Hattie B’s Nashville Hot Chicken {Step-by-Step}

This amazing Nashville Hot Chicken recipe (adapted from Hattie B’s famous recipe) results in a crispy, tender, fiery fried chicken with a spicy kick that is positively addictive.

This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.

I love fried chicken. I don’t eat it often, but I love it. Back when I was a kid, my BFF’s Gramma Barbara made THE BEST southern fried chicken I’ve ever eaten, or ever hope to eat, in my life. Tender, juicy, crispy, and seasoned just right, Gramma B’s chicken was so finger-licking delicious that it tasted like it had been fried in heaven. It was Perfect.

My Southern Fried Sensei, Gramma Barbara.

As a young teen, Gramma B kind of adopted me. She was fun and irreverent, and to this day I love her like my own.

Gramma B taught me how to make fried chicken a couple of times, and I think I got the basics down fine, but I could never make it quite as good as she did. I don’t know if was her skillet, or the lard (of course it was the lard) or some other sublime combination of environmental and mystical factors, but her fried chicken was absolutely divine and mine was, at best, pretty darn good.

In my quest to scratch my fried chicken itch, I’ve ordered fried chicken at nearly every place from Portland to Memphis that serves it. While some places turn out a very decent chicken plate, nothing has ever come close to ringing that elusive Gramma B-worthy, southern fried chicken bell for me. There’s always something missing.

Then we went to Nashville and discovered Hot Chicken.

What is Nashville Hot Chicken, and what makes it so awesome?

Nashville Hot Chicken is a hyper-regional specialty with a long, colorful, sordid history involving a philandering man, a jealous woman hell-bent on revenge, and a whole lot ‘a hot pepper juice.

Nashville Hot Chicken is heaven and hell in a one transcendent bite.

The origins of Nashville Hot Chicken is a finely-woven tale that I simply can’t do justice and still keep this post under ten thousand words, so I’m not even going to try. (And I don’t need to, because The Bitter Southerner has done a bang-up job telling the story for us: when you have a minute or ten, I strongly encourage you to read about how Nashville Hot Chicken really came to be!)

The minute Mr B and I heard the term “hot chicken,” we were all over it like red beans on rice. We did a little research, and discovered that Nashville’s Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack is the acknowledged home of the original hot chicken, so we made plans to check it out. However, so many of the Nashville locals we asked pointed us toward relative newcomer Hattie B’s that we decided to try it instead. [Like slider-eaters in the Great Southern Slider Debate, hot chicken-eaters, we learned, have a fierce loyalty to their chosen chicken fryer!]

Hattie B’s has three locations in Nashville, and reviews said that the lines at West Nashville location (closest to where we were staying) could be very long at peak times. However, we arrived relatively late for a weekday (around 8:30 pm) and had a less than five minute wait: just long enough for us to check out the menu.

After studying the menu for a few minutes, we ordered two small plates, which turned out to be a ton of food! Each plate came with a whole chicken quarter (dark meat for Mr B, light for me) and two sides. Mr B got baked beans and I ordered the potato salad, and we both got coleslaw.

Our chicken arrived in less than ten minutes, stacked in a basket between the traditional slice of white bread, topped with a dill pickle. It only took me one bite to know that Hattie B’s Hot Chicken was absolutely amazing. Possibly addictive.

Hattie B’s Nashville Hot Chicken is the first chicken I’ve eaten in at least twenty years that even comes close to Grandma B’s fried chicken – with one important caveat: instead tasting like chicken sent from heaven, it tastes more like the devil himself cooked up a batch of fried chicken on his day off.

I need that fried chicken recipe!!!

When we got back to our hotel room, I immediately searched for a Nashville Hot Chicken recipe, and was absolutely thrilled to discover Hattie B’s recipe in Lee Brian Schrager’s cookbook Fried & True: More than 50 Recipes for America’s Best Fried Chicken and Sides.

Well, you can bet that it took me less than a Tennessee minute to order it. (Which, come to think of it, is probably substantially longer than a New York minute, but still…)

When my copy of Fried & True arrived, I opened it to find the pages bursting with great recipes, valuable tips and cooking methods, personal stories, and a true love of fried chicken.

How to Make Nashville Hot Chicken – Step-by-Step

The following Nashville Hot Chicken recipe, adapted from the aforementioned recipe in Fried & True, results in a crispy, tender, fiery fried chicken with a spicy kick that will keep you coming back for more.

The recipe itself is relatively straightforward, but after making hot chicken myself, I have some wisdom to pass along that will make the process go more smoothly.

For ingredients and amounts, please refer to the recipe card below.

Step 1: The Dry-Brine

In a medium bowl, toss together the chicken pieces, salt, and pepper. Cover and refrigerate overnight. (Up to 24 hours)

NOTE: The first time I made this chicken, I had a scheduling conflict and ended up dry-brining it for 3 days. (Stuff happens.) It was totally fine.

Step 2: The Dredge-Dip-Dredge

In a 9×9 pan or baking dish, whisk together the milk, eggs, and hot sauce. In a separate 9×9 baking dish, combine the four and salt.

[1] Drag the chicken through the flour mixture, coating evenly.

[2] Dip the floured chicken in the milk mixture.

[3] Drag once again in the flour mixture.
Shake off excess between each step. Allow chicken to rest on drying rack while you prepare the rest of the chicken pieces for frying.

Step 3: The Fry

For this step, you will need either a deep fryer, a large deep skillet, or a deep electric skillet. You will also need tongs, and a deep-fry/meat thermometer. I suggest using using a combination of canola and soybean oil for deep frying.

WARNING: Deep frying can be dangerous! Carefully prepare the area before you begin deep frying. Always make sure that whatever you are deep frying in is stable so that it won’t tip. Always use a tongs, a skimmer, or a deep-fry basket to add and remove chicken pieces from the hot oil. Chicken pieces can slip from forks or spoons and splash hot oil.

REMEMBER! When you add your chicken, it will displace a lot of oil. If you are using a frying pan or electric skillet, it is vital that you DO NOT OVERFILL it with oil or it may or it may overflow when you add the chicken.

KITCHEN TRICK: How to easily figure out the necessary level of the frying oil.

1. Put one batch/fryer full of chicken pieces in a large ziplock bag. Squeeze as much air out of the bag as you can and seal it shut.
2. Lay the bag of raw chicken pieces flat in the bottom of the frying pan.
3. Add water to the level that you want the oil to be when you deep fry.
4. Remove bag of chicken from the pan.
5. Note level of the water.
6. Pour the water out, and carefully dry out pan.
7. Add oil to that same level.
8. Now you’re ready to fry without fear of overflowing your frying pan!

(Thanks, Archimedes!)

