‘Nashville’ goes live in new season premiere

During the season-three premiere, Esten, who sang in a band and stage productions long before becoming an actor, will perform a song he co-wrote with Grammy-nominated country singer Deana Carter, “I Know How to Love You Now.” It’s his first co-written tune to appear on the show, but Esten has had plenty of practice after opening with co-star Clare Bowen for country stars Jennifer Nettles and Alan Jackson on a few shows during the summer hiatus.

“I’ve played some big rooms, but none as big as the whole United States,” said Esten in an interview while shooting on location in Nashville.

“Nashville” has made a successful side business out of the music from the show, with four collections of soundtracks that have sold a combined 627,000 copies, according to Nielsen Soundscan.

Lennon Stella, who plays teenager Maddie Conrad, said the live performances are more theater than television.

“There’s no taking it back,” said Stella, who got her start singing cover songs on YouTube with her younger sister Maisy. “I think it’s pretty risky, but exciting for the show.”

Esten and actor Chris Carmack will perform in the Sept. 24 show live from the show’s Bluebird Cafe set. The studio versions of the songs will be available for download on iTunes immediately after the show.

“As always, when you perform at the Bluebird, it’s generally live anyway, so this is not really different,” Esten said, referring to the real Nashville venue that the show duplicated on a soundstage. “It will be as real as it should be.”