newfound success, since Avery is the absolute best person to learn from. During their conversation, Avery displays some major maturity. He's clearly learned his lesson from Season 1, and is working to be a better person ... and Scarlett clearly sees it too, because it takes only just a tiny bit of flirting from him and she practically jumps his bones. Avery wants it to mean that they're getting back together, but Scarlett isn't so ready to jump back into things. However, once Zoey finds out that Scarlett and Avery might be a thing again, she figures it's okay for her to hook up with Gunnar, and goes right for him, making out with him in the Bluebird while Scarlett's on stage singing. What a terrible friend and person. Both Zoey and Gunnar. And here we were, thinking how great it was to see Gunnar and Avery building their bromance.

Since Juliette's anger also prompted her to drop Scarlett from her tour (it was going to be a favor for Rayna, but that's not happening anymore), Rayna asks Luke Wheeler to add Scarlett to his tour. He agrees, and kisses Rayna. And Rayna looks happy about it. Might some sparks be a-flying between these two, now that they'll be seeing a lot more of each other? They're certainly compatible, and Luke's proven himself to be a classy guy with manners (he did ask Deacon if he was still with Rayna before making a move, rather than just stealing some other guy's girl).

So what did y'all think of all these relationship developments? Are Deacon and Lawyer Lady good for each other (and does this mean I should finally learn her name)? How much trouble is Juliette in for her affair? Aren't Zoey and Gunnar just the worst? Are we happy to see Scarlett and Avery possibly back together, thanks to Avery's total character overhaul this season? And Rayna and Luke Wheeler, now that's a match made in country music heaven.

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013

Elsewhere Tuesday, "The Middle" and "Back in the Game" held steady for ABC, but "Super Fun Night" and "Nashville" were both down some. Ditto for CBS' lineup, and The CW's "Arrow" and "The Tomorrow People" also dipped. "Revolution" was flat for NBC.

FOX delivered just under 18 million viewers and a 10.6 rating/17 share in households for the night, pending updates for the live telecast (it will likely go up in the final nationals). CBS (9.75 million, 6.3/10) was the best of the rest. ABC took third with 6.3 million viewers and a 4.1/6. NBC (4.4 million, 2.9/5) finished fourth, and The CW (2 million, 1.3/2) brought up the rear.

FOX's 5.4 rating among adults 18-49 nearly beat the combined total of the other four networks. CBS finished a distant second at 2.2, followed by ABC, 1.8; NBC, 1.2; and The CW, 0.6.

Wednesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.

FOX: World Series Game 6 - Cardinals/Red Sox (16.7 million viewers, 10.1/16 households)
CBS: "Survivor: Blood vs. Water" (9 million, 5.6/9)
ABC: "The Middle" (8 million, 5.2/8)/"Back in the Game" (6.2 million, 3.9/6)
NBC: "Revolution" (4.9 million, 3.1/5)
The CW: "Arrow" (2.3 million, 1.5/2)
18-49 leader: World Series Game 6 (4.6)

9 p.m.

FOX: World Series Game 6 (19.4 million, 11.1/17)
CBS: "Criminal Minds" (10.6 million, 6.9/10)
ABC: "Modern Family" rerun (7.4 million, 4.6/7)/"Super Fun Night" (5.4 million, 3.5/5)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" rerun (3.9 million, 2.5/4)
The CW: "The Tomorrow People" (1.7 million, 1.1/2)
18-49 leader: World Series Game 6 (5.7)

10 p.m.

FOX: World Series Game 6 (17.9 million, 10.5/17)
CBS: "CSI" (9.6 million, 6.2/10)
ABC: "Nashville" (5.2 million, 3.6/6)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" rerun (4.55 million, 3.1/5)
18-49 leader: World Series Game 6 (5.8)

The Daily Treat: Nashville's Charles Esten Brings Home His Onscreen Dog

Meet Blue, the actor's recently adopted yellow Lab, who starred as his dog last season on Nashville. Onscreen, the dog was a gift to his character, Deacon Claybourne, from Hayden Panettiere's country vixen Juliette Barnes. Though Deacon gave the dog away to a love interest (played by Susan Misner), Esten was not prepared to say goodbye to that sweet face.

