Previously on Monarch...
♪ You broke my heart ♪
♪ My body and mind... ♪
- You stole Mama's song.
- You mean, before you could?
KAYLA: You are my brother-in-law.
We were a mistake.
What if we fast-track this
whole thing and ask Luke
- to be our donor?
- Luke, my brother?
♪ Oh... ♪
This is Ana, my daughter.
I'm Catt Phoenix.
Call us any time.
Dottie was being blackmailed.
She didn't want anybody to know.
You remember that barn fire?
Rosa, your lady friend,
d*ed in that just
as Dottie intended.
ALBIE: A Roman never forgets a friend.
- [g*nsh*t]
- Or an enemy.
There's a dead body
out there somewhere.
And we're complicit, all of us.
I saw it all.
Talk to me. What can I do?
I'm fine.
Uh, just remember, I...
I could tell a friend from an enemy.
Come here.
It's all gonna be okay.
Everything's gonna be fine.
It's all gonna be fine.
NICKY: Daddy?
LUKE: We're in here, Nick.
NICKY: Hi.
- Where's the boy?
- He's okay. He just wanted to be alone.
Well, we need to make sure
that he's not...
He's not gonna say a thing to anybody.
He's a Roman.
He's such a good boy.
Barely . How could I let him
get involved in any of this?
Well, we're family, and we
take care of one another.
He understands that.
Yeah, that's great, but
we've got bigger problems.
Yeah, a missing corpse.
Who does that?
Who digs up a body?
Maybe someone trying to protect us.
With all due respect, Nick,
that wouldn't be my first guess.
Well, whatever we do, we
have to stay on the same page.
Like Mama said, "Family above all else."
I don't think she meant m*rder.
I'm not so sure about that.
_
LUKE: The CML nominations
are about to start.
Guys, where is everybody? Come on.
[LAUGHTER]
Hey, Grandpa, aren't you
gonna stay for the nominations?
No. Watching people in boots
that ain't never seen a barn
pat themselves on the
back ain't my thing.
NICKY: Well, where you going?
It's bad luck to leave
before the announcements.
I got a recording session with Jamie.
And it's called "work," not luck,
and the more you do,
the luckier you get.
Jamie.
- He has got that old man brainwashed.
- [DOOR OPENS]
Hey. Oh.
Hey, y'all. Did we miss anything?
- Oh, I'm so glad you came.
- Oh, wouldn't have missed it,
- it being Mama's tradition and all.
- Yeah.
Yes, but thank you for
putting family first.
Yo, Roman ladies, put the
fake kumbaya on pause, please.
- It's starting.
- [LAUGHTER]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
EARL: Okay. Hello, hello, hello
- Day drinking? Really?
- EARL: What?
The CMLs are my Super Bowl.
- It's an honor just to be inebriated.
- [LAUGHTER]
Welcome to the Country Music
Legacy Award nominations.
Oh, Lordy, old Roger is not aging well.
- Is that a hairpiece?
- I would say "possum."
'Course it could be
any number of large rodent.
Are you ready for this
year's CML nominees?
- [CHATTER QUIETS]
- First up, we have...
No matter what happens, I already have
my two best achievements right here.
BOTH: My kids.
You say the same thing every year, Mom.
So did Dottie. She
didn't mean it, either.
Well, I mean it.
Not that an award wouldn't be nice, too.
[CLEARS THROAT]
Valerie Valentine.
She sure does like
alliteration, doesn't she?
[CHUCKLES] Carrie Underwood...
And Luke Combs. Next up...
Wow. That competition is
gonna be fiercer than...
This is an absolute disaster.
I know. Nothing? Not one nomination?
Monarch's never been shut out before.
You guys have any idea what this
is gonna do to our bottom line?
- Hey. Shh. It's not over yet.
- You ready for the big one?
Country Music Legacy
Award Single of the Year.
- [LUKE SIGHS]
- I know I am. Our first nomination.
Can you say daddy-daughter duet?
- Come on!
- It's Gigi and Albie Roman
- for "You Were Always on My Mind."
