Grand Ole Opry

EPISODE 18

When Stormy Weather, a country character in her own right, watched the first episode of ABC’s NASHVILLE, she knew it was just the kind of show on which she wanted to dish online at opry.com each week. “Fashion. Young love. Old enemies. The potential for a catfight at every turn. Music born in the songwriting rooms of Music City. What’s not to love?” Stormy asks. Visit this page for Stormy’s unbridled thoughts on each episode as the series takes off and as we’re all introduced to Rayna James, Juliette Barnes, and the rest of the characters that make up NASHVILLE.

Bummer, Jolene.

It was the night that the lights went out in Music City for Dante. You see, mama don’t miss when she aims her gun.

What becomes of young Juliette now that her mother is dead? Stormy truly felt Juliette’s former boyfriend/manager turned extortionist was expendable. But to script Jolene a murderer and to take her own life was a bit of a shocker. Will Juliette bounce back in time for the CMA Awards next week? Likely, she will. After last night’s episode of Nashville, we’re certain Juliette is in for one heck of a roller coaster ride in the just-confirmed second series. Let’s hope the guilt of blaming everything on her mother just prior to Jolene’s untimely death doesn’t consume poor Juliette. She’s got to be strong for the next leg of the tour, whether or not she takes that Female Vocalist of the Year trophy home next week.

Innocent Scarlett’s career is taking off. She made her Grand Ole Opry debut only to send Gunnar packing after the show. Unfortunately, she had to bail Gunnar and neighbor boy Will out of jail before she told him to hit the road. Looks like Scarlett is fair game for season two. Does she go running back to the familiar arms of Avery or will she find new love?

Speaking of Gunnar, he seems a bit obsessed with his being an outlaw. He played in a downtown bar, the same downtown bar where he drank too much and eventually got into a barroom brawl that landed him and his sparring partner Will in jail. If you ask Stormy, they’re off to a great start with their country careers. All they need now is a divorce or two, a pickup truck and they’re good to go. Ah, but not before we watch Gunnar run from his demons for a few more episodes. The boy’s gotta learn. You see, his sweet girlfriend has landed a record deal with Ray-Ray’s newly announced record label Highway 65 Records. Scarlett has places to go, people to see and things to do. She has a future and right now, Gunnar has no place in it. Gunnar hath really screwed up this time. Now who will take Scarlett to the big CMA Awards show next week? Uncle Deacon? Or will Uncle Deacon and Ray-Ray take their romance public on the awards show’s red carpet?

Well, not if Ray-Ray’s soon-to-be ex-husband has anything to do with it.  Ray-Ray is rockin’ the side ponytail in her kitchen when Deacon shows up for dinner, a “beautiful” pie in hand. Teddy surprises everyone during family night at the house and the mood quickly sours. Teddy gets his revenge in the form of a temporary restraining order preventing his daughters from being within 100 feet of Deacon. Mess with her daughters and Ray-Ray wastes no time in going to her daddy Lamar for a little favor, asking him to meet with the judge. Now, what amazes Stormy most, aside from the fact that Ray-Ray would actually ask her daddy for help in keeping this little custody battle quiet is how effortlessly Ray-Ray transitions between her bedazzled stage attire to her more subdued, yet not matronly, courthouse wardrobe. Ray-Ray rocks that high-neck blouse with the big bow! And don’t even get Stormy started on that Pinterest-worthy pencil skirt she was sporting.

Stormy loves the fact that the sneaky snake Lamar is back in business. His other daughter Tandy questions his ability before meeting with the board where she plots to overthrow him. Lamar may be cardiac compromised but don’t count him out just yet. Tandy takes her seat at the head of the boardroom table just in time for Lamar to reclaim it. Stormy is liking Lamar a little more each day. Take that, Tandy! Lamar’s got a little life left in him, and let’s hope he uses it to mess with Teddy, too.

Now when last we saw Teddy, he was concerned that his daughter Maddie would find out that Deacon is her daddy. And as luck would have it, Maddie is on the phone in the show’s closing moments saying she thinks her daddy might not be her daddy. What has Maddie learned about her daddy? And does it rhyme?

