Any fan of “Nashville” lives not just for relishing the high drama that binds favorite characters together, but also for the songs and performances offered by the actors themselves. Learning lines is never enough for “Nashville” regulars, they have to love music, and pour themselves into music, so much so that several stars, like Charles Esten and Clare Bowen, have real lives that mirror their professional devotion on the small screen.
Like most of the world, the cast expressed heartfelt loss upon the news of the Manchester attack and those in other cities that followed.
These artists know firsthand the feeling that music can bring to a soul, but even words and music are sometimes not enough. There can be strength in numbers, and “Nashville” stars came together to give some meaningful numbers as a monetary donation, along with their gifts from the stage, on a summer tour stop at the O2 Arena.
A unified effort
Ever since its start, “Nashville” has literally taken its show on the road. Every summer “Nashville on the Road” takes the multifaceted talents to the people in live shows, and also produces television broadcasts “For the Record” that have been highly successful. The show’s music is preserved on CD and in downloads, and those have only added to the fan support and loyalty that was demonstrated very tangibly by the campaign to bring the drama back to TV after an abrupt cancellation from ABC even before the unsatisfying climax to close Season 4.
CMT not only welcomed the series, the network made sure that the show and the cast knew they were welcome to stay, and have already confirmed the show through Season 6.
Clare Bowen, who portrays Scarlett O'Connor, Charles Esten, now the bereaved single father, Deacon Claybourne on-screen, Sam Palladio, who is caught in a fatherhood tangle of his own as Gunnar Scott, Chris Carmack, who is stretching his wings as Will Lexington in a newly open life, and Jonathan Jackson, who is re-launching his own musical ship as Avery Barkley on the show were all scheduled to perform at Manchester Arena for shows last Saturday.
In light of the recent tragedy in May, that venue remains closed. Still, neither the performers nor the crowds that made a transfer to the O2 Arena seemed to skip a note. Two sold out shows at the O2 Apollo made sure that the traveling caravan of TV stars and simultaneous musical talents felt appreciated. In turn, they all reciprocated with a donation of £10,000 (about $12, 700).
The funds were dedicated in each cast member’s name and went to the British Red Cross UK Solidarity Fund.
Country music has celebrated a surging popularity in the UK over the past decade. Fans all over the UK have shown immense resolve and strength of spirit through continued assaults of harm, such as the vehicle attack this past weekend in Newcastle. Opry Entertainment President, Steve Buchanan, echoed the same sentiment in a press release, declaring “there was never any question we were going to perform somewhere in the city” and that the two shows at the city’s 02 Apollo were living proof of “the power of music to heal and unite.”
Not everything’s nice on screen
The giving spirit so willingly demonstrated by the “Nashville” cast in real life won’t be so evident in this Thursday's storyline for the episode “Not Ready to Make Nice.” Juliette, portrayed to perfection by Hayden Panettiere, is still trying to strive for higher ground and her better self, but she’s fighting off old demons of jealousy when she sees too much encouragement between her husband, Avery (Jonathan Jackson) and her faithful church friend, Hallie Jordan (Rhiannon Giddens) in the studio.
Maddie learns it was her sister Daphne's new friend who posted the damaging video on Maddie's very own computer. Lennon and Maisy Stella still keep in beautiful sisterly harmony in song, but finding their way through grief and growing up is proving to be a test for the ages.
In this case, maybe the characters should take cues from their actors about getting along and doing some good.