- [CHEERING, WHOOPING]
[LUKE SIGHS]
- Yes!
- Oh...
[GUITAR PLAYING GENTLE, UPBEAT MELODY]
[STOPS PLAYING]
- [LAUGHS]
- What?
You just got nominated
for Single of the Year.
Awards ain't good for nothing
but sitting on shelves.
Come on. We got work to do.
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY] All right.
Okay, I'm gonna organize
an afternoon presser for you
and Dad to do the
humble thing, all right?
Just say you're honored and
then yada, yada, yada, okay?
- Yeah. Sure.
- Gigi, I'm so happy for you, girl.
- Thank you, Aunt Nellie.
- See?
I told you this is gonna be your year.
- Wow.
- NELLIE: Ooh. [LAUGHS]
You all right, Mom?
Of course she is. She has us.
That's all she needs.
- Right, Mom?
- Uh, yes, it is.
Okay, one nomination left.
And... the final
nominee for Country Music
Legacy Single of the Year is...
Nicky Roman, "God Knows."
[CHEERING, OVERLAPPING SHOUTING]
Mom, it's you.
Did I hear that right? What?
Oh, my gosh. This is the year
for Monarch. I'm so proud of you.
- I'm so proud of you.
- No... way.
Aunt Gigi and Grandpa versus Mom.
- It's on.
- No. No, it is not on.
We're both very happy
for each other, right?
- So happy.
- EARL: Margaritas
and cat fighting. Sign me up.
May the best Roman win.
NICKY: Did the prosecutor
say anything else?
LUKE: No. You nervous?
Uh, with a m*rder indictment
hanging over me? No.
Uh, could you imagine
what my ass'd look like
- in an orange jumpsuit?
- [LAUGHS]
Look at the bright side.
Uh, what bright side?
Merle Haggard wrote
three number ones behind bars.
Yeah.
- [NICKY CLEARS THROAT]
- Hey, Luke.
- Uncle Tripp.
- Hey, Nicky.
- Come on in. Have a seat.
- Hey.
I thought we'd be meeting
one of your deputies.
- Uh, yeah. Hi, sweetie.
- Hi.
That was the plan, but, um,
this is an extraordinarily
serious charge...
The assisted su1c1de of
your mother, Dottie Roman.
And my job is to make
sure that justice is done.
I already feel bad enough.
She asked me for help, and...
it's what she wanted.
I don't doubt that.
Doesn't change the
facts, though, does it?
No.
But...
I know something about this
case that my prosecutors don't.
I know you, Nicky.
I know your character.
Not to mention, your father is one
of my oldest friends in this world,
and to say that I owe all of this
to him would be an understatement.
So, the way I see it,
your family has suffered quite enough.
- Oh, good.
- Let's leave this all to Uncle Tripp.
Really? Oh, my gosh. Thank you.
- Oh.
- Thank you.
Look, my daddy doesn't know
about this, so can we...
- can we keep it that way?
- Sure. He doesn't have to know.
It'll be our little secret.
- Okay.
- But Nicky, just one thing.
Don't make a habit of
k*lling off family members.
Okay?
[KAYLA SIGHS]
- Hi, honey. Are you hungry?
- Uh-uh. No.
I can't even look at food.
I just relocated breakfast
in the guest bathroom.
- Oh, no, honey. I'm so sorry.
- [GROANS]
- I guess we should be glad, huh?
- Why?
Well, how many times does
IVF work out on the first try?
Yeah, I'm not sure.
Guess my brother has some
kind of... super sperm.
[BOTH LAUGH]
You're in a really good mood.
- Why wouldn't I be?
- Uh, I don't know.
Nicky got a solo nomination
for a song she stole from you,
and you have to share a duet
nomination with your dad?
I mean, I'm pissed, as your
manager and as your wife.
You know what? We have too
many good things in our lives,
and I'm not gonna let my sister ruin it.
I love that. I just have one question.
Who are you, and what
have you done with my wife?
Just keep digging.