IMPORTANT: The oil needs to maintain an optimal temperature of 325° while the chicken is frying. However, the oil temp will drop at least 25° when you add the chicken, so initially you need to heat the oil up to 340° – 350°.

It is important to maintain a consistent temperature for frying chicken of 325° F. If the temperature of oil in the pan drops down below 300°, the chicken will begin to absorb the cooking oil, resulting in greasy, soggy chicken. If it rises above about 340°, the chicken will cook too quickly on the outside, and not get done in the middle. When fried at the correct temperature, the chicken will come out golden brown, having absorbed very little oil.

Heat vegetable oil in a deep skillet or deep fryer until it is between 340°F – 350°F. The oil needs to be deep enough for the chicken to fully submerge. [If you don’t have a deep enough skillet for deep frying, see HELP below.]
Drop the coated chicken into the hot oil.
Turn the pieces as they brown and do not let them touch each other while frying.
The temperature will drop when you add the chicken. Keep the oil at 325°F while the chicken fries.
Working in batches, use tongs to carefully add the chicken to the hot oil and fry until crispy.

↓↓ This is what your chicken should sound like when it is frying. ↓↓

Estimated cooking times: 15-17 minutes for breast quarters; 18-20 minutes for leg quarters.

Chicken is done when it registers an internal temperature of 165°F. (Yes, I use a candy thermometer. It goes up to 400 degrees, and it works just fine.)
When done, remove chicken from oil and allow to drain on wire rack.

How to test for doneness without a meat thermometer: Cut into the thickest part of a drumstick. The juices should run clear and the meat should be opaque throughout. If necessary, you can pop slightly underdone fried chicken into a preheated 325°F oven until it is fully cooked.

TIP: I aim to take the chicken off the heat when it registers a temperature of 160°, and allow carryover cooking to bring it up to temperature as it sits on the wire rack.

HELP! What if my chicken isn’t completely submerged in the oil when I fry it?!
This is, technically, deep-fried chicken, so ideally the oil for The Fry needs to be deep enough for the chicken to fully submerge. However, sometimes it just doesn’t work out that way.

You may have noticed that my chicken is sticking out at the top in some of the process images. That’s because I don’t own a deep fryer (I only deep fry about twice a year), and prefer to make hot chicken in my electric skillet because I can control the temperature of the fry oil more accurately than in a stovetop skillet. Unfortunately, my electric skillet isn’t quite deep enough to allow most chicken pieces to completely submerge, so I end up turning the chicken pieces a few times in the process, and it takes a few extra minutes to cook.

If this is you, don’t worry – just use your meat thermometer to keep an eye on the internal temp, and you be fine.

Step 4: The Spicy Coating (Wet Application)

Ladle about a cup of hot frying oil into a heatproof bowl or pan. Whisk in cayenne, brown sugar, and spices. The hot oil will activate the spices. (I use a small saucepan for this in case I need to heat the oil up again before basting a second batch.)

Baste the hot spice mixture over the hot fried chicken. You want the hot oil mixture hot enough that when you baste it over the fried chicken, the skin stays nice and crispy.

**Just how Hot is this Nashville Hot Chicken recipe anyway?**

According to the recipe from which this one is adapted, the spice level for this recipe is gauged as MEDIUM HOT; however, in my experience, it is slightly hotter than medium. (I’d rate it about a 6 or 6.5 on a 1-10 heat scale.)

For one test batch, I used two tablespoons of cayenne instead of three, and the results were (for my tastes) perfect – not painfully spicy, but with solid heat and a decided kick. (About a 4.5.)

Step 5: The Serve

If you want to go traditional, serve your Hot Chicken up over a slice of white bread. Garnish with dill pickle slices.

5 from 5 votes

Nashville Hot Chicken

This amazing Nashville Hot Chicken recipe results in a crispy, tender, fiery fried chicken with a spicy kick that is positively addictive.

Prep Time20 mins

Cook Time40 mins

Dry-Brine Prep1 d

Total Time1 d 1 hr

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course: Main

Cuisine: Southern

Keyword: chicken, spicy

Servings: large servings

Calories: 372kcal

Author: Adapted from Hattie B's recipe in FRIED & TRUE; Lee Brian Schrager

Equipment

Ingredients

For the Dry Brine

1 whole chicken 3 pounds, washed, patted dry, and cut into quarters
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

For the Dip

1 cup whole milk
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon Louisiana-style hot sauce

For the Dredge

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons sea salt
Vegetable oil for frying

For the Spicy Coating

1 cup hot frying oil or hot lard
3 tablespoons cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Garnish

Dill pickle slices
White bread optional

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Step 1: The Dry-Brine

In a medium bowl, toss together the chicken pieces, salt, and pepper. Cover and refrigerate overnight. (Up to 24 hours)

Step 2: The Dredge-Dip-Dredge

In a 9×9 pan or baking dish, whisk together the milk, eggs, and hot sauce. In a separate 9×9 baking dish, combine the four and salt.
Drag the chicken through the flour mixture, coating evenly.
Dip the floured chicken in the milk mixture.
Drag once again in the flour mixture.
Shake off excess between each step. Allow chicken to rest on drying rack while you prepare the rest of the chicken pieces for frying.

Step 3: The Fry

PLEASE READ NOTES IN POST for additional notes and tips about this step.
WARNING: Deep frying can be dangerous! Carefully prepare the area before you begin deep frying. Always make sure that whatever you are deep frying in is stable so that it won’t tip. Always use a tongs, a skimmer, or a deep-fry basket to add and remove chicken pieces from the hot oil. Chicken pieces can slip from forks or spoons and splash hot oil.
Heat vegetable oil in a deep skillet or deep fryer until it is between 340°F – 350°F. The oil needs to be deep enough for the chicken to fully submerge. [If you don’t have a deep enough skillet for deep frying, see HELP in post.] The temperature will drop when you add the chicken. Keep the oil at 325°F while the chicken fries.
Working in batches, use tongs to carefully add the chicken to the hot oil and fry until crispy. If using a skillet, you will need to turn the pieces as they brown. Do not let them touch each other while frying.
Estimated cooking times [fully submerged in frying oil]: 15-17 minutes for breast quarters; 18-20 minutes for leg quarters.
Chicken is done when it registers an internal temperature of 165°F. (Yes, I use a candy thermometer, and it works just fine.)
When done, remove chicken from oil and allow to drain on wire rack.

Step 4: The Spicy Coating (Wet Application)

Ladle about a cup of hot frying oil into a heatproof bowl or pan. Whisk in cayenne, brown sugar, and spices. The hot oil will activate the spices. (I use a small saucepan for this in case I need to heat the oil up again before basting a second batch.)
Baste the hot spice mixture over the hot fried chicken. You want the hot oil mixture hot enough that when you baste it over the fried chicken, the skin stays nice and crispy.

