"Nashville" coming down to final weeks of season

Tuesday, May 13, 2014
NEW YORK (WABC) -- We're two episodes away from the season finale of Nashville, and the producers of that show are pulling out all the stops.


Everything from live concerts with the stars, to a special performance from First Lady Michelle Obama.


The men of Nashville came to New York City this week to perform in concert and promote the final two episodes of the season.


As one fan put it, the guys are reason enough to watch the show, and the guy who plays a man with a past by the name of "Deacon" may be the best reason of all.


'Success comes to those who wait' isn't a cliche for Chip Esten.


It's the story of his career as a 'semi-working actor, which is how he describes himself before he got to Nashville.


"Sometimes there were hard times. I just found a letter my wife wrote me you know after I came real close on something real big, and it was just very supportive and said 'you know this is a step; you're just going to have to keep going and hang in there,' and that's why I love her," said Esten.


Estan is a one woman guy, married for more than two decades. He met his wife in college, where he played in a band and never put down his guitar. So that when the role of "Deacon" came along, he had an edge.


"It narrows the pool when you say you have to play guitar and you have to sing," said Esten.


But Chip and the rest of the cast had to perform well enough to make country music fans believe they could be real artists.


The actors met the challenge so well, they now make records and play real shows.


Chip credits some of the best musicians in Nashville for making that possible.


"It's like riding a beautiful car down Main Street, and people look at you and go, 'Oh what a good driver he is!' It's just who you're surrounded with," said Esten.


He's knocked around enough not to get intimidated, but his first trip to record at a legendary Nashville studio did give him pause.


"They said Waylon Jennings recorded here. Willie Nelson. They started going down the list as I am walking through the door. I was like sssh. I don't want to know until I'm done. When I'm done you can give me the history,
but it's a little daunting to know all that right now.!" Esten said.


On Wednesday night's episode of "Nashville", star "Rayna James", played by Connie Brittoon stages a benefit concert for troops at Fort CampbeLl, and First Lady Michelle Obama makes an appearance.


The cast will know next week if they will be back for season number three. You can catch Nashville Wednesday at 10 p.m., on Channel 7.









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