Stormy simply cannot wait for the season finale’s cliffhanger next week. Will Deacon discover the truth? Will the deception drive him and Ray-Ray apart? Will Juliette numb her liver to get through the awards show? Will Scarlett man up when it comes to the men in her life? The speculation is surely to leave Stormy facing a few sleepless nights as she tries to unravel the plot twists that are sure to unfold next week.

EPISODE 18

When Stormy Weather, a country character in her own right, watched the first episode of ABC’s NASHVILLE, she knew it was just the kind of show on which she wanted to dish online at opry.com each week. “Fashion. Young love. Old enemies. The potential for a catfight at every turn. Music born in the songwriting rooms of Music City. What’s not to love?” Stormy asks. Visit this page for Stormy’s unbridled thoughts on each episode as the series takes off and as we’re all introduced to Rayna James, Juliette Barnes, and the rest of the characters that make up NASHVILLE.

Deception & Deceit . . . Rinse & Repeat, Ray-Ray

Coleman and Tandy are less than encouraging to Ray-Ray and Deacon about the latter two’s recently rekindled flame. Coleman equates Ray-Ray to an addiction for Deacon. Hellooo, Coleman. Where have you been these past few months? Of course, Ray-Ray is an addiction for Deacon. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Tandy urges her sister to take it slow. Tandy is up to no good, that’s for sure. Just what she’s up to, Stormy isn’t sure. But here’s betting Ray-Ray’s daughter does not go unscathed in this one. Tandy is likely to be the sister Ray-Ray will wish she never had.

Deacon comes clean with Dr. Stacy. After confessing that the doc wasn’t obsessing about Ray-Ray’s obsession with him, Deacon diagnoses their breakup. Well, Dr. Stacy has just the prescription for this. She’s keeping the puppy! It looks like Deacon left Dr. Stacy with a bad case of heartworm.

Juliette and Ray-Ray go head to head for the CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Award. Juliette goes all out campaigning for the big award. At this rate, she’ll need a new gown, shoes, jewels and a new liver. On the red carpet, Ray-Ray demonstrates that she has perfected the art of the finely delivered zinger when she sniffs out the overly indulgent Juliette as she refers to her scent as “80 proof.” Ray-Ray is dead-on with her delivery and does it with a perfect smile as she poses for the cameras. You go, girl! In Juliette’s defense, if your manager/boyfriend leaves town with your money, it tends to bring out the surly side in a girl. Let’s face it: Juliette is only human. And for the record, Deacon, who quit Juliette’s band just five minutes before her performance for the big industry crowd, must be the most frequently unemployed guitar player in Music City. No worries, though, as Avery fills in at the last minute when a drunken Juliette takes the stage, Deacon heads for his car while Avery does the same with Juliette. Suddenly, Stormy is wondering, “Where did that Deacon go?” Again, no worries. This guy always turns up somewhere, usually with a female nearby. While Juliette sleeps off one too many glasses of Champagne, Dante calls, and it sounds like Dante has a tape. And we’re not talkin’ a demo here. In the previews, Dante tells Juliette he’ll need $10 million for the racy video. Hold out, Juliette. Ask yourself, what would Kim Kardashian do???

Back at the mayor’s office, Coleman resigned. Teddy heads home where Ray-Ray admits to him that she and Deacon are potentially pursuing a relationship. Yes, that whimsical, care-free, living-by-the-moment Ray-Ray of last week’s episode is going strong.  Troubled Teddy makes Ray-Ray promise to keep their secret a secret. That’s trouble in the making. Stormy thinks we’ll not have to worry about Ray-Ray breaking the news on this one.

Gunnar decides to ignore his awkward encounter with Cowboy Will. When Scarlett gets invited to the big CMA nominee party at her record label, it just so happens to be the very exact same night that Gunnar has to record a demo. What are the odds? Really? In a somewhat startling move, from oh-so-innocent Scarlett’s perspective, Gunnar agrees to let his neighbor accompany Scarlett to the party.