Step 5: The Serve

Serve hot or cold. If you want to go traditional, serve your Hot Chicken up over a slice of white bread. Garnish with dill pickle slices.

Notes

The spice level in this recipe is gauged as MEDIUM HOT. Adjust spices according to your own tastes.

It’s important to maintain the correct temperature for frying chicken of 325° F. If the temperature of oil in the pan drops down below 300°, the chicken will begin to absorb the cooking oil, resulting in greasy, soggy chicken. If it rises above about 340°, the chicken will cook too quickly on the outside, and not get done in the middle. When fried at the correct temperature, the chicken will come out golden brown, having absorbed very little oil.

Nutrition

Tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

Can I make this Nashville Hot Chicken recipe in an Air Fryer?

Yes, you can make Nashville Hot Chicken in your Air Fryer. It is a slow process, because you can’t fit very many chicken pieces in the basket at one time, but it does work.

In order for the coating to brown, you need to spray the dipped and dredged chicken with cooking spray before placing it in the air fryer.

Air Fried Hot Chicken comes out of the air fryer with a decidedly different, less appetizing texture (imo) and color than that of oil-fried Hot Chicken; however, once you baste it with the basting spices, it is difficult to tell the difference.

If you choose to air fry your hot chicken, you will need to heat up some oil in a small cooking pot to mix with the basting spices.

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of The Good Hearted Woman. • Be sure to PIN this Nashville Hot Chicken recipe!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

UPDATED: This recipe was originally posted on this website on July 28, 2017.

Top 8 Things to Do in Nashville for Music Lovers {+ Travel Tips}

June 13 By Renée 39 Comments

Music lovers, here’s our list of eight iconic, must-see, don’t-even-think-of-skipping sites in Music City, along with our best Nashville travel tips to make your life a little easier along the way.

Mother Maybelle Carter If you don’t know who this woman is, you should study up fast, because she likely had an influence on the music you’re listening to now, no matter what kind it is. [Mural: Carter Vintage Guitars]

This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.

As a lifetime student of music and music making, there was a time when I thought I knew a lot about the history and evolution of music in America. However, our trips to Tennessee have taught me that I have far more to learn than I could ever have imagined.

As we visited these iconic Nashville music destinations, Mr B and I got a crash course in the varied cultural influences that formed American country music as we know it today. One of the things that became crystal clear was the intricate web of influence that has been woven over time to create what we now call “American” music – in all its many forms. If that had been the only thing I took away from Tennessee (it wasn’t!), it still would have been totally worth the trip.

If you love music and are traveling in Nashville, be sure to visit these eight spots!

Eight Iconic, Must-See Nashville Music Sites

1 . Ryman Auditorium

Originally built in 1892 at the Union Gospel Tabernacle, the Ryman Auditorium was home to the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 until 1974. Due in part to its religious roots as a house of worship, and in part to its place in American music history, the Ryman is known even today as “The Mother Church of Country Music.”

From the time its first stage was built, the Ryman has served as a venue for a wide variety of events, including religious revivals, jazz recitals, operas, ballets, political debates and Broadyway musicals. Mr B and I were both awestruck by the musical history the building holds. If you go, take the Backstage Tour. It is more than worth it.

2. Country Music Hall of Fame

This is the place where I finally started to internalize the profound impact and influence Nashville has had on the evolution of American music. The Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee is one of the world’s largest museums and research centers dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of American music, and houses the world’s largest collection of country music and artifacts.

? Read More about The Country Music Hall of Fame in our post “What We Learned from Bob & Johnny at The Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum.”

3. RCA Studio B

The historic RCA Studio B, Nashville’s oldest surviving recording studio, is birthplace to more than 35,000 songs, and more than 1,000 hits. This is where the Everly Brothers recorded “All I Have to Do is Dream” (a signature song for Mr B and me), Roy Orbison recorded “Only the Lonely,” and Dolly Parton set the tracks for her classic “Coat of Many Colors.” For anyone with musical roots, standing in this space is moving beyond words.

? Read More about RCA Studio B in our post “Home of 1000 Hits: RCA Studio B {Nashville}.”

4. Hatch Print Show

Hatch Show Print is one of the oldest working letterpress print shops in the U.S. Our tour of the print shop ended up being one of the biggest surprises of our trip, in a very good way. We’ll share more in a more in-depth post, but for now, suffice it now to say that this should not be missed. Such an extraordinary piece of music history.

5. Honky Tonk Highway

Take a walk down Lower Broadway in Nashville and you’re sure to hear music pouring out of honky tonks up and down the street at all hours of the day and night. (Well, almost all hours. Folks have to sleep sometime, you know. They are, however, open from 10am until 3am the next day. Every. Single. Day. 365.) There’s no cover charge (or at least I didn’t see any place that had one), so you can wander in and out of places until you find your heart’s desire.

The coolest part, aside from all the history and local color, is that you just never know who you’ll be listening to. Country music legends like Willie Nelson, Gretchen Wilson, and Deirks Bentley, along with so many others, all began their careers singing in the honky tonks along this famous street.

You know what that means, don’t you? You could wander into The Second Fiddle one night and listen to country’s newest rising star – before anyone even knows they’re on the horizon – all for the price of a beer.

6. Ernest Tubb Record Shop

It may be tucked between the honky tonks on Nashville’s Lower Broadway, but this cool little store gets its own line item. Why? Well, let’s start with the fact that it has a copy of virtually any country music recording ever made, from classic country to bluegrass to post-punk hillbilly.

Founded by Grand Ole Opry star Ernest Tubb in 1947, the staff is amazingly friendly – and boy-howdy, do they know their country music! While Mr B picked up a few Patsy Cline CD’s for his mama, the man we spoke with (who I believe was the current owner) chatted with him about the old-timers, easily moving back and forth between past and present singing greats with the ease of someone who lives for the music.

7. Carter Vintage Guitars

If you are a musician of any skill level, or have ever even held a guitar in your hands long enough to figure out a G-chord, then you need to make time to stop in at Carter Vintage Guitars.

Founded in 2012 by Christie and Walter Carter (I have no idea if they are related to the famous Carter family or not), this guitar shop aims to provide “a comfortable place for fine fretted instruments and the people who appreciate them.”

The place is filled with beautiful instruments at every price point, but even if you aren’t in the market for a new guitar, you’re sure to find something fun to play a few licks on. (Mr B tried out a very nice 12-string while we were there.) If none of that appeals, the mural on the outside wall is worth the trip all by itself.

8. Grand Ole Opry

DO NOT MISS THIS! This ain’t your great-grandma’s Grand Ole Opry (but she’d still feel right at home).

