Sam Palladio Brings Glitter and Heartbreak to The Nikki and Brie Show

Sam Palladio stopped by The Nikki and Brie Show this week, joining hosts Nikki Bella and Brie Bella at the SiriusXM studios. The twins are calling it one of their favorite Nashville takeover conversations yet.

The show’s Instagram account announced the episode with a warm, excited caption. “Always a fun time with the one and only @sampalladio,” it opened. The post went on to promise “a little glitter, a little heartbreak, and a whole lot of heart,” with a cowboy hat emoji and a sparkly heart thrown in. That’s quite a teaser.

Palladio is best known for playing Gunnar Scott on Nashville, the beloved musical drama that ran for six seasons. The show aired on ABC from 2012 to 2016. It then moved to CMT for two final seasons, wrapping up in 2018. Gunnar was one of the series’ core characters. He played a brooding singer-songwriter navigating love and loss in the heart of the country music world.

What set Palladio apart on the show was that he actually sang. The British-born actor recorded and performed original music for Nashville rather than just acting around it. His voice became a genuine part of what fans loved about the character. That musical authenticity gives him real stories to share about performing, writing, and putting emotion into something people can actually hear.

Nashville built one of the more devoted fanbases on network TV during its run. The show’s mix of country music, Southern drama, and genuinely good songwriting kept audiences hooked across multiple networks. Gunnar’s storylines were often at the center of the most emotional moments, and Palladio’s performances drove a lot of that.

For Nikki and Brie, this is part of a Nashville-themed run of episodes. The hosts have been leaning into that world for a stretch, and Palladio fits right into it. Six seasons of on-screen experience plus his own musical career gives the conversation plenty of directions to go.

Nikki and Brie spent years in WWE before pivoting to media. Both were Divas Champions during their in-ring careers. They’ve brought that same energy to their post-wrestling work, and The Nikki and Brie Show on SiriusXM has grown into a real platform for celebrity conversations. It mixes personal storytelling with plenty of humor. The twins have a knack for drawing out good stories.

The “glitter and heartbreak” framing in their caption feels true to how the show works. Episodes can swing from funny to genuinely touching in a hurry. From the sound of things, the Palladio conversation hit both notes.

Nashville fans still keep up with the cast after the finale. This episode gives them a good reason to check in. Palladio has stayed active in film and television after the show’s 2018 wrap. He’s also continued writing and performing music on his own.