While filming the show earlier this year, he decided to welcome the pup into his own family, which includes his three kids with wife Patty.

"'Member Deacon's puppy named Sue? Well now he's my dog ... Blue! #firstpetever #memberofthefamilynow," Esten Tweeted Monday, sharing a cute photo of himself holding Blue as a puppy.

This week, the entire Esten clan celebrated its newest member's first major milestone at home in Nashville. "It's extremely possible that my family and I have gone overboard on our dog's birthday," he Tweeted, posting a pic of Blue mulling a bowl of kibble with a candle placed inside of it.

We bet there's plenty more celebrating to come!

Recap: Rayna dips into her Wyatt side at the worst possible time

That's right, the reigning queen of country music didn't lose her voice for good ... though it certainly seemed dire there for a minute, didn't it? What an emotional performance, with the audience and Luke Wheeler (hello there, Will Chase, we barely recognized you under that beard) chiming in at the right moments to give Rayna some time to breathe and rest her still-healing voice. It's clear everyone's on her side -- except for that little weasel, Jeff Fordham. He's still trying to outmaneuver Rayna for her last album under contract at Edgehill.

So what else happened in Wednesday (Oct. 23) night's all-new "Nashville" besides Rayna showing Jeff where he can stick his "Rayna's lost her voice" rumors?

Rayna finally decided that she was done with Edgehill for good, contract be damned. With this ominous statement: "I think it's time for Jeff Fordham to meet the Wyatt side of Rayna Jaymes," Rayna went to her daddy for financial help to buy her out of her contract. Lamar agrees to "invest" $20 million ... but Rayna picked the absolute worst time to put all her eggs in her Wyatt basket. After smugly telling Jeff that she plans to buy herself out of Edgehill, her father gets arrested on 42 counts of racketeering, bribery, extortion, etc. All his assets get frozen as he is a major flight risk, so there goes Rayna's big plan. And lets not forget he's still under investigation for the murder of his wife. Oops.

So how did Lamar end up in handcuffs? Tansy's evidence she handed over last week proved to be enough to charge Lamar, but since she signed a gag order in exchange for immunity, no one -- including Rayna -- knows it was Tansy. Lamar assumes it was Teddy, and promises to make him pay.

Jeff was also being a total jerk to Rayna's first signed artist, Scarlett. But let's be honest, she was being a total drag. Once again, instead of enjoying her fame, she was acting mopey about having to do a press line, and didn't agree with lying about her past (Scarlett never wanted to be a singer, but the media coach rightly told her that the public would resent her for stumbling into a record deal). Honey, no one wants to hear about your poems actually being songs.

Scarlett seeks help from Jeff's favorite, Layla, who in turns manages to be a sneaky conniving jerk herself -- hey, no wonder why Jeff likes her so much. Layla tells her to throw out her rehearsed anecdotes that Jeff told her to stick to, and as a result, Scar gets flustered in the press line. Jeff tells her to go home, and Will notices that Layla looks too happy about it.

Layla also tried her best to attach herself to Will (not knowing she's not his type ... you know, a girl). She flirts with him shamelessly, and when he doesn't really respond back in kind she takes matters into her own hands. She tweets a photo of them on the red carpet together and starts a trending hashtag, "LaylaandWill," so Jeff tells Will to pretend to be a couple with her. Since Will is a fame-whore, he agrees, but he still doesn't like what Layla did to Scar.

Deacon's come a long way since the Season 2 premiere. He's not feeling so sorry for himself, he's sleeping with his pretty lawyer, and gets a job at a guitar store. But when Juliette breaks the news to him that Rayna might not be able to sing anymore, he heads over the source of all his emotional pain and the two share a powerful scene where they both agree they can never be done with music even if they lost their voice or guitar-playing hand. These two tortured artists just keep breaking our hearts.