Teddy and Mattie head to a party of their own, the father/daughter dance. Are the children of Nashville so numb to celebrities that they dare not notice the mayor is in their midst? How could this scene have been improved? Well, thank you for asking. In a perfect world, Vince Gill and Amy Grant would have been chaperones, and Mayor Teddy would have bumped into the duo at the punch bowl. At home, Coleman’s wife assures him that he’ll soon occupy the mayor’s office once the truth about troubled Teddy becomes public. Teddy may be down in Music City but he’s not out. Not just yet.

Remember when Stormy couldn’t find Deacon a few scenes ago? Well, turns out Deacon was waiting in the wings for Ray-Ray and he suddenly jumps in beside her in the backseat of his limo. He knows Ray-Ray is hiding something. How long before Ray-Ray caves and tells this man the truth? In the backseat on a rainy night in Nashville, Ray-Ray confesses her love to Deacon but she keeps her secret. One that could tear this twosome apart . . . Ray-Ray and Deacon are basking in the afterglow but only Ray-Ray knows what a tangled web she is weaving. Deception and deceit . . . rinse and repeat, Ray-Ray.

Stormy just happened to glance at a news item that mentions two Nashville characters are killed before the season ends. Oh, my! Who’s the most expendable? Ray-Ray and Juliette are surely safe. Lamar? Too easy; he’s good. Tandy? Could we be so lucky? Scarlett? Not the innocent; it would be unforgivable. But wait? Do two deaths mean there dwells a killer among us? Who is capable of such a deed?

EPISODE 17

When Stormy Weather, a country character in her own right, watched the first episode of ABC’s NASHVILLE, she knew it was just the kind of show on which she wanted to dish online at opry.com each week. “Fashion. Young love. Old enemies. The potential for a catfight at every turn. Music born in the songwriting rooms of Music City. What’s not to love?” Stormy asks. Visit this page for Stormy’s unbridled thoughts on each episode as the series takes off and as we’re all introduced to Rayna James, Juliette Barnes, and the rest of the characters that make up NASHVILLE.

A Satisfied Mind & More For Ray Ray – Finally!

If you see Ray-Ray bouncing around Nashville, she’s most certainly got a spring in her step. You might say “Ray-Ray’s got her groove back.” Thank you very much, Deacon.

Earlier in last night’s episode, it appeared Ray-Ray and her producer/guitar player Liam were going to make waves of their own in the studio. Fortunately, Ray-Ray’s manager has really bad timing and interrupted the duo making out in the studio. Busted like a couple of raging-hormone-filled teenagers. The scene was somewhat pivotal, though, as Ray-Ray declared that she wants to live in the moment. Liam soon learns that she just doesn’t want to live in that particular moment when he invites Ray-Ray on a spur-of-the-moment trip to St. Lucia. Hot Liam puts an offer like that on the table and wild and carefree Ray-Ray needs “to think about it.” Spontaneity clearly isn’t working for Ray-Ray. Well, not yet, anyway.

In a moment that proves Ray-Ray is about as spontaneous as an aged cheese, Ray-Ray finally caves and agrees to go.

While Ray-Ray is finding her way back to her long-lost groove, she stops by to visit her recuperating daddy Lamar. Ray-Ray brings a couple of big gulps home  (because copious amounts of sugar and caffeine are exactly what every recovering cardiac patient needs) only to find Lamar reminiscing over old photos, waxing all philosophical. He and Ray-Ray decide to wipe the slate clean. Seems Lamar and Ray-Ray have bonded over this cardiac crisis. It is in this moment of reconciliation that Stormy comes to a conclusion. Lamar is not Ray-Ray’s biological father. No way. Ray-Ray and her sister Tandy are polar opposites. Tandy is all business-like and analytical while Ray-Ray is the lofty, creative type, consumed by her music. If you recall, when Lamar laid eyes on Watty in the hospital, the very sight of Watty sent Lamar’s ticker into a second myocardial infraction. That’s medical speak for an on-the-spot heart attack. What prompted such a reaction from Lamar? Stormy predicts that Ray-Ray’s mother’s affair with Watty was more than a passing fling. Watty is Ray-Ray’s daddy. Some soul-searching biological revelations are on the way for this family.