Fraud, IRS, jaywalking, for all I care.
Just get me everything
you have on Jamie Burke.
Mr. Roman?
Your sisters are here for their meeting.
Okay. Okay, keep me posted.
[SIGHS]
Okay. This is not gonna be fun.
[DOOR OPENS]
[LUKE SIGHS]
How are my favorite
sisters this morning?
- Good Lord, this cannot be good.
- What is it, Luke?
I have great news.
The CML people called,
and they are very excited
about your nominations,
and they see an
opportunity for... a duet
at this weekend's award show.
You mean, me and Daddy?
No.
I mean you and Nicky.
Is that gonna be a problem, Geeg?
Actually, it is.
Okay. Why?
- Why do you think?
- NICKY: Come on, Geeg.
- I've said I'm sorry.
- Did you?
I must've missed your apology
while I was pulling
the Kn*fe out of my back.
Geeg... you do realize what this
could mean for Monarch, right?
Yeah, I do. And I'm sorry.
I've tried to be the bigger person, but
I've got my own career to think about,
and I don't need to stand up there
and help make her look good.
And what about if I made you look good?
- Oh, yeah, 'cause that's your MO.
- Okay, look.
This ain't about you. This
ain't about you, either.
It's about Monarch.
There are gonna be millions
of people watching this show,
and it's the people
that buy your albums,
and it's the people
that stream your songs.
This ain't a request.
It ain't a debate, neither.
It's happening. Both of
you are doing it. Together.
- NICKY: Yes, sir.
- We clear?
NICKY: Mm-hmm.
[DOOR OPENS, DOOR CLOSES]
[TRIPP LAUGHS]
I thought you said lunch.
[CHUCKLES] What do you think this is?
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
Give me another and a double
for my buddy here.
He's got some catching up to do.
How you doing?
Haven't seen you since the funeral.
Yeah, I'm getting by.
Something's come up, though, uh,
and I need your help, but...
just between us.
Sure.
You coming to me as the D.A.?
As my friend.
[SIGHS]
You remember, back in ' ,
big fire out at my place,
the back barn b*rned to the ground?
Yeah, sure.
I have reason to believe
that Dottie set that fire.
Dottie?
Okay, so,
Dottie set a fire and
b*rned down your barn.
Worst things have
been said about people.
Let me finish.
Nellie says...
someone was inside at the time.
Might have d*ed in that fire.
One of the caretakers.
Rosa.
Mm-hmm. She the woman
you were involved with?
I need you to help me look into this.
Find out if it's true.
I can do that.
But Albie?
Sometimes it's best to
let the past just, uh...
rest, you know?
If Dottie started that fire,
if my wife was a m*rder*r,
I need to know.
Okay, okay.
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Wait.
- [SONG STOPS]
- Wait. Okay.
How is this a duet
if I only come in on the chorus?
Uh, she's right. Now, who
picked this song, anyway?
LUKE: It was me.
- I did.
- NICKY: Good.
All right, well, I'm glad you're here
because I don't mind saying that it's...
The-the song's a little bit
on the nose, don't you think?
I mean, my brand's more
sophisticated than this.
And my brand doesn't
put people to sleep.
Oh, for God's sake. Let's be honest.
Neither one of you has a brand.
- I'm sorry?
- Excuse me?
And, frankly, I'm happy
that you've found
a target besides each other.
You know that Wade Stellings
has more TikTok followers
than both of you combined?
I'm sure the CMLs would be happy
to fly him in to sing the damn song
except they can't because he's too busy
headlining a sold-out world tour.
Either one of you doing
that? No, I didn't think so.
You know, you two used
to love each other.
Why don't you work on remembering that?
Where's Sandy? Sandy, neither
one of these girls leaves
till I say so, okay?
Well, he does have a point.
You think we can be mature
enough to get through?
- I know I can.
- Good.
Uh, uh.
Very mature.
All right, let's go again.
[KNOCKING]
- Hey.
- Hey.
I was just gonna leave this for you
'cause I figured you'd be partying
in every bar on th Street by now.