In one of the biggest surprises of the night, Gunnar and Avery have a cute bro-ment singing together in the Bluebird. Has hell frozen over? Nope, they're just maturing. It's adorable, actually, and their voices sounds great together ... until, that is, they invite Zoey to sing with them. It turns out that Gunnar wrote the song for Zoey, and they've been hookin up. This is totally obvious to Avery who sees the way they look at each other while singing, and methinks this won't end well. Gunnar and Zoey are officially the worst human beings ever, and Avery is the good guy here. Who would have thought?

In one of the sweetest moments of the night, Rayna gets up onstage after Juliette performs, and extends an invitation for Juliette to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Juliette shows genuine happiness and gratitude, and the hug these two country queens share is actually really sweet. But Luke Wheeler did not appreciate the moment upstaging his benefit, and Juliette overhears him calling her a "flash in the pan." This makes her do two things: She apologizes to Avery, realizing how much it sucks when someone doesn't have your back, and she skeptically surveys all her awards, maybe wondering if Luke's words have any truth in them. How is this going to affect her upcoming tour? Will she be pushing for more artistic, mature music that Jeff really hates?

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013

FOX's baseball coverage didn't have a lot of effect on the other networks, however, as most shows were fairly steady from a week ago. The 100th episode of "The Middle" was steady with its last original episode on ABC, and "Modern Family" was down a little but kept its spot as the night's top scripted show in adults 18-49. "Criminal Minds" and "CSI" were both up a bit for CBS, but "Arrow" and "The Tomorrow People" were down some. NBC's "Revolution" was about even.

FOX delivered 13.7 million viewers and an 8.2 rating/13 share in households for the night, easily topping CBS' 10.4 million viewers and 6.5/10. ABC (6.95 million, 4.5/7) came in third, and NBC (4.8 million, 3.2/5) took fourth. The CW trailed with 2.35 million viewers and a 1.5/2.

FOX also led the 18-49 demographic with a 4.1 rating. CBS finished second with a 2.4, beating out ABC's 2.2. NBC averaged 1.2 and The CW 0.8.

Wednesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.
FOX: World Series Game 1 - Cardinals/Red Sox (14.3 million viewers, 8.6/14)
CBS: "Survivor: Blood vs. Water" (9.4 million, 5.8/9)
ABC: "The Middle" (8.2 million, 5.2/9)/"Back in the Game" (6.2 million, 4.0/6)
NBC: "Revolution" (5.05 million, 3.3/5)
The CW: "Arrow" (2.8 million, 1.7/3)
18-49 leader: World Series Game 1 (3.9)

9 p.m.
FOX: World Series Game 1 (14.7 million, 8.7/14)
CBS: "Criminal Minds" (11.5 million, 7.2/11)
ABC: "Modern Family" (10.3 million, 6.3/10)/"Super Fun Night" (6 million, 3.8/6)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" (5.5 million, 3.8/6)
The CW: "The Tomorrow People" (1.9 million, 1.2/2)
18-49 leader: World Series Game 1 (4.4)

10 p.m.
FOX: World Series Game 1 (12.2 million, 7.4/12)
CBS: "CSI" (10.25 million, 6.5/11)
ABC: "Nashville" (5.5 million, 3.7/6)
NBC: "Ironside" (3.9 million, 2.7/4)
18-49 leader: World Series Game 1 (3.9)

2013 Environmental Media Awards-The Complete List of Winners

Newly engaged Hayden Panettiere received the Futures Award. "Twerking is not going to solve global warming," the Nashville star joked as she accepted her honor.

Matt Damon was named the Ongoing Commitment Honoree for his work with Water.org. Check out the full list of winners below!