Before Deacon rocks Ray-Ray’s world, he’s got to contend with Juliette’s bad attitude. Miss Thang rubs Deacon the wrong way so Deacon informs her that he’s hittin’ the road just as soon as he finishes this leg of the tour. Oh, the women in Deacon’s life just wear him out, don’t they?

As for Juliette, the women in her life aren’t treating her much better. She gets a much-needed dose of reality from her mother Jolene who accuses Dante of kissing another woman, the real estate agent. When confronted, the realtor reveals that Dante only helped her out; they’re just friends. (Friends with some serious benefits, honey.) Juliette purchases a new house, but her new abode turns out to be Dante’s Peak. Juliette no more than gets the shelf paper in the kitchen cabinets when she realizes that Dante is a scam. Seriously, girl, wasn’t that bogus name your first clue? Juliette has been conned, to the tune of more than $400,000 plus some walking around money. This, after the girl almost sends her poor mama back to rehab for no reason. Juliette learns the hard way that love isn’t cheap. By the time Juliette realizes she’s been duped, Dante is sitting in First Class alongside the cute realtor who helped him outsmart Juliette. He’s outta there. You men out there have  been forewarned: Juliette is a woman scorned.

What about Juliette’s endorsement of cotton, the fabric of our lives? It seems like a natural endorsement for Hayden Panettiere since her character has spent so much time between the sheets. She oughta know, right?

Before the planets properly align, Deacon finally confesses that he still has feelings for Ray-Ray. His current girlfriend, Dr. Stacy, the vet, ain’t havin’ it, though. Color her gone. Who’s standing in the wings when Dr. Girlfriend walks out on poor Deacon? Ray-Ray, who lends a sympathetic ear just before it appears she’s heading off with Liam for a tropical tryst. Before you can say “wheels up,” Ray-Ray lands on Deacon’s front porch where she confesses her love for him. Deacon reciprocates and these two lock lips while a collective sigh of relief is heard ’round the world as these two make up for some very lost time. Stormy can’t help but wonder if this reunion is built to last? Will Deacon pick up the pieces if Ray-Ray learns that Lamar is not her real daddy? What about Maddie? Will she learn that her real daddy isn’t Teddy but Deacon? Like mother, like daughter.

Speaking of troublesome Teddy, he is confronted by some sad news: Ole Peg did indeed leak the news of his impending divorce to the tabloids. At the office, Teddy confronts Peg who offers more information than she should and effectively tips her hand when she implicates Lamar. Ole Peg finds herself on a slippery slope, and Teddy asks her to leave. Go. Hit the road, Ole Peg. You’re not wanted here no more, no more, no more, no more. Suddenly, Teddy remembers that he’s Nashville’s mayor, and he ensures that Lamar isn’t getting a piece of the new high-dollar stadium deal, much to Coleman’s dismay.

Coleman later meets Tandy who proposes a new alignment between herself and Coleman. Tandy suggests that Teddy is not the right person for mayor. She points to the Cumberland deal as a prime example. Tandy has plans to undermine Teddy but Stormy isn’t sure where this plot is going. Does Tandy think if she unseats Teddy that Coleman will become her puppet? Hmmmm?

While Stormy was busy cheering on Ray-Ray and Deacon, she’s totally missed the connection between Gunnar and his new neighbor. Turns out Ray-Ray wasn’t the only one who put herself out there last night. While Scarlett was moping around feeling sorry for Avery, who’s now setting the stage for Ray-Ray instead of taking the stage, Gunnar was hitting the honky tonks with his new neighbor and BFF. After a night of teaching Gunnar how to lock eyes with the lovely ladies, the new neighbor turns the tables and locks lips with Gunnar. Who saw that coming? Certainly not young Gunnar. Gunnar needs to head home so that Scarlett can dole out some of that simplistic advice that she seems to have for life’s every circumstance. Can’t wait to hear her homespun explanation for this one. As Stormy awaits next week’s episode, she takes comfort in knowing that Ray-Ray’s front porch confession left her with, in the words of the great Wagonmaster himself Porter Wagoner, a satisfied mind (truly, Stormy thinks that list goes deeper than Ray-Ray’s mind).