The Grand Ole Opry was founded on November 28, 1925, by George D. Hay as a one-hour radio “barn dance” on WSM, making it the longest-running radio broadcast in US history. Dedicated to honoring country music and its history, the Opry showcases an eclectic mix of famous singers, old-timers, and contemporary chart-toppers. Live performances include a little bit of everything: country, bluegrass, folk, gospel, and even comedy.

With a seating capacity of 4,400, the Grand Ole Opry House is considered the largest broadcasting studio in the world, but it is nevertheless still surprisingly intimate. There really isn’t a bad seat in the house, but if you plan to attend the Grand Ole Opry, order you tickets in advance for the best seats. Mr B and I went to the Opry on our last night in Tennessee, and it was the perfect way to end our vacation.

Nashville Travel Tips

1. Parking downtown costs a ton. Budget for it.

This was the most shocking traveler issue we ran into on our trip: the parking fees in downtown Nashville are exorbitant, and they can take a significant bite out of your budget. Daily rates run around $20, and in one location, it cost us $16 to park for two hours. There are a couple of less expensive parking options, which were unfortunately filled up at the time of our visit. (It probably didn’t help that we were there during the Stanley Cup finals!)

2. Everyone needs a valid ID to purchase alcohol in Tennessee.

In 2007, Tennessee became the first U.S. state to make universal carding mandatory. Clerks are held responsible and face huge fines and other penalties for not requiring ID, so no matter how many crow’s feet you have, you will need to have a valid driver’s license or other official form of ID to buy a drink. No exceptions.

3. Do NOT plan to stick to your vegan/paleo/vegetarian/points diet.

It’s just not happening. (To clarify, I’m sure that Tennessee residents can and often do eat a very healthy diet: this is strictly from a visitor’s point of view.) Granted, Mr B and I were eating at some rather touristy establishments; nonetheless, every menu we looked at consisted of three big, colorful columns filled with delicious-sounding descriptions of succulent, smokey meats and deep fried proteins (and I don’t mean tofu) and carb heavy sides.

{Actual Conversation}

Do you have any vegetables on the menu?

Why sure, honey. See here? We got green beans and bacon, collard greens and bacon, baked beans and bacon…

How ’bout a salad?

Down there in lower right corner. Under the sides and beverages. See that little box green box? No, lift up your thumb up. There it is! See, we have two salads – a House and a Caesar. Both come with cheese grits on the side. Y’all got all kinda options, honey.

All kidding aside, just embrace and enjoy the local cuisine, because it is so so so good. You can climb back onto your kombucha and kale chip wagon when you get home, if that’s your jam.

Speaking of which, you have got to try the Nashville Hot Chicken – crispy, spicy, and oh-so-addictive! Seriously. Just do it. Best thing we ate in Tennessee, hands down. It’s fabulous, and totally worth the line you’re probably going to have to wait in. (I wrote a whole post about Nashville Hot Chicken just so I could learn to make it at home! Be sure to check it out!)

More Helpful Nashville Travel Info: We aren’t not the only ones who have great ideas and tips on how to spend time in Nashville! If you have a few days in town, check out this great Nashville 3-day Itinerary for Music City, which includes some excellent suggestions for specific stops along the Honky-Tonk Highway, as well as ways to explore Nashville beyond the music.

THANK YOU so much for being a faithful reader and supporter
of The Good Hearted Woman. ? Be sure to PIN this post!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

Original Pub Date: June 28, 2017

Tennessee & Music Travel from GHW

Love Music? Then Add Tennessee to Your Bucket List!

Home of 1000 Hits: RCA Studio B {Nashville}

What We Learned from Bob & Johnny at The Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum

Top 7 Things to Do in Memphis {Music Lovers Edition}

Why You Will Love "The Guest House at Graceland"

How to Make Nashville Hot Chicken {Step-by-Step}

Tupelo, Mississippi {Day Trip from Memphis: Part 1}

50 Miles Along the Natchez Trace Parkway {Day Trip From Memphis}

A New Era at Graceland: Elvis Presley's Memphis

Nashville & Memphis for Music Lovers {Tips & Itinerary}

50 Miles Along the Natchez Trace Parkway {Day Trip From Memphis}

September 4 By Renée 18 Comments

Stretching 444 miles from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville Tennessee, the historic Natchez Trace Parkway takes travelers on a journey through history; from Native American burial mounds to Civil War sites to lush nature trails and sweeping vistas.

^{This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.}

[This is the second in our series of posts about our day trip to Tupelo, Mississippi from Memphis, Tennessee. To read about our adventures in Tupelo, please visit Part 1.]

After spending the day in Tupelo, we decided to make our way back to Memphis via the Natchez Trace Parkway.

What is the Natchez Trace Parkway?

The Natchez Trace is an ancient trail that stretches 444 miles, from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee, and takes travelers by everything from Native American burial mounds to Civil War sites to lush nature trails and green, sweeping vistas.

The original Trace path was carved by migrating prehistoric wildlife making their way between prairie lands and the Mississippi River. Later, Native American tribes picked up the Trace, and in time everyone from conquistadores, trappers, and boatmen to mail carriers and militia was using the Trace as a primary trade route through the region.

The Natchez Trace Parkway follows the path of the original Natchez Trace. Established as a National Park in 1938, the Parkway has since been designated an “All American Road & Scenic Byway.” (A National Scenic Byway is a road recognized by the United States Department of Transportation for one or more of six “intrinsic qualities”: archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and scenic. The Natchez Trace qualifies in all six.)

Traveler Notes: Mr B and I drove the 50-mile section of the Natchez Trace that connects Tupelo, Mississippi with US-72 W in Alabama. In terms of driving time, taking the Trace versus driving directly back to Memphis from Tupelo added about an hour and a half to our trip. We also spent at least three extra hours exploring the stops along the way. Taking the byway was totally worth the extra time and effort: my only regret is that we didn’t have more time to spend taking in more of the route.

Mile 266.0 – Parkway Visitor Center and Headquarters

We got on the Natchez Trace Parkway as we left Tupelo, stopping first at the Parkway Visitors Center and Headquarters, where we got an overview of the Natchez Trace and picked up some brochures and a map. [Specifically, we highly recommend picking up a Natchez Trace Parkway map provided by the National Park Service, which details each of the mile markers and stops along the Trace. We found it invaluable.]

Inside the Visitor Center you will find a park Ranger-staffed information desk, a small book and souvenir store, an auditorium, and a museum about the Natchez Trace. The Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center has an orientation film and a number of informative interpretive displays as well.

Official Natchez Trace map [PDF], showing the entire length of the Trace from Mississippi to Tennessee.
Mississippi to Alabama map [PDF], which includes all of the sites in this post.

