For the longest time, Nashville was my place. It often felt more like home than my own hometown did, and maybe even still does. From the moment I stepped off the plane at 16, I felt this calling to Nashville. I immediately felt like I’d found somewhere I belonged, which was new. Because I never really felt much like I belonged anywhere. My heart was gone from that moment. And it was like nothing I’d ever experienced. I’d been to quite a few states before, but never felt any attachment; had fun, but was always eager just to get home.
With Nashville, it was the opposite effect. Every time we’d get ready to board the plane in Nashville to come back to California, I got terribly sick. I either threw up in the airport or thought I was going to mid-flight, pulling out the paper bag from the seat in front of me. I wish I was just being dramatic, but I wasn’t.
Every year around this time (days leading up to CMA Fest and this week specifically, as the festivities begin), I’m reminded of those sweet days in Music City, and all the fun and magic that came from them. Maybe it was the naivety of being a teenager, without much of a grasp on reality and what it would actually take to move there. For about five or so years, my parents and I would fly back there for CMA Fest: Four nights straight of your favorite country artists in one place.
Leading up to that, there are all kinds of special events around town, like fan club parties, album releases, the CMT Awards, free Riverfront stage concerts with up-and-comer artists, as well as autograph signings in the convention center downtown.
And then, life just picked up — I was transferring to a university, then I started working and while I do still listen to country music, it wasn’t the same feel as those days in 2008-2012, or so.
Now, Nashville has become the place to be. Everyone wants to go for their bachelorette party, or run into Megan Moroney while walking down Broadway. When something becomes a ‘thing,’ I tend to lose my interest or initial spark for it. Maybe it’s the enneagram 4 in me, who wants to be too unique.
But, I think it’s calling me back. I’ve started listening more closely to country radio, once again, it’s starting to draw me in with Ella Langley, Kelsea Ballerini (which I have been for years, but am in my ultimate fan phase of hers), some Megan Moroney, Parker McCollum, Jelly Roll and a maybe a handful of others.
We saw so many artists back there: Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Alan Jackson, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, The Judds, Chris Young, Danny Gokey, Kenny Rogers — Legends and newbies alike. When else would you see all these great names in one place?
Those hot summer nights in cowboy boots and sundresses at, then LP Field (now Nissan Stadium), walking the Shelby Street Bridge with the Nashville skyline in view, late nights of driving through Taco Bell and McDonald’s because we hadn’t eaten since early afternoon, my dad trying to track down Dunkin’ Donuts, in a not so great neighborhood, while it was storming, countryside drives, meeting your favorite artists, making new friends and a little bit of everything in between.
Favorite scenes from Nashville
There are far too many photos from over the years, but here are just a few fun moments.
Fun, interactive exhibits from artists they had at the CMA Fest Fan Hall, like the Taylor Swift booth with costumes from big moments in her career
Meeting Carrie Underwood
That downtown skyline of Nashville and the Opry Plaza
The nightly concerts, the other pop up parties and fan clubs that would come up, album release parties and when The Bakersfield Sound exhibit made its appearance at the Country Music Hall of Fame,
Best memories of Nashville over the years:
My mom and I went to the 2nd annual Carrie Underwood Fan Club Party, which was held at the Grand Ole Opry. Since I was only 16, I needed a chaperone, so my mom took one for the team, HA. Kidding! She might have even more excited than me. I’ll never forget that first moment of walking through the doors of the Opry House, seeing the stage lit, and the crowd filing in. I had full on goosebumps and teared up, thinking of the legends that had stepped in the circle and made history through the years. Fan Club Parties always felt like a big family get together. We made so many friends over the years through the Fan Club website or social media, and were reunited with them at the party. There was always a unique surprise for the events, too, in keeping with the theme of the album’s era. She also usually sang songs she never does live, or never would again, so it always a real treat.And, we never went home without an autographed item, whether it was her Opry induction poster, a special fan book they'd created or a lanyard with the date of the party.