Um, yeah, every bar. That's me.
[JAMIE CHUCKLES]
Well, then, just, uh,
save it for when you win.
Or we could pop it now for good luck.
- I like it.
- [CHUCKLES]
I mean, he's such a piece of work.
When I told him he was nominated,
- he didn't even cr*ck a smile.
- [LAUGHS]
When he won, he didn't
even cr*ck a smile, so...
[KNOCKING]
Yeah. One little nomination,
and suddenly, I'm popular again.
- Seriously?
- Uh...
- You changed the locks?
- Well, yes.
It was supposed to
keep the riff-raff out.
Believe me, I'd rather be at the hotel
having my evening massage, but turns out
that hotels don't take kindly
to credit cards being canceled.
So, unfortunately, I'm gonna have
to remind you about this bottle.
Or should I say m*rder w*apon, you know?
The one you put the pills in
you used to k*ll your mother.
I'm sorry. You clearly
haven't heard the good news.
The D.A. doesn't
anticipate bringing charges.
- [SCOFFS]
- What?
You don't believe me?
You want to call him?
Which number should we try?
His house or the lake residence?
Oh, I get it. Uncle Tripp
to the rescue, eh?
The Roman family's above the law.
Yeah, unbelievable. You people think
you can get away
with anything, don't you?
Clive, you're the father of
my children, and I would
really appreciate it if we could
co-parent in a healthy fashion.
But the gravy train
has come off the rails.
Look, Nick, come on, let's just...
Let's just try and work this out, eh?
I've always loved you.
You know that.
It was only one girl.
Clive, it was our entire marriage.
God, you really are a bad actor.
Everything all right in here?
- Who's this?
- Jamie Burke.
Seriously, this is the new guy?
Well, what happened
to your boy toy, Wade?
Well, at least I waited
till the end of our marriage
to start dating, so, um...
Hate to ruin the fun, but it seems like
this conversation has run its course.
You look like you want
to take a swing at me.
No need. By the looks of it,
Nicky could take you all by herself.
[LAUGHS]
You'll be hearing from my lawyer.
Oh, yeah, I know.
The one I'll be paying for.
Sorry about that.
I didn't mean to overstep.
He's your husband still.
No, no. I'm the one that's sorry.
I think it was the English
accent that got me.
- [LAUGHS]
- Champagne?
Okay. One more time from the top.
[BAND PLAYS INTRO TO
"FRIENDS IN LOW PLACES"]
♪ Blame it all on my roots ♪
♪ I showed up in boots ♪
♪ And ruined your black tie affair ♪
♪ The last one to know ♪
♪ The last one to show ♪
♪ I was the last one you
thought you'd see there ♪
♪ And I saw the surprise ♪
♪ And the fear in his eyes ♪
♪ When I took his glass of champagne ♪
♪ And I toasted you ♪
♪ Said, "Honey, we may be through" ♪
♪ "But you'll never hear me complain" ♪
♪ 'Cause I got friends in low places ♪
♪ Where the whiskey drowns ♪
♪ And the beer chases my blues away ♪
♪ And I'll be okay ♪
♪ Now I'm not big on social graces ♪
♪ Think I'll slip on down to the Oasis ♪
♪ Oh, I got friends ♪
♪ In low places ♪
♪ Yeah, I got friends in low places ♪
♪ Where the whiskey drowns ♪
♪ And the beer chases my blues away ♪
♪ And I'll be okay ♪
♪ Now I'm not big on social graces ♪
♪ Think I'll slip on down to the Oasis ♪
♪ Oh, I got friends ♪
♪ In low places ♪
♪ Yeah, I got friends ♪
♪ In low places ♪
[SONG ENDS]
[NICKY WHOOPS]
♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh. ♪
JAMIE: He didn't want
you to see that yet.
- He don't think it's done.
- NICKY: Well, he's wrong.
It was amazing. I haven't seen him
that invested for a long time.
Thank you.
Just doing my job.
Well, you're doing it well.
So I wanted to apologize
for the other night.