Mile 269.4 – Old Trace & Confederate Gravesites

This was our first stop on the Natchez Trace. There is a short, relatively easy uphill walk from the parking lot to the Unknown Confederate Gravesite.

Much of the Old Trace had been abandoned by the start of the Civil War. However, the war did leave its mark on the Trace as it did upon the rest of the South. The soldiers marched, camped and fought along portions of this historic old road.

– US Dept of the Interior, National Park Service

As we walked the short path to these thirteen “Unknown Confederate” graves, I felt as if the very air around us was vibrating. It was probably just my imagination (or possibly those relentless Southern mosquitos).

Which side of history these men died on is not up for debate here. In the still of this sunlit clearing, these thirteen graves stand in silent testament to the sacrifices made on every side in deadliest war in American history.

These thirteen men (boys, more likely) were someone’s son, or father, or brother, or lover. We don’t know how or why they ended up here, nor do we know the thoughts and desires of their hearts. We will never know. All we know is that these thirteen did not survive the fight.

Mile 275.2 – Dogwood Valley

Flowering dogwood is a common small tree throughout the eastern United States from Maine and Michigan south to Texas and Florida. Here the Natchez Trace passes through a small valley with an unusual stand of large dogwood trees. An easy 15 minute walk takes you along a sunken portion of the Old Trace and through the small wooded area named Dogwood Valley.

– US Dept of the Interior, National Park Service

Dogwood Valley provided us with another short, easy hike. I didn’t get any good pictures of the landscape; mostly because I was busy chasing this darn butterfly – who would not hold still for me no matter how much I pleaded with him!

Mile 278.4 – Twentymile Bottom Overlook

There are a multitude of swamps, streams, and rivers along the lower regions on the Trace, and Twentymile Bottom is one such wetland. This particular stop struck Mr B and I both as a bit anticlimactic: as visitors from one of the greenest corners of the US, this spot was just another vista, and an overgrown one at that. Pretty, yes, but not particularly life-altering.

Traveler Notes: If you are driving a larger RV or pulling a trailer, you might want to consider skipping this stop. The overlook is at the end of a short road with no loop at the end, making it difficult for larger vehicles to turn around.

Mile 286.7 – Pharr Mounds

According to the National Park Service, Pharr Mounds is the largest and most important archaeological site in northern Mississippi. Built by Native American tribes 2,000 to 1,800 years ago, Pharr Mounds is a complex of eight mounds, spread over 90 acres. The mounds, or artificial hills, were built to either hold structures or for burial grounds.

You can only see three of the mounds from the parking lot, and there are no trails out to the mounds. The highest mound is only eighteen feet tall, while others have eroded to the point where it may be difficult to even identify them as hills.

Traveler Notes: This stop has a large parking lot, two picnic tables, some good interpretive information, and a public restroom facility (plumbed).

Mile 308.4 – Cave Spring

Cave Spring, a combination of a cave and a sinkhole, was a particularly interesting stop on our journey. Originally formed by underground water eroding the limestone to create a long room and corridor, the cave weakened over time until it collapsed.

An 800-foot paved path leads you to the mouth of a low cave entrance. Signs warn visitors that the limestone cave is dangerous and will eventually collapse; however, Mr B braved it for this picture because he’s just that kinda guy.

Mile 308.8 – Bear Creek Mound

The village site was occupied as early as 8,000 B.C. by hunters who stayed only long enough to prepare their kill. From the time of Christ to 1000 A.D., migratory people of this area practiced limited agriculture. The nearby fields and streams offered an abundance of nuts, fruits, game and fish. These people shaped this mound and built a crude temple on its summit to house their sacred images.

– US Dept of the Interior, National Park Service

Traveler Notes: You can easily walk from Bear Creek Mound to the Mississippi-Alabama state line.

Mile 308.9 – Alabama-Mississippi State Line

Between Mr B and I, we have visited nearly every state in the United States. Until this trip, however, neither one of us had ever set foot in Alabama, so we decided to document the occasion.

Obviously, I was the first one in Alabama, because I had to get there first to take this picture of Mr B driving across the state line form Mississippi. (Not that anyone is keeping track or anything. ?)

Mile 317.0 – Freedom Hills Overlook

Freedom Hills is the site of a short, steep trail that leads to the the highest point on the Natchez Trace in Alabama. There are two benches along the way for resting, and a third bench at the top of the hill.

When Mr B and I took the hike, we took our “good camera,” but both left our cell phones in the car for some reason, so we had to get very creative when it came to taking a picture of the two of us at the top. We jury-rigged a makeshift camera sling in the fork of a tree, and after I set the timer, I had to run down so that we could capture the memory. Let’s just say that it was a challenge and it took more than one try. So while this picture isn’t the greatest and the lighting is terrible, it represents a fun memory for us.

I imagine that this place – along with the entire Natchez Trace – puts on an amazing show of color in the fall.

Mile 320.3 – Buzzard Roost Spring

Buzzard Roost Springs was the last stop we made before getting on Highway 72 for the last leg of our Day Trip from Memphis to Tupelo. It was a peaceful, relaxing way to end our brief tour of Natchez Trace Parkway.

Originally called Buzzard Sleep, the name was changed to Buzzard Roost in 1801 by Levi Colbert, a renowned Chickasaw chief. The spring was a water source for the Colbert house which also served as an inn and stand for travelers on the Old Natchez Trace. Travelers who stopped here remarked that its a good place for they were well received, well fed and kindly treated.

– US Dept of the Interior, National Park Service

Levi Colbert left behind a gripping legacy. As one of six sons of a Scots father and Chickasaw mother, Levi was in unique position between the two cultures. Both Levi and his brother George became prominent interpreters and negotiators, striving to foster peace with the US government while also maintaining the integrity and interests of the Chickasaw people and their culture.

Traveler Notes: If after, visiting this stop, you find yourself wanting to learn more (as I did) about the Chickasaw people; and more specifically, about the Colbert brothers and their intriguing story, you might want to check out Chickasaw Chief George Colbert: His Family and His Country.

Take Highway US-72 W back to Memphis!

Learn more about the Natchez Trace

Visit the Scenic Trace Website
Explore the Natchez Trace Interactive Map
Download the Natchez Trace Visitors Guide

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^{Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!}

Tupelo, Mississippi {Day Trip from Memphis: Part 1}

August 20 By Renée 17 Comments

Looking for a great day trip from Memphis? Check out our real-life itinerary for our day trip from Memphis, Tennessee to Tupelo, Mississippi and back again (including our ridiculously Hobbit-like meal schedule).

^{This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.}
While on a recent trip to the Memphis area, Mr B and I found ourselves with an extra day on our hands, so we decided to broaden our horizons by taking a day trip to Tupelo, Mississippi, best known as the “Birthplace of Elvis.” And yes indeedee, we saw a heckuva lot of Elvis on this trip, but there’s more to Tupelo than just the history of its favorite son.

