With the mid-season finale tonight, let’s take a look back at the best Nashville season 3 performances.
‘Crazy’ – 3×01 ‘That’s Me Without You’
Juliette’s soulful rendition of this country classic kicked off season 3 and reminded us why we keep tuning in to this melodramatic soap opera of a show each week. Hayden Panettiere’s performance of “Crazy” is Nashville at it’s best, and although she’s never had the strongest voice on this show filled with burgeoning starlets, the captivating way she’s developed Juliette Barnes into a complicated, kind, but self-destructive anti-hero worth rooting for is by far the highlight of the show. Her heartbreaking performance of “Crazy,” simultaneously captures Patsy Cline’s spirit and Juliette Barnes’ recent loss.
‘Carry On’ – 3×07 ‘I’m Coming Home to You’
A new addition this season, Terry’s brought out so much from Scarlett as they both struggle between their love of music and their fears of getting back on stage. With this performance, they both finally make the choice to be brave. Also, their voices just sound so pretty together.
‘When You Open Your Eyes’ – 3×02 ‘How Far Down Can I Go’
We’ve never heard a Scarlett/Gunnar duet we didn’t like, so of course their first and still only duet of the season sent us into a tizzy. Their voices blend so organically, and as always, their harmonies are perfection. After a rollercoaster of a relationship that began with a showstopping duet in Nashville’s pilot two season ago, this performance encapsulates how far these two have come. Both soulful and sweet, their duet here is a quiet kind of magic, and though their crazy musical chemistry is still as present as ever, the tension in their relationship has finally eased to a comfort that’s firmly based in loving friendship.
‘Blind’ – 3×07 ‘I’m Coming Home to You’
After going from boring beauty queen to desperate housewife, Layla shocks us all beyond anything we could have ever expected by… writing a song… that actually turns out to be good. Her songwriting debut at the Bluebird Cafe showed us a side of Layla that we hadn’t seen before, haunting and mature, “Blind” is a song written by a woman who has lived, loved, been hurt, and grown. And after diving into a pit of despair in learning of her sham of a marriage, she’s emerged from her emotional journey as a true artist with a voice of her own.
‘The Most Beautiful Girl in the World’ – 3×03 ‘I Can’t Get Over You to Save My Life’
ZAG’s performances are always fun, but their first performance of “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World,” is infused with an extra bite of energy as Avery struggles to get over his muse, Juliette. He channels his anger by turning his love song into the ultimate revenge song, as he lays all of Juliette’s dirty laundry out for the world (or at least the dance hall) to hear. Zoey and Gunnar’s bewildered faces as they sing background only adds to the song’s bittersweet delight.
‘The Most Beautiful Girl in the World’ (acoustic version) – 3×03 ‘I Can’t Get Over You to Save My Life’
While ZAG’s upbeat version of this song is definitely more fun, Avery’s acoustic performance when he’s finally alone is drained of all the anger; he’s just plain sad. His heartbreak is evident, and his high voice is haunting as we realize he still loves Juliette, even if he desperately wishes he didn’t.
‘Borrow My Heart’ – 3×09 ‘Two Sides to Every Story’
Even though this is the first time Gunnar, Avery, and Scarlett have performed together on stage, everything about this performance feels so old-school Nashville. These three have always had a fun, if at times awkward chemistry, and their voices sound stunning together. They’ve finally decided to put their pasts behind them and start looking towards the future, and for three kids who’ve spent the past couple years doing anything and everything with fame in mind, now that they have their priorities in order, they’ve never sounded so happy. This performance is joy embodied; finally, it’s love without resentment.