None needed. Divorces ain't easy.
Plus, I lost my best friend.
People always say that.
Uh, no, no. I'm talking about Gigi. No.
Can you imagine if
Clive was my best friend?
So she's still going
full Wynonna on you, huh?
Mm-hmm. And now Luke has us
performing a duet at the CMLs.
Said that'd be good for Monarch.
- Well.
- What?
He's right. It will be.
You can't buy that level of exposure.
- I'm sorry. You're taking his side?
- [LAUGHS]
You don't want to hear
what he says about you.
The boy does not trust you at all.
He shouldn't.
It's called being a good CEO.
Guys like him should always
be suspicious of guys like me,
especially when they take
a liking to their sister.
Hey, listen,
on the off chance you don't
have a date for the CMLs,
let's just say I know a guy.
I have a date.
Mm-hmm, and it's with a younger man.
Wade Stellings, hmm?
No. Ace Roman, my son. [LAUGHS]
Oh. Well, in that case,
I'd be happy to step
aside for the better man.
Speaking of, I better
get back to the old man.
♪ With the dirt in my ♪
♪ Toes ♪
I'll text you as soon as I get there.
Love you.
Oh, I love you more. [LAUGHS]
Bye.
It's all right. It's okay.
Okay.
Well, take good care of your mom, eh?
Nicky.
It's all gonna be good.
Just 'cause Daddy's gone back to London
for a while, it doesn't
mean he's gonna...
We know exactly what it means, Mom.
We're in this family, too,
and some things you just can't hide.
He loves you very, very
much, more than anything.
- You know that.
- We know, Mom.
We get it. It's nobody's fault.
Hey, I know it's gonna be hard,
but we're gonna find a new
way how to be as a family.
Okay, go try those tuxedoes on.
I want to see which one
goes best with my dress.
Oh, yeah, about that.
Um, change of plans.
I'm taking Ana.
[BOTH LAUGHING SOFTLY]
Did Ace just dump me?
Like father, like son.
[SCOFFS SOFTLY]
I don't recall you
having an appointment.
I don't.
But I've been getting
calls from a few friends
in Nashville and L.A. telling me
that Luke Roman has been
asking questions about me,
trying to dig up dirt.
I was. Turns out, you're a choir boy.
[LAUGHS] You are beloved...
from coast to coast.
Good. So then we're cool?
No. No, because in my experience,
you don't get very far in this business
without getting just a tiny bit dirty.
So now you're even more suspicious
because I'm too clean?
Just seems a bit tidy to me.
It's almost like...
like you're trying to cover your tracks.
Didn't ever cross your mind that
maybe you haven't found anything
'cause, you know, there
ain't nothing to find?
Did, but then I thought,
if that's the case,
wouldn't hurt to keep
on digging. Right, Jamie?
Well, then.
Knock yourself out.
Oh, don't I plan to.
Listen up, because this is important.
You know, the press doesn't miss a thing
so you need to be on your
best behavior tonight.
Because even though you
and Nicky are feuding
right now, you're both...
Still sisters, I know.
That's right. So, if she goes low...
I go lower.
[EXHALES] No.
That is not the point of tonight.
The point is to...
Fake it. Fake smiles...
Fake air kisses.
Don't give the press
anything to write about.
So... just pretend Nicky
didn't steal my song?
And just pretend that Gigi hasn't been
a complete and utter diva.
Exactly, because this is show business.
It's not about what's real.
It's about what people see,
so you think you could pretend
you guys are still BFFs?
And have no desire
whatsoever to k*ll each other?
Hard to say. I guess...
We'll see, won't we?
♪ Something's in the air,
blowing through the trees ♪
♪ Got a fever in my bones,
and something's calling me ♪
♪ Calling all my friends,
got a yearning to be free ♪
♪ Turn this town upside
down, watch and see ♪
♪ Yeah, we're gonna be on fire tonight ♪
♪ Yeah, we're gonna
get a little out of line ♪
- Gigi, can I get a picture?
- Who are you wearing?