Tupelo, as it turns out, has a lot to offer. For example, did you know that the 444-mile historic Natchez Trace Parkway is headquartered in Tupelo? Or that one local man amassed a private collection of automobiles so extensive that Tupelo now boasts the official automobile museum of Mississippi? Or that, in Tupelo, you can legitimately have fried chicken, biscuits, and gravy for breakfast!?!

What follows is the real-life itinerary from our day trip; traveling from Memphis, Tennessee to Tupelo, Mississippi and back again via the Natchez Trace Parkway. I’ve also included our ridiculously Hobbit-like meal schedule in the itinerary (breakfast, second breakfast, lunch, etc.); however, if you are using this as a roadmap for your own day trip, don’t let our eating times or choices hold you back. There are plenty of wonderful places to eat in Tupelo that we didn’t get to. In fact, if you find a great spot to eat in Tupelo, we’d love it if you’d take a minute to share your discoveries in the comments below!

[Travelers: A condensed version of this itinerary can be found at the bottom of this post.]

DAY TRIP: Memphis to Tupelo {Roundtrip}

? We wanted to arrive in Tupelo by 9am, so we had a light breakfast and then hit the road in Memphis about 7:15 am. It took about and hour and forty minutes to drive the 108 miles from Memphis to Tupelo [via I-22].

? First stop: Connie’s Chicken.

Connie’s Fried Chicken

821 S Gloster St
Tupelo, MS 38801-4933
662.842.7260

Ready to get your carbs on? If you crave pillow-soft, buttery biscuits, crispy fried chicken, and lots of smooth, savory white gravy like your grandma used to make, Connie’s is your kind of place. This uber-casual comfort food hub serves it all up counter-style with bright smiles, friendly service, and reasonable prices. I had the tenderloin biscuit with gravy, and Mr B had chicken, and we shared a couple of warm blueberry donuts, fresh from the fryer.

? From Connie’s, go directly to the Tupelo Visitors Center.

Tupelo Convention & Visitors Bureau

399 E Main Street
Tupelo, Mississippi 38103-1623
662.841.6521

Tupelo has an excellent Visitors Center! Newly opened in 2018, the Tupelo Visitors Center is the perfect starting point for your day. Stop in and get the low down on the best attractions, arts, culture, outdoor recreation, shopping, and Elvis locations in the area.

At the visitors’ center, you can play with the interactive kids’ map, plan your itinerary, or pick up relevant informational brochures; including Elvis Driving Tour and Elvis Guitar Tour maps. There is also a display that allows you to hear the African American gospel, country, and blues music and musicians that influenced Elvis as a boy, and understand better how he integrated them into his unique musical style.

Elvis Driving Tour

Even if you don’t plan to follow this tour, the brochure provides a good overview of the town and will likely help you plan your day.

Elvis Guitar Trail

These 6-foot tall Elvis-themed guitars are ALL OVER town! More than 25 guitars have become permanent part of downtown Tupelo’s cityscape, and provide visitors with some great photo-ops. {Tip: If you post a photo with one of the guitars, be sure to tag it using #MyTupelo!}

? Drive to the “Elvis’ Birthplace.”

Elvis’ Birthplace

306 Elvis Presley Drive
Tupelo, MS 38804-2812
662.841.1245

Elvis Aaron Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, on January 8, 1935, in a 450 square foot, two-room house built by his father, grandfather and uncle. The house is now one of the main attractions of the Elvis’ Birthplace and Museum.

The moment we opened the door to Elvis’ childhood home, an unexpected wave of familiarity swept over me – it smells exactly like my Grandma Lucy’s house!

As we stepped inside, a delightful docent greeted us, and enthusiastically shared both her knowledge of Elvis’ early life and details about the home, as well as her philosophy on a community’s responsibility in raising its children. She was abundantly entertaining.

The actual building where the Presley family attended church services has been moved to the Elvis Birthplace location. It was inside the walls of this small community chapel that Elvis was first introduced to the Southern gospel music that wove its way into his music throughout his life.

Through a multimedia presentation, visitors to the chapel experience a condensed church service, and are introduced to Elvis’ early musical influences; including Brother Frank, who taught Elvis his first guitar chords, and the gospel quartets that inspired his music.

If you want to tour the house or the chapel, you’ll need to purchase tickets, but you can walk the grounds and see the exterior of Elvis’ birthplace (still in its original location) free of charge. Tickets to tour the house, chapel, and museum are available for purchase inside the lobby. The earlier you arrive here, the better: this is the Big tourist attraction in town and it gets busy quickly.

? After completing your tour of Elvis’ Birthplace, head over to Johnnie’s Drive-In.

Johnnie’s Drive-In

908 E Main Street
Tupelo, MS 38804-2828
662.842.6748

Mr B and I stopped in at Johnnie’s mostly because we are both hopeless romantics and it sounded like a good idea. We were thrilled when we walked in just as the “Elvis Booth” was being vacated, and took our seats before any other crazy Elvis tourists could steal the honor. Mr B and I decided to skip the food and share a root beer float, which turned out to be a great deal because the friendly waitresses at Johnnie’s kept refilling our glass with root beer every time it got low until we finally finished off the ice cream.

The Elvis Booth at Johnnie's Drive-In - Day Trip from Memphis {Part 1: Tupelo, Mississippi} | The Good Hearted Woman

I’d share a root beer float with this guy anytime!

Posted at the Elvis Booth, just below a picture of Elvis sitting the aforementioned booth:

My name is Paul Cramer, and this is the story of my Elvis picture.

I was a traveling salesman in 1956, selling costume jewelry, for the Gerson Company out of Kansas City, MO. My territory was the South. I visited jewelry stores in Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and Tennessee.

While I was showing my wares to a jeweler in Tupelo, Mississippi, a teenage girl came into the store. She was out of breath and very excited screaming “Elvis is next-door – Elvis is next door!” I didn’t know who Elvis was, but she told me he was very popular in the South.

I happen to have my camera in my car, so I went next door to the café. Elvis was sitting in a booth with another man and there were a few girls around. I asked him if I could take his picture. He said, “OK,” so I took it!

When I came home, I had the picture developed and put away, not thinking much about it. I forgot about it until I came across it in 1997, 41 years later, as I was looking through old photo albums. This is how I took Elvis’s picture.

We are abysmally bad at taking selfies, but at least we have fun while we try!

? Next stop: Downtown Tupelo.

Downtown Tupelo

Visit the Tupelo Hardware Store, where Gladys Presley purchased Elvis his first guitar for $7.