Will Deacon still love Ray-Ray tomorrow? Stormy simply can’t wait to find out. Bring on the next three episodes and some killer cliffhangers. Drive these storylines like you stole ‘em, baby!

EPISODE 16

When Stormy Weather, a country character in her own right, watched the first episode of ABC’s NASHVILLE, she knew it was just the kind of show on which she wanted to dish online at opry.com each week. “Fashion. Young love. Old enemies. The potential for a catfight at every turn. Music born in the songwriting rooms of Music City. What’s not to love?” Stormy asks. Visit this page for Stormy’s unbridled thoughts on each episode as the series takes off and as we’re all introduced to Rayna James, Juliette Barnes, and the rest of the characters that make up NASHVILLE.

Ho Hey from Nashville

Are Ray-Ray’s daughters too cute or what? The oldest one talks back to her mother and look what happens? The littles get scooped up and forced to go on tour with Rayna, their mama. Such a sad life. No school. Catered dinner every night. Cool parties with celebrity friends. Yeah, it’s tough being Ray-Ray’s offspring. To Rayna’s credit, she’s smart enough to try, with little success, to redirect her daughters’ attention to something other than Juliette.

Now when it comes to mothers and daughters, which Nashville seems to have plenty of right now, is there anyone more annoying than Jolene? No, there isn’t. Stormy wants to feel some compassion for this woman, but she simply can’t. It’s not Jolene’s fault; she’s just drawn that way. First of all, the name. You’ve got to be bold to carry a name like Jolene. For the love of everything, at least give the woman flaming locks of auburn hair. No. And now Dante (again. where do they get these names?). A real winner he turned out to be. Jolene needs a sober partner whose head can’t be turned by the manipulative daughter. When Juliette suggests that Jolene attend Juliette’s crew’s AA meeting, Jolene should have refused. Stand up for yourself just this once, Jolene. Claim that which is yours, even if it is that pathetic Dante. Instead, Jolene just wanders away. Is it no wonder this woman drinks?

Rayna’s not left the Nashville city limits before Ole Peg shows up at the house to greet Teddy. As quick as Peg can drop her trench coat, she and Teddy are playing house in the mansion that Ray-Ray built. Just when Peg gets cozy, Lamar shows up and makes a strong accusation toward Peg about leaking the Teddy/Rayna story to the tabloids. Gasp! And what is it with Lamar and that stadium? What’s the big deal and who cares? Stormy simply wants to know if Lamar can survive the evil clutches of Ole Peg. Does Peg do him in because Lamar knows too much? Is Peg completely corrupt? Let’s hope so. If Ole Peg can out villain Lamar, this just might get interesting.

And speaking of interesting, Stacy the vet is not at the top of Stormy’s list. Come on, Doc! Throw down with a complete hissy fit at Deacon when you find out–from someone else, no less–that he and Ray-Ray have a history. A quite varied one, at that. Scoop up little Sue and hit the road. Deacon is code for “man hung up on another woman.” Dr. Stacy, get a clue, take Sue and get out of there. Stat.

When will these women learn? Ho hey, indeed.

CLICK HERE for all things NASHVILLE ABC:
www.opry.com/nashvilleabc

EPISODE 15

When Stormy Weather, a country character in her own right, watched the first episode of ABC’s NASHVILLE, she knew it was just the kind of show on which she wanted to dish online at opry.com each week. “Fashion. Young love. Old enemies. The potential for a catfight at every turn. Music born in the songwriting rooms of Music City. What’s not to love?” Stormy asks. Visit this page for Stormy’s unbridled thoughts on each episode as the series takes off and as we’re all introduced to Rayna James, Juliette Barnes, and the rest of the characters that make up NASHVILLE.