Documentary Film: Gasland 2

Digital Content: Overview
Futures Award Honoree: Hayden Panettiere
Reality Television: Gangs & Oil, Vice
Television Episodic Drama: "Chapter 9," House of Cards
Feature Film: Promised Land
Lifetime Achievement Honoree: Bill McKibben
Television Episodic Comedy: "Mother Fracker," Last Man Standing
Green Production Honoree: Screen Actors Guild Awards
Children's Television:"What's the Deal With Fracking?" Nick News With Linda Ellerbee
Green Parent Award: Anna Getty
Ongoing Commitment Honoree: Matt Damon

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013

It was a decent night across the board for the broadcast networks as a number of shows were up a little from their ratings last week. "Arrow," "Modern Family," "Law & Order: SVU" and "Criminal Minds" all rose. The CW's "Tomorrow People" dipped slightly in viewers but improved among the 18- to 34-year-old viewers the network targets.

CBS led the night in viewers with 10.1 million and a 6.3 rating/10 share in households. FOX (8.1 million, 5.1/8) finished second, pending adjustments for its live telecast. ABC took third with 7.5 million viewers and a 4.5/7. NBC (5.9 million, 3.8/6) came in fourth, and The CW drew 2.6 million viewers and a 1.7/3.

ABC, CBS and FOX each averaged a 2.4 rating among adults 18-49. NBC was a point off the lead at 1.4, and The CW posted a 1.1.

Wednesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.
CBS: "Survivor: Blood vs. Water" (9.9 million viewers, 6.0/10 households)
ABC: Special - "Toy Story of Terror" (10.3 million, 5.3/9)/"Back in the Game" (6.2 million, 3.6/6)
FOX: American League Championship Series Game 4 - Red Sox/Tigers (8.2 million, 5.2/8)
NBC: "Revolution" (5.4 million, 3.3/5)
The CW: "Arrow" (3 million, 1.9/3)
18-49 leader: "Toy Story of Terror" (3.0)

9 p.m.
CBS: "Criminal Minds" (10.95 million, 6.9/11)
ABC: "Modern Family" (10.85 million, 6.3/10)/"Super Fun Night" (6 million, 3.7/6)
FOX: ALCS Game 4 (8.3 million, 5.2/8)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" (7.4 million, 4.9/8)
The CW: "The Tomorrow People" (2.2 million, 1.4/2)
18-49 leader: "Modern Family" (4.0)

10 p.m.
CBS: "CSI" (9.4 million, 6.0/10)
FOX: ALCS Game 4 (7.6 million, 4.9/8)
ABC: "Nashville" (5.75 million, 3.9/7)
NBC: "Ironside" (4.9 million, 3.3/6)
18-49 leader: ALCS Game 4 (2.3)

Recap: Maddie works through her daddy issues while a murder (yes, murder) is uncovered

Who is Rayna Jaymes without her voice?

Rayna still doesn't know if her voice is okay after the accident -- and even goes so far as to cancel her tour with Juliette (more on that later ) -- and the only person she talks to about it is her dead mother. She takes her daughters and sister Tandy to her mother's grave on her birthday but since Maddie was acting super mopey and angsty, the nice moment was totally ruined (ugh, teenagers and their angst). Tandy brought the girls back to the car while Rayna confided in her mother alone, but she had to put her emotions on hold, because Maddie's daddy issues were only just starting.

Juliette's plan B

Juliette doesn't have long to bask in the glory of her new gift from Charlie (remember the married benefactor from last week that hooked up with a wasted Juliette? Yeah, he gave her a car, because according to Juliette, "I guess he liked my performance." Oh honey, it's not your onstage performance he's thinking about). When she gets the news that Rayna canceled their tour, she's livid. She's faced with two choices: either she goes back to her tween fan base to sell out her arena tour solo, or join up with a bigger artist and open for them.

Of course, neither of those scenarios work for Juliette, so she chooses plan C: have Edgehill's newest hire, Layla, open for Juliette. That way her old tween fan base will still be covered while she can play her new songs. It's a win-win ... except now Juliette has to deal with Layla. Oh, the sacrifices one must make ...