Tupelo Hardware Company
114 W Main Street
Main & Front Streets
Tupelo, MS 38804-3916

Tupelo Hardware is one of twelve sites in Tupelo that are marked with bronze plaques on the Elvis Presley Driving Tour, signifying it as having played an important role in Elvis’ formative years. It was at this store that Gladys Presley, Elvis’ mother, purchased his first for his 11th birthday in 1946, for $6.95.

Tupelo Hardware is a fully functioning hardware store (with excellent cast iron offerings!), and visitors are welcome during the store’s regular hours.

Beyond the hardware store, Downtown Tupelo is lined with locally owned specialty shops that carry everything from home décor and artwork by local artists to clothes to cigars and wine. You’ll probably see a few Elvis murals, too. ?

? Drive (or walk) to the Tupelo FairPark, where you can enjoy the wide open-space, the Elvis Homecoming statue, city hall, a small children’s park, and a small but refreshing splash pad.

FairPark

71 Troy Street
Tupelo, MS
662.841.6513

In 1956, Elvis returned to Tupelo and performed a Homecoming Concert at the Mississippi/Alabama Fair and Dairy Show Fairgrounds.

Now known as FairPark, it is home to Tupelo’s annual Elvis Festival, held the first week in June each year. The festival features live music, with past past performers including such artists as Little Big Town, Montgomery Gentry, and B.B. King.

Homecoming Statue

? Head over to the Tupelo Automobile Museum and spend an hour or so motoring through the past.

Tupelo Automobile Museum

1 Otis Dr (Corner Franklin & Otis Across from BancorpSouth Arena)
Tupelo, MS 38804-4015

I have to admit that the Tupelo Automobile Museum came as a bit of a surprise. You just don’t expect a town the size of Tupelo to be home to one of the most extensive car collections in the United States. It was pretty amazing, and well worth the entrance fee.

The Tupelo Automobile Museum houses over 100 antique, classic, and collectible cars, all chronologically displayed to illustrate the progress of auto design and engineering over the 100 years. The oldest car in the collection is a 1886 Benz; the newest is a 1994 Dodge Viper.

This collection of kid cars brought back some fond memories.

There were plenty of “famous” cars in the collection as well, including BB King’s 1984 Chevy El Camino, Tony Curtis car (the “Leslie Special”) from the movie The Great Race, and of course, one of Elvis’ cars. (Most of Elvis’ cars can be found in Elvis Presley Motors exhibit at the Elvis Presley’s Memphis Entertainment Complex in Memphis.)

? Grab a late lunch at the Neon Pig.

Neon Pig

1203 N Gloster Street
Tupelo, MS 38804-1222
662.269.2533

Before heading back to Memphis via the Natchez Trace Parkway, we stopped to grab a world-class burger at the Neon Pig. The Neon Pig Café is the only all-in-one butcher shop and restaurant in Mississippi, and lays claim to one of the best burgers in America.

The Neon Pig’s Smash Burger was officially named “Best Burger in America” by thrillist.com in 2015. The Smash Burger is a combination of aged filet, ribeye, sirloin, New York steak, and Benton’s bacon, all ground together to give it a strong, smoky flavor. It is served on a ciabatta bun with bacon bits, cheddar cheese, onion, and a housemade comeback sauce. Mr B and I decided to split one burger, which was more than enough, and ordered coleslaw and potato salad on the side.

I don’t eat enough burgers to know if this is The Best burger in the US, but it was definitely delicious. (In my mind, the distinction of “world’s best burger” will always and forever go to the T-burger from the Twilight Room [i.e., T-Room] on Lombard in Portland, Oregon.) The ciabatto bun held up well to the imposing mass of meats and sauce, and the flavors all played very nicely together. My best advice for eating at the Neon Pig is – DO NOT SKIP the potato salad! It is amazing! I’m certain that it has more bacon products in it than any ten average potato salads, and that’s probably why it’s so crazy-good.

? Stop by the Natchez Trace Parkway Visitors Center just outside of Tupelo.

Natchez Park Visitor’s Center

2680 Natchez Trace Pkwy
Tupelo, MS 38804-9715
800.305.7417

The Natchez Trace is a primitive trail once traveled by Native Americans over 8,000 years ago, spanning 444 miles and reaching from Natchez, Mississippi, to Nashville, Tennessee. The Natchez Trace Parkway, headquartered in Tupelo, is one of America’s Top 10 National Parks. Guests can explore the Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center and discover the parkway’s rich history and inhabitants.

If you stop in, be sure to pick up the “Natchez Trace Parkway” map/brochure issued by the US Park Service. We found it to be invaluable as we took our tour of the Trace.

? Drive the Natchez Trace north from Tupelo to where it intersects with Highway 72; roughly 11 miles into Alabama from the Tennessee-Alabama state line.

Natchez Trace Parkway

It took us about three hours to drive the 50-some miles the Natchez Trace Parkway from Tupelo to where it intersects with Highway 72, which included plenty of time to take in most of the roadside interpretive sites along the way. There is so much history along this route, spanning cultures across millenia, and it simply wouldn’t do it justice to bury it here at the end of an already lengthy post, so we ‘ll be covering it next week instead. Tune in next week to read all about our adventures in Day Trip from Memphis: Part 2 – Natchez Trace Parkway.

Day Trip from Memphis: Tupelo, Mississippi | The Good Hearted Woman

Coming up next week: 50 Miles of history along the Natchez Trace Parkway {Day Trip from Memphis: Part 2}

?Return to Memphis: Fill up your gas tank and grab a snack in one of the towns along Highway 72. (We stopped in Corinth, Mississippi.) Travel time back to Memphis from the Natchez Trace / Hwy 72 interchange is about 2 hours [128 Miles]. [Route: Hwy 72 to Hwy 385 to I-240 to I-69.]

