Nashville Review
"One of the most amazing things in this world is when you get your shot. And it doesn't come when you want it to, and it never comes again." - Juliette Barnes
After Hayden Panettiere’s tragic passing, I found myself going down a rabbit hole rewatching some of my favorite roles of hers, including Remember the Titans, Ice Princess, Heroes, and Bring It On: All or Nothing. While revisiting her work, I stumbled across a show I had somehow never watched before: Nashville.
I honestly didn't know what to expect. I’m not a fan of country music at all, so a six-season drama centered around country musicians, songwriters, and the Nashville music industry wasn't exactly something I thought would become my next obsession. Somehow, though, Nashville completely exceeded my expectations.
I haven’t been this invested in a musical television series since Empire and Star. In many ways, Nashville feels like the country-music version of Empire — full of complicated relationships, ambitious artists, family drama, career struggles, romance, betrayals, and plenty of musical performances that actually make you want to add the songs to your playlist. At the center of so much of that drama is Juliette Barnes, portrayed by Hayden Panettiere.
Juliette Barnes
Juliette was easily my favorite character. She's ambitious, fierce, and often comes across as rude, arrogant, and difficult, but underneath that tough exterior is someone incredibly vulnerable. Her childhood trauma, complicated relationship with her mother, struggles with addiction and mental health, and constant need for love make her much more than the stereotypical "diva."
She isn't simply a "mean girl" or an unlikable celebrity character. You gradually understand why she built so many walls around herself. She desperately wants to be loved and accepted, but she's often her own worst enemy. She wants to mature as an artist and as a person while constantly battling the parts of herself that are terrified of being vulnerable.
Hayden Panettiere brought so many layers to the character. She could make Juliette absolutely infuriating in one scene and heartbreaking in the next. Watching her evolve throughout the series really showcases just how talented Hayden was as both an actress and singer.
The Characters
Rayna James is a legendary country singer trying to balance her career, motherhood, and running her own record label. I really enjoyed the mentor relationship between Rayna and Juliette. They're very different women, but Rayna recognizes the potential underneath Juliette's difficult exterior and tries to guide her.
Deacon Claybourne is an extremely talented musician and songwriter who struggles with alcoholism. Deacon takes on more of a mentor role as his relationships with the younger musicians around him become just as important as his own career.
Scarlett O'Connor is incredibly talented and genuinely loves music, but she's much more comfortable singing than dealing with the celebrity lifestyle that comes with being a successful artist. I really enjoyed watching her confidence grow and seeing her develop both as a musician and as a person.
Avery Barkley starts off ambitious and willing to make selfish decisions because he desperately wants to become a successful solo artist. Unfortunately for him, those choices come back to haunt him and he gets humbled pretty quickly. Over time, he becomes a talented musician and producer. More importantly, he grows into someone who's incredibly loyal and supportive of the people he loves.
Gunnar Scott is sweet, talented, and genuinely passionate about music. He becomes Scarlett's love interest and eventually her bandmate. Their relationship is a constant roller coaster, but their chemistry – both musically and romantically – is undeniable.
Will Lexington has one of the show's more meaningful storylines. He's a talented musician who initially hides his sexuality out of fear, and his eventual coming-out storyline explores homophobia and the pressure to maintain a certain image within the music industry.
Favorite Relationships
Juliette & Avery were easily my favorite couple. They start as close friends before becoming romantically involved and eventually getting married. Their relationship goes through cheating, mental-health struggles, scandals, addiction, and some heartbreaking moments. They're two incredibly complicated people who hurt each other but also understand each other in ways that other people can't. What I found most compelling is that even after everything, they never completely stop loving each other.
Rayna & Deacon are the definition of a drawn-out romance with a complicated history spanning roughly 20 years. They attempt to move on, date other people, and convince themselves they can let go, but somehow they always find their way back to each other. Their relationship is messy, heartbreaking, romantic, and frustrating all at once — which is exactly why I kept rooting for them to figure things out. They have that classic "we clearly love each other but can't get our act together" dynamic.
Scarlett & Gunnar connection develops through songwriting and performing together, and eventually that chemistry turns into a band. They constantly struggle with their feelings and other relationships. Still, there's always this underlying connection between them that makes you feel like they're never truly finished with each other. Basically: two talented musicians who clearly belong together but take the longest possible route to figure it out.
Music/Guest Stars
Even as someone who isn't particularly interested in country music, I found myself enjoying the musical performances and discovering songs I probably wouldn't have encountered otherwise. The music is one of the show’s biggest strengths and I was genuinely surprised by how often I found myself wanting to listen to the songs outside of the show. Nashville also featured guest appearances from recognizable artists including Carrie Underwood, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Kelsea Ballerini, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Zac Brown, Sara Evans, Pam Tillis, Elton John, and others.
Final Thoughts
I started Nashville because I wanted to revisit Hayden Panettiere's work. I stayed because I became completely invested in the entire Nashville universe. The series is about much more than music. It’s about ambition, family, friendship, fame, sexuality, parenthood, mental health, betrayal, and characters trying to figure out who they are when their career and personal life are constantly colliding.
The incredible musical performances, addictive relationships, and complicated characters are what kept me watching. More importantly, the show reminded me just how talented Hayden Panettiere was. She absolutely showcased both her acting and singing abilities through her portrayal of Juliette Barnes, creating a character who could be infuriating and incredibly compelling all at once.
If you're a fan of music dramas like Empire and Star, or Hayden Panettiere, I'd definitely recommend giving Nashville a chance — even if, like me, you're not a country-music fan.
In the comments or contact form below, let me know your thoughts on the show or if you have any show recommendations. You can click the link here to sign up for the blog email list and submit suggestions for shows :)
- Rest In Peace Hayden Panettiere -
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