Crazy Peggy ruins everything

You know what doesn't help your angsty daughter? Throwing your new fiance in her face. Unfortunately, Teddy still doesn't know how crazy Crazy Peggy is, so he can't avoid what happens next. After Teddy proposes to Peggy to "do right by her" -- and she creepily whispers, "I loooove youuuu" into his ear, oh my god GROSS -- he tells her to keep it on the down-low until he can break the news in the right way to his family.

Of course, this is Crazy Peggy we're talking about. She's faking a freaking pregnancy. She "accidentally" shows off the engagement ring in front of Teddy's whole family later that night, which sets Maddie off.

Maddie's daddy issues

Since Crazy Peggy's reveal was just one ridiculous thing too many, Maddie ran away from her family. She walked for miles, got lost, and called the one person she could talk to: Juliette. It's nice to see this friendship blossoming, because it's actually good for both girls. Maddie could use someone to tell it to her straight, and Juliette could use a genuine friendship and flex her responsible muscles every once in a while.

Once Maddie falls asleep on Juliette's couch, she calls Rayna to come get Maddie, and the two former enemies share a moment where Juliette admits she understands why Rayna had to cancel the tour (obviously she needs to stay home to work on her family). Look how far Juliette has come!

Deacon's dating, and coming around to being a dad?

Deacon tries to pay his lawyer that got him out of jail, but she refuses to take his money. Instead, she asks him out on a date. Going on a date with his lawyer? That sounds like a truly terrible idea but it actually seems to go well. The two are back at Deacon's, making out on his couch pretty quickly until Rayna shows up to tell Deacon that Maddie's missing.

Deacon starts to flex some serious dad muscles here, and the next day, when Maddie's back home safe and sound, the two share a touching phone call. Maddie even calls him dad! ... Well, sure, she said "Dad" after they had hung up so he didn't hear her, but their bond is definitely forming. Maddie and little sister Daphne even sing one of Deacon's old hits later, and Rayna tries to join in ... but her voice fails her.

Scarlett doesn't know the meaning of the word "fun," apparently

As Scarlett's popularity keeps rising, her enthusiasm for her fame keeps falling. Seriously, has there ever been a less excited person getting their first photo shoot done? She looks miserable when she should be having the time of her life. This girl. Ugh.

Thank goodness for her friend Zoey. She wants to have more fun with Scarlett, and brings her out to a bar to drink shots and sing onstage. Of course, some random guy takes Scarlett's photo and asks for her autograph since she sang at the Opry recently, and once again she looks absolutely depressed. Scarlett doesn't need a clothing makeover (though actually, she kind of does), she needs a personality makeover.

Gunnar wants to be an artist, not just a song writer

After Will's knock-out performance last week with Gunnar's song, Edgehill wants him to record that song. Unfortunately, Gunnar chooses this exact moment to decide, "Oh wait, I don't want to be just a song writer. I want to perform my songs." Worth noting: the surprising person who helps him come to this conclusion is Avery of all people. Are these two going to form a friendship against all odds? That would be kind of cool.

Gunnar won't let Will record his song, and the two once-best-friends have a huge fight in which Will accuses Gunnar of being jealous. Trouble in bro-paradise ...

Oh yeah, remember that murder story line?

So it turns out that murder story line in the Season 2 premiere wasn't just a fluke or a red herring. After hiring a private investigator to look into her mother's death, Tandy finds out that Lamar really did have her killed since she was going to leave him. This shocking discovery prompts her to hand over all evidence of her father's corrupt deals, illegal acts, and all his dirty secrets over to the State Attorney who tipped her off to the murder in the first place. Lamar Wyatt, time to lawyer up.

What did you think of this week's all-new "Nashville?" Are you glad the show is actually committing to the murder story line, or is it just a little too ridiculous and soapy for your taste?

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