♪ On and on ♪
♪ Yeah, we're gonna
sing it all night long ♪
♪ Yeah, we gonna drink
until it's gone... ♪
- Hey.
- Ace, who's your date?
This beautiful young
woman is Anastasia Phoenix,
a new Monarch artist,
and you'll be hearing
a lot from her soon.
Gigi, I love your outfit.
Ah, thanks.
Nicky, can we get a sh*t
with you and your sister?
Yeah, of course. Hi, Geeg.
Excellent. Come on up here, sis.
- Hey.
- Hey.
- Okay. [CHUCKLES]
- That looks great.
LUKE: Oh, my Lord.
I think they listened to us.
As long they get through tonight,
they can k*ll each other tomorrow
as far as I'm concerned.
- Good? You look great.
- Yup.
- You look great.
- You look fantastic.
Thank you.
It's amazing how you've
hidden all that bang.
I know. Listen, they don't call me
Earl "Hide-A-Bang" Clark for nothing.
[BOTH LAUGH]
- You look great.
- Yeah?
You look sleek, you look elegant.
And later, we'll do ' s glam
meets early aughts bedhead
with a soupcon of Loretta
Lynn for the history buffs.
You have outdone yourself, Earl.
- You think?
- Mm-hmm.
Really? Oh, thank the Lord.
Why? What's wrong?
Well, uh, honestly?
- Uh-huh.
- With your mama gone and all,
I was afraid y'all was
gonna kick me to the curb.
Hey, you are part of this family.
You always have been, always will be.
Hey!
You know how much I loved her.
I was at her first award show,
- the one that made her a star.
- I know.
And tonight...
you are shining just as bright.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Thanks.
Well, hi.
- How are you doing?
- I'm doing well.
Oh, my God.
Oh.
Nice dress, Roman.
At least you're wearing it different.
Did your people seriously
not call our people
about the gowns that we pulled?
Well, pardon me for not combing
through your sloppy seconds, Karen.
I was told it was one-of-a-kind.
- Well, you look good.
- [LAUGHS]
Even my dress is two-timing me.
Well, if that ain't a country
song, I don't know what is.
- We should write it.
- Let's do it, girl.
Nice taste.
Hey.
The A-level pass, huh?
You know someone who knows someone?
- I'll have what he's having.
- Better believe it.
They don't give just anyone
access to the jumbo shrimp.
- [LAUGHS] Thank you.
- You know, I'm a big boy.
If you didn't want to come with me,
you could have just told me the truth.
Oh, I was telling the truth.
Ace had a change of plans.
Is that right?
His loss.
Well, if you can tear yourself
away from the free drinks...
I'll see you after the show.
ACE: So what changed your mom's mind
about letting you go with me?
Nothing. I, uh...
just told her I was going
to a party with a friend.
Which isn't totally a lie, right?
- [LAUGHS]
- No.
I'm a terrible daughter.
My grandma always said,
"It's better to ask
for forgiveness than permission."
[BOTH LAUGH]
EMCEE: Ladies and gents, we are in
for a treat tonight
as two of our nominees
have agreed to team up for a duet.
Please welcome two of
Dottie Roman's greatest hits...