Every Tuesday night of the CMA Fest Week, Carrie would play the Opry. And every year, you could catch us in the audience. There's nothing like a show at the Opry - when you think Nashville, this is what it's all about. It's an intimate night of music, and there is truly no other venue like it. We've seen Carrie countless times, as well as others, like Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Martina McBride, Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker and even witnessed the first time that Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina made an appearance (though we didn't see them sing). It feels like you never know what's going to happen, or who could show up.
It became a tradition each year that we'd eat at Cracker Barrel, then make our way across the street to the Opryland area, walk the garden and just listen to the crickets (or cicadas, but that was only one year, thankfully). It just felt like I had it all to myself before a lot of the crowds for the big event arrived. I could take it all in and daydream and pray about the days that I would live there.
Taking a tour of the Opry House is also a special experience - You get to see the dressing rooms, hear more about the history of the radio show turned TV program, visit the studio where Hee-Haw was filmed (a cool feature for those of us from Bakersfield rooting for our hometown boy, Buck Owens). But, perhaps the most exciting was being able to take a step in the circle and walk the stage where so many incredible moments happened.
My senior year in high school, The Hannah Montana Movie came out, and it was kind of life-changing for me. JK. But, it will always hold a special place in my heart. Of course, I was obsessed with it, and had to find out where in Tennessee they filmed it. We talked to a waitress at the Loveless Cafe, who told us they’d filmed the fictional town of Crowley Corners, in the town of Columbia, Tennessee, not too far from where we were. So we took a drive over there and basically stumbled on a ghost town. There was no one around, so we walked up and down the street and took pictures in front of the main spots they’d filmed in front of, like the courthouse, the restaurant where Miley has her date with Travis (but keeps running in and out to be Hannah at an event down the street) and sitting on the step of another building during the Farmer’s Market.
Every year, the CMT Awards were usually held the Tuesday or Wednesday before the evening concerts started. I never really wanted to go to the awards themselves, but there were usually a few artists outside performing in front of Bridgestone Arena, or we’d hang out by the red carpet to watch the celebrities arrive, then go to one of the sports bars across the street to watch them, then see some of the performances on the street.
One year, I met Taylor Swift (and I thought she remembered me because we’d just met about a month or two before at her Fearless concert in Fresno, CA). I got a picture with her, shook Keith Urban’s hand (I got too excited that I shoved the camera in my mom’s hand and ran down to the fence, only to realize I couldn’t take a selfie with him. Another time, when Jason Aldean was hosting, he filmed a spot in front of the outside stage, so I ran out to watch the performance and he walked right by me when he was walking back to the arena.
Sometimes we’d hang out near there during rehearsals. My dad and I heard John Mayer and Keith Urban sound checking, then went around to the back where all the buses were parked. We saw so many artists who either walked right by us or rode through on golf carts - Miranda Lambert (walked by and wasn’t the friendliest), Reba and Kenny Chesney waved to us, Tim McGraw drove out of the parking garage, and we just missed Charles Kelley by a few minutes after waiting by the side door.
It was such a special time, because the artists really were there to say thank you for the fans and to the music community, to help invest in other artists (the kids of Tennessee and their music programs).
The City of Hope Celebrity Softball game was another highlight because it brought you closer to your favorite country artists in a fun, but still competitive environment. They'd trash talk one another, and it was all for a good cause - to raise money for City of Hope. It's where I met Carrie Underwood, Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina, Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker, Chris Young, Craig Morgan and so many others. They started doing it earlier in the day, but there were years when it was so unbearably hot, I'd end up with a headache, ready to pass out. But, it was worth it. They started doing it in the evenings, when it was a little cooler and the sun had started going down already. It was another fun reunion and chance to meet some of the artists you admire.
It's a special place, and no matter where I end up, it will always hold a special place in my heart. I believe God helped me discover a lot of my giftings and talents, and figure out what I wanted to do with my life. It was a huge launching pad for that.
My last Nashville trip was in 2022 - My parents and I went back for a three-day weekend trip! It is different; So many things have changed, but the heart of the city is still the same. I miss the food, the people, the music, the artistry, the creative buzz in the air and the scenery. It might be time to book another trip! 😉