Let’s see, where are we now? Deacon learned the power of a cute puppy. No woman can resist a guy with a furry friend. Will Deacon finally find love at the veterinarian’s office? At the very least, the vet gave Deacon a little check-up, and she wasn’t looking for heartworm. Hug that little puppy, Deacon. Boom-chica-bow wow!

Rayna and Teddy are sharing the family home, and Rayna laid down the law about Ol’ Peg–Teddy’s not to bring his special projects home from the office. Teddy knows better than to cross Rayna. If anything, spreadsheets are the only thing Teddy and Peggy should be sharing in the house that Rayna built.

Lamar barged into Teddy’s office, obviously intent on reminding Teddy that Teddy’s the puppet, and Lamar is the puppeteer. Teddy’s not having it, though. Lamar storms out. How is Lamar going to take Mayor Conrad down a notch? Reel him in? Teddy’s just drunk with power. Lamar’s not happy–and he doesn’t even know that his granddaughter got cracked in the head by a completely empty and out-of-place-looking shelf.

After calling Rayna the b-word, young Mattie defies her mother and attends Juliette’s downtown concert–the Melee in the Gulch–where she was clocked in the head by the aforementioned shelf. Deacon immediately spots her in the sea of people just in time to come to her rescue once the crowd spirals out of control. “She’s like family,” Deacon tells Rayna at the hospital while their daughter is getting a CAT Scan. And the Understatement of the Year Award goes to  . . . Deacon. Come on, Rayna, how much longer are you going to leave this poor man in the dark? Rayna takes the opportunity to give Juliette a stern wakeup call, literally a reality check via a phone call where Rayna talks hard to the little diva. Later, Rayna gets all sentimental at the door of their once-shared home with Teddy. Dear, me, woman. Move on; you looked desperate.

Guilt over his brother is consuming Gunnar while Avery is discovering what a jagged little pill regret is to swallow. The men in Scarlett’s life have got some kind of trouble. One’s drinkin’ alone in the middle of the day; one’s lighting big fires in a dark alley. Maybe it’s time Scarlett widens her social circle. Or, at the very least, go hang out with Deacon’s puppy. A little puppy breath cures a world of hurt.

Oh, the drama of a parking lot confession from Deacon, spilling his heart out to Gunnar. Once Scarlett and Gunnar get home, Gunnar is under the impression that Scarlett is going to console him. Wrong! She sends Gunnar to his room. Well, he did screw up the showcase, after all. Their separation is short-lived and, ironically, underscored by Avery’s heartfelt song. Scarlett awakens to a phone call from Mr. Bucky announcing that Rayna wants to sign Scarlett to a solo recording contract. Gunnar’s going to wake up in Scarlett’s bed only to discover he’s out in the cold. Will Scarlett sign and leave Gunnar behind? Will she pass on a contract with Rayna so she can seal the deal with Gunnar? Will Avery ever comb his hair?

Rayna headed off to the Katie Couric show where Katie asks some hard-hitting questions. Deacon sees Rayna talking about her divorce and it compels him to go back to the vet. The vet whose already given him a complete check-up. Now these two are going to date, at Coleman’s recommendation. Based on the previews of next week’s episode, it looks like the vet prescribes some self-evaluation for our buddy Deacon. Someone’s bound to be barking up the wrong tree next week.

CLICK HERE for all things NASHVILLE ABC:
www.opry.com/nashvilleabc

EPISODE 14

When Stormy Weather, a country character in her own right, watched the first episode of ABC’s NASHVILLE, she knew it was just the kind of show on which she wanted to dish online at opry.com each week. “Fashion. Young love. Old enemies. The potential for a catfight at every turn. Music born in the songwriting rooms of Music City. What’s not to love?” Stormy asks. Visit this page for Stormy’s unbridled thoughts on each episode as the series takes off and as we’re all introduced to Rayna James, Juliette Barnes, and the rest of the characters that make up NASHVILLE.

