List of Nashville cast members

A number of country musicians and celebrities also appear as themselves, including Brad Paisley, Conan O'Brien, Katie Couric, Kelly Clarkson, Luke Bryan, Maria Menounos and Michelle Obama.

Early in her career she dated songwriter, guitar player and her longtime intermittent musical collaborator Deacon Claybourne, who is an alcoholic.

Teddy is aware that he is not Maddie's biological father (she was born very shortly after their marriage), and there are hints that this may be Deacon—which is revealed to be true later in season one.

Her relationship with Teddy continues to deteriorate even as he is serving as mayor of Nashville (a position which he achieves largely due to Lamar's corrupt interference) and they eventually divorce.

She quickly rose to become Edgehill Republic Records biggest star, a pop-country sensation, with legions of young teenage fans and sellout tours.

Upon returning home, she attempts to take down the movement and announces that she is leaving the music business and retiring from the public eye and moves to a farm to raise Cadence, but promises Avery she's not running away.

She is also Deacon's niece, and a talented singer and eventual relationship partner with Gunnar (they later perform as The Exes, even during a time when she is dating her dying mother's physician).

She continues on singing as a soloist and has a short relationship with producer Liam McGuinnis, who also supplies her with prescription medication to help combat tiredness when he has her working all night to get songs out of her, which results in her becoming dependent on the meds.

Rayna tells him to break off the relationship when she catches them kissing and Liam departs for Tokyo, leaving Scarlett devastated.

He runs for mayor with help from his father-in-law and wins election, in large measure due to the corruption of Lamar and his connections.

The talented musician became Rayna's band leader, guitar player, songwriter, and romantic partner when the duo paired up 20 years ago.

And while things didn't exactly work out for the two stars in the romance department — Deacon's inner turmoil runs deep — the pair has successfully carried on a loyal, professional partnership.

He then relapsed and began drinking for a short amount of time, causing a serious vehicle accident in which he and Rayna are both badly injured, before getting sober again.

He also takes over co-ownership of Highway 65 following his wife's death, wondering how much of the label's resources he owes to her career retrospective project in order to be true to her memory.

He later finds short-term happiness with Jessie, overcoming much of the guilt he has about this relationship due to his memories of Rayna; however, the two break up later on, but remain strongly attracted to each other.

He finds some lyrics written by his dead brother, Jason and, with some tips on performance from Will, Gunnar earns a business card from an agent, Jack Nelson, who offers to record a demo for him.

After Avery departs the band following Juliette giving birth to their daughter, Scarlett and Gunnar continue on as a duo called "The Exes".

Lamar Wyatt is Rayna's father and a wealthy, powerful, and controlling patriarch and politically connected local real estate developer who disapproves of his daughter's career as a country singer.

In season one, it was revealed that Lamar's wife had long ago died, leaving him a widower and single father to his two daughters, Rayna and Tandy.

Will Lexington, an aspiring country singer from Texas, is introduced as Scarlett and Gunnar's East Nashville neighbor and later becomes their friend.

In season one, he is a closeted gay man trying to make a name for himself in a highly prejudiced business and society, and reveals his true nature to Gunnar when he tries to kiss him.

They temporarily fall out and Will finds himself unable to accept who he truly is and attempts suicide by standing in front of a train, only to back out at the last moment.

He starts a relationship with talent show runner-up Layla Grant, which is merely a publicity stunt, but in spite of Gunnar's attempts to get him to confess his true sexuality to her he proposes to her instead, and they marry.

During the third season, Rayna breaks off her engagement to Luke, even as her daughter Maddie becomes increasingly involved with his son Colt, all of which makes him heartbroken and bitter about their breakup.

After the split Luke begins to focus more on his music and creates his own label, Wheelin' Dealin' Records, signing Will and Juliette.

He becomes Will's advocate in season four, telling country fans it is long past time for many of them to overcome their anti-gay prejudices in a series of high-profile media appearances.

He was fired from his record company and began secretly dating Layla and managing her music career before being hired as Luke Wheeler's label CEO just before he fell to his death trying to save Juliette Barnes from suicide.

Jeff's accomplishments include bringing country phenom Luke Wheeler over to Edgehill and signing up-and-coming artists Layla Grant and Will Lexington.

Fordham was fired by Edgehill's Board of Directors after Rayna revealed his wrongdoings at a corporate meeting, mostly concerning the near death of Layla Grant, at a local party.

But, in the sixth episode of the fourth season, he saw Juliette stumbling around on the roof outside, and saw that she was trying to commit suicide, and he died saving her life.