Her daughters: Nicky and Gigi Roman.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
♪ Stand on the bar, stomp
your feet, start clappin' ♪
♪ Got a real good feelin'
somethin' bad about to happen ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh-oh-oh-oh ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh-oh-oh-oh ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh-oh-oh-oh ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh-oh-oh-oh ♪
♪ Pulled up to the church,
but I got so nervous ♪
♪ Had to back it on up ♪
♪ Couldn't make it to the service ♪
♪ Grabbed all the cash ♪
♪ Underneath my mattress ♪
♪ Got a real good feelin' somethin'
bad about to happen ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh-oh-oh-oh ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh-oh-oh-oh ♪
♪ Now me and that girl
that I met on the street ♪
♪ We're rolling down the road
down to the New Orleans ♪
♪ Got a full t*nk of gas and
the money out the mattress ♪
♪ Got a real good feelin'
somethin' bad about to happen ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh-oh-oh-oh ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh-oh-oh-oh ♪
♪ Stand on the bar, stomp
your feet, start clappin' ♪
♪ I got a real good feelin'
somethin' bad about to happen ♪
♪ Ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh ♪
♪ Drinks keep comin', throw
my head back a-laughin' ♪
♪ Wake up in the mornin',
don't know what happened ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ Oh, somethin' bad ♪
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
♪ Oh, somethin' bad ♪
♪ Stand on the bar, stomp
your feet, start clappin' ♪
♪ Got a real good feelin'
somethin' bad about to happen ♪
♪ Now the drinks keep comin',
throw my head back a-laughin' ♪
♪ Wake up in the mornin',
don't know what happened ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ Oh, somethin' bad. ♪
- [SONG ENDS]
- [APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
[WILD CHEERING, APPLAUSE]
[LAUGHS]
Geeg? Geeg, thank you.
I knew we could do it and put
all that stupid crap behind us.
It's always sisters first.
Yeah, if Mama taught me anything,
it's that the stage is sacred.
Whenever you're out there,
whatever you're going
through just disappears.
- That's right.
- But Mama also taught me
that once you exit stage
right, all is fair game.
So, we might make magic out there,
but on this side of the curtain, sister,
it changes nothing.
♪ On the pontoon ♪
♪ Makin' waves and catchin' rays... ♪
KIMBERLY: Thank y'all.
This next award is
for Single of the Year.
KAREN: This year is really interesting
because we have a bit of
a family rivalry going on.
And the nominees are:
Albie and Gigi Roman,
"You Were Always on My Mind."
JIMI: Chris Stapleton,
"You Should Probably Leave."
Miranda Lambert, "If I Was a Cowboy."
Walker Hayes, "Fancy Like."
And Nicky Roman for "God Knows."
[PEOPLE WHOOPING]
KAREN: [WHOOPS]
Exciting. Let's get to it.
And the winner is...
And she's best dressed,
if I may say so...
Nicky Roman for "God Knows"
for Single of the Year.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
♪ Ooh, ooh ♪
♪ You broke my heart, my body and mind ♪
♪ But you... ♪
- [CHEERING CONTINUES]
- [SONG FADING]
NICKY: It's taken a very long time.
Um, "God Knows" was written by our mama,
and I knew as soon as
I heard it, that, uh,
I wanted to perform it.
It shows us that we're
never really alone,
even in our darkest hours.
That, I think, is what
country music is all about.
And there is one person here tonight
that I'd really like to acknowledge.
She's the reason that I
never truly feel alone.
She's my inspiration and,
without her, uh, I wouldn't be up here.
So, I share this award
with Gigi Roman, my sister.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
[CROWD MURMURING]
Thank you all. Uh, thanks.
It means more to me
than you'll ever know.
Thank you.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
Hey.
Hope you don't mind.
Your, uh, house manager said
I could wait for you in here.
And did he say you could help yourself
to my best brown liquor?
[LAUGHS]
Should I guess why you're here,
or you gonna break the suspense?
[ALBIE CLEARS THROAT]
Rosa Flores.
That's her, right?
That's the woman that you, uh...?
Yeah, yeah.
And you're sure you
want to know what I...
Hey, we're long past the
time for secrets now, Tripp.
Okay.
What you were told...
- was true.
- [SIGHS]
Rosa d*ed in that fire.
The fire that Dottie set.
But, buddy, that's not it.
You were gone most of that year, right?
- You were touring? ?
- Yeah.
So, you didn't know
that Rosa gave birth that summer.
A little girl.
Mine?
According to her birth certificate...
yes, sir.
[ALBIE SIGHS]
My God.
So they both d*ed in
that fire, Rosa and...?
So I thought,
but then I had my investigators
dig a little deeper,
and that little girl
surfaced at an orphanage
in Albuquerque a few years later.
She's alive?
Likely.
We lost the scent after that.
But it does mean that your daughter...