Oh, Nashville, how dare you tug at Stormy’s heartstrings and make her cry! Stormy can take the cheating, lying, back-stabbing and occasional really bad fashion ensemble but this week’s episode cut Stormy to the very core.

Juliette can’t muster up the courage for family therapy with her recovering addict mother but she does find time to toss a humdinger of a birthday party for Deacon at The Bluebird, complete with “Deacon faces on a Stick’” for everyone to enjoy. An odd choice, it seems, for a guy who doesn’t like surprise parties. As for Stormy, any time Vince Gill shows up, it’s an occasion to celebrate. The only time a real live celebrity showed up at Stormy’s birthday party, it was at the McDonald’s at 12th and Broadway where Stormy and her 10 best girlfriends fought over the Barbie prize in the Happy Meals. Sadly, that’s not a childhood memory. Back to the party. Juliette is forced to leave early when her mother, Jolene, succumbs to the power of too much bubbly. Juliette takes matters into her own hands and gets her mama home where she puts her to bed to sleep it off. Stormy actually felt sorry for Juliette, until Gunnar, but more on that later.

Speaking of happy meals, life is no picnic for Ray-Ray. Seems the tabloids are hot on her tail, alleging secret affairs with Liam and Deacon. Of course, Ray-Ray is livid. But Stormy, she can’t fault the tabloids. Lies they may be but many’ s the time a good headline has provided just enough distraction to prevent the purchase of that king-sized Kit-Kat candy bar. You know, the one large enough to feed a family of four and still have leftovers?  Gimme a break! Just as Stormy reaches for that chocolate vacation, she spies a headline like “Dolly & Elvis Spotted in the Capt. D’s Drive-Thru.” Well, what’s a girl to do? Stormy’s inquiring mind has to know, who was driving? Elvis or Dolly? Before Stormy can say “thank you very much,” the store clerk is asking for money and massive calorie overload avoided, yet again. So Stormy has a love/hate relationship with the tabloids, unlike Ray-Ray.

As for Teddy, he’s going the way of the dearly beloved Hank Snow, and he’s movin’ on. He and Ole Peg are hot and heavy, and, if that weren’t enough to rub Ray-Ray’s nose in, Ole Peg is now on the new mayor’s payroll as a financial consultant–so that’s what they’re calling it these days. Ole Peg is apparently on the executive fast track which includes frequent personal consultations with the new mayor. But the best part about these secret office liaisons is the wait. Stormy is just counting the days until these two are caught red-handed, pushing some public policy of their own. Who’ll be the first to catch Teddy and Ole Peg goin’ at it? Stormy predicts that, unlike Yahoo! employees, Ole Peg will be telecommuting before long. Along with Lamar’s political agenda, Teddy’s got to push through a divorce from Ray-Ray, who Stormy predicts will be no pushover. No, ma’am. Speaking of politics, Ray-Ray’s sister Thandie is campaigning for sister of the year, helping Ray-Ray navigate the stormy (no pun intended) divorce waters.

Speaking of Ray-Ray, she was firing on all six cylinders when she sang a song for Deacon at the party. If Stormy had one of those Deacon faces on a stick, she would have been fanning herself because that was as steamy as all get out, girl! And Deacon is sexy on a stick. That much steamy and sexy in the same room, and sparks are bound to fly.

It was Scarlett who got Uncle Deacon to his smashing party, under the guise of hearing her and Gunner sing at The Bluebird. Earlier, at the house, Gunnar discovers his brother’s gun; Scarlett demands that he not leave the house with a loaded weapon. Gunnar complies; he leaves the house with an unloaded gun. Gunnar meets his brother down by the river and tosses the gun, hoping to steer his recently incarcerated brother from harm’s way. Instead, Gunnar gets called away from Deacon’s party for a trip to the morgue to identify his brother’s body. And Stormy cried and cried. Thank goodness Juliette gifted Deacon with that absolutely adorable puppy.

Poor Gunnar, the guilt and all. How will he ever get past this? Will he turn to the loving arms of Scarlett? We’ll take that sofa tango as a yes.