Could be anywhere right now.
I promise, Mama.
I won't let them forget you.
JAMIE: One for the winner.
And one for the winner's friend.
What should we toast to?
Anything good happen recently?
[LAUGHS] All right, I don't mean
to sound ungrateful, but
is this what it feels like?
What?
Winning.
My whole life, I've been waiting
for a moment outside
of my mama's shadow,
and now I don't really
feel any different.
Give it some time.
Yeah, I guess.
'Cause right now, I can't
focus on what I've won.
I can only think
about... what I've lost.
You and Gigi will work it out.
My mama and Nellie never did.
And my marriage.
Even divorces that are
overdue are still divorces.
And, um, then there's us.
As in you and me?
Well, I don't know how
that's supposed to work
'cause I don't even
have the "me" part yet.
And my kids need me, and my
daddy's not in a good place,
and my brother thinks
you're the anti-Christ.
- [LAUGHS] Okay.
- Yeah.
- I get the point.
- Yeah.
Timing.
Something I've never
really been good at.
But you know, some things
are worth waiting for.
So, cheers,
Nicky Roman,
to being absolutely one of those things.
On that note...
I'd best be going.
- Good night.
- Night.
[INSECTS TRILLING]
- [DOOR CREAKS]
- [KAYLA SIGHS]
She's sound asleep.
Because she doesn't yet know
the world's a cruel place
where lying and cheating win.
Dark.
Hey, look, you know, it really
is an honor to be nominated?
And you've only been performing
in public for a few months.
Don't act like I'm a sore loser
while my sister wins an award
for a song that she
stole out from under me.
I mean, come on, we know who she is.
She's a woman who feels
like her window's closing.
That's why she did what she did.
And that speech.
She thinks by doing the
Dottie Roman charm routine
that she can make everything all right.
Please.
You want some unpopular advice?
I think you should forgive her.
I'm serious.
You guys have always been best friends,
and you are happier when she
is in your life, believe me.
[LAUGHS]
I think you should go over
there and make things right.
You know what?
I half-agree with you.
I'm gonna go over and
see Nicky right now.
- Okay, good.
- But I have no intention
to make things right.
I'm going to go over there
and tear that bitch a new one.
Gigi.
ANA: Mom.
Hi. I thought you'd be asleep.
How could I sleep when
my daughter lies to me?
What are you talking about?
Oh, don't even start.
I saw you... on TV.
[SIGHS] Mom, we came
here for my career, right?
Do you know how many
music people I met tonight?
And I have, like, a jillion
new followers.
I told you I didn't want you around
the Romans outside of work.
Ace is the sweetest guy I've ever met.
I don't know what
your problem with him is.
And you know what? Maybe you're right.
I don't have a problem with Ace.
- It's with his family.
- No.
They've just never learned
to take "no" for an answer.
No, Mommy, Ace isn't like that.
Maybe it's time I had
a word with Nicky Roman.
Set that woman straight
once and for all!
No. Don't!
♪ I'm just a poor wayfaring stranger ♪
♪ Traveling through ♪
♪ This world alone ♪
- ♪ There is no sickness ♪
- [KNOCKING]
♪ No toil, nor danger ♪
- [KNOCKING]
- Hey, I'm coming.
- ♪ In that bright land ♪
- All right.
- Hold your horses.
- ♪ To which I go ♪
♪ I'm going there ♪
♪ To see my father ♪
♪ And all my loved
ones who've gone on ♪
What are you doing here?
♪ I'm just going over Jordan ♪
♪ I'm just going ♪
♪ Over home... ♪
- [PHONE RINGING]
- [KNOCKING]
Hey, kiddo.
Daddy?
Daddy, will you come? Something, um...
Something really terrible has happened.
I don't know what to do.
Don't move. I'll be right there.
[CRYING]
♪ So I'm just going ♪
♪ Over Jordan ♪
- [PANTING]
- ♪ I'm just going ♪
♪ Over home ♪
♪ I'm just going ♪
- ♪ Over home ♪
- [PANTING]