DAY TRIP ITINERARY: Memphis to Tupelo {Roundtrip}

Short Version

To arrive in Tupelo by 9am, plan to hit the road in Memphis about 7:15 am. Eat a little something for breakfast before you leave to tide you over.
Drive from Memphis, Tennessee to Tupelo, Mississipppi via I-22 [Travel time: 1 hour, 40 min. – 108 mi.]
Stop in at Connie’s Chicken for a carb-intensive second breakfast of fried chicken, warm biscuits, gravy, and fresh blueberry donuts.
From Connie’s, go directly to the Tupelo Visitors Center. Take a quick look around, play with the interactive kids’ map, and pick up relevant informational brochures; including Elvis Driving Tour and Elvis Guitar Tour maps.
Drive to the “Birthplace of Elvis.” You can purchase tickets inside the lobby. The earlier you arrive here, the better: this is the Big tourist attraction in town and it gets busy quickly.
After completing your tour of Elvis’ Birthplace, head over to Johnnie’s Drive-In and have a little snack or a root beer float in the “Elvis Booth.”
Next stop: Downtown Tupelo.
Visit the Tupelo Hardware Store, where Elvis purchased his first guitar for $7.
Stroll Downtown Tupelo and check out the cool local shops and murals.
Drive (or walk) to the Tupelo FairPark, where you can enjoy the wide open-space, the Elvis Homecoming statue, city hall, a small children’s park, and a small but refreshing splash pad.
Head over to the Tupelo Automobile Museum and spend an hour or so motoring through the past.
Grab a late lunch at the Neon Pig before heading back to Memphis via the Natchez Trace Parkway. (Be sure to try the potato salad!)
Stop by the Natchez Trace Parkway Visitors Center just outside of Tupelo. Be sure to pick up the “Natchez Trace Parkway” map/brochure issued by the US Park Service.
Drive the Natchez Trace north from Tupelo to where it intersects with Highway 72; roughly 11 miles into Alabama from the Tennessee-Alabama state line.
Fill up your gas tank and grab a snack in one of the towns along Highway 72. (We stopped in Corinth, Mississippi.)
Travel time back to Memphis from the Natchez Trace / Hwy 72 interchange is about 2 hours [128 Miles]. [Route: Hwy 72 to Hwy 385 to I-240 to I-69.]

Total Round-trip Mileage (not including driving all over Tupelo) = 300 miles.

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A New Era at Graceland: Elvis Presley’s Memphis

August 15 By Renée 17 Comments

The newly opened Elvis Presley’s Memphis Entertainment Complex is vast, eye-opening, humbling, and a must for music lovers of all kinds.

When we were kids growing up in Liverpool, all we ever wanted to be was Elvis Presley. ~ Paul McCartney

Tomorrow marks the 40th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death, and in Memphis this is Elvis Week. The celebration is expected to draw the largest number of visitors ever to Graceland – Presley’s Memphis mansion.

I have to admit, until recently I just didn’t get it. I could not understand why this man – an exceptionally talented entertainer to be sure, but still, just a man – caused so much hype and celebration. I mean, it’s not like he’s the only singer who’s ever touched hearts and made young girls cry, right?

But I learned a few things in Tennessee. First, we visited Studio B and Sun Studios where we experienced Elvis’ beginnings, and the first glimmers began to spark as I understood more about the critical, pivotal role he played in breaking the color barrier in the music world – no small feat in the mid-1950’s. Still, others have broken down social barriers, and they don’t have millions of adoring fans embarking on pilgrimages forty years after they die just to visit their graves. (Jim Morrison notwithstanding.)

It wasn’t until we visited the newly opened Elvis Presley’s Memphis Entertainment Complex that things finally fully click. All the hype. All the glorification. All the adoration and idolization. I get it now.

Because it isn’t just about Elvis the Man, or Elvis the Entertainer, or even Elvis the Icon. It’s about something far bigger than that. It’s about how he changed the Music.

"I always felt that someday, somehow, something would happen to change everything for me, and I'd daydream about how it would be. - Elvis Presley | Elvis the Entertainer Career Museum at Elvis Presley's Memphis Entertainment Complex | The Good Hearted Woman

{Elvis is the boy in overalls standing in the top right.}

Many thanks to Graceland and Elvis Presley’s Memphis Entertainment Complex for hosting our visit. This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.

Elvis Presley’s Memphis Entertainment Complex opened to the public in March of this year: a 200,000-square-foot, $45 million project across from Presley’s Graceland Mansion. The new Entertainment Complex features fifteen exhibits highlighting the many facets of Elvis’ life (including his early life, his career, his army stint, his cars, his airplanes, and countless items from the family’s personal archives), plus two restaurants, retail stores, and a soundstage. It is an amazing facility, and visitors can easily spend at more than a day exploring.

It was at one of the exhibits – ICONS: The Influence of Elvis Presley – that I gained a completely new perspective on why Elvis is known as The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. However, before I go on more about the ICONS exhibit and what we took away from it, let me share a few other highlights from Elvis Presley’s Memphis.

Elvis the Entertainer Career Museum

Elvis is King. Period. ~ Gene Simmons, KISS

The Elvis the Entertainer Career Museum at the Memphis Entertainment Complex gives visitors the opportunity to become completely immersed in Elvis’ career, through hundreds of artifacts, memorabilia, and of course, jumpsuits. {You knew there would be jumpsuits, right?}

Once again – this museum is Vast: I can barely scrap the surface here.

Fun facts

Elvis received his first guitar on his 11th birthday, on on January 8, 1946. It was purchased from Tupelo Hardware Company in Tupelo, Mississippi.
Elvis cut his first recording, “That’s All Right,” at Sun Studio in Memphis on July 5, 1954.
Between 1954 to 1978, Elvis released 108 singles, 30 extended-play singles, 70 albums on RCA Records, four albums on the Pickwick budget label, and five singles on the Sun Records label.

Of his recordings, 150 different albums and singles have been certified gold, platinum or multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. (Look closely at the image below and you can see some of them hanging on the wall behind the line of white jumpsuits.) He had fourteen Grammy nominations, with three wins – all for gospel recordings.

In addition to recording, Elvis also made thirty-one movies, arguably the most successful of which were Blue Hawaii, Clambake, King Creole, Jail House Rock, and Viva Las Vegas.

Elvis the Entertainer Career Museum at Elvis Presley's Memphis Entertainment Complex | The Good Hearted Woman

In reflection: “Talent is being able to sell something you are feeling.”

Ever wonder where Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons [of KISS] got their inspiration for all that glam? Hmmm…

Presley Motors Automobile Exhibit

Elvis had an extensive, impressive car and motorcycle collection, many of which are on display at the EPM Entertainment Complex. This pink Caddy is my favorite 😉

Pink Cadillac. Do you really need anything else?

There’s nowhere else in the world where you can go from driving a truck to a Cadillac overnight.

– Elvis Presley

1956 Cadillac Eldorado – Originally white. When he bought it, Elvis had the car painted purple and customized the interior.

1956 Lincoln Continental Mark II – came with a price tag of $10,000 when it was introduced in 1955, much more than the average $4000 luxury car of the time.

The first car I bought was the most beautiful car I’ve ever seen. It was second hand, but I parked it outside of my hotel the day I got it. I sat up all night, just looking at it.

– Elvis Presley

1960 MG – Used by Elvis in Blue Hawaii and was part of his personal collection.

VIP Exhibit & Lounge

As part of our Elvis Presley’s Memphis Celebration Package, we received two Elvis Entourage VIP Passes, which gave Mr B and I access to the VIP Exhibit and Lounge. (It also gave us front-of-the-line at access at Graceland Mansion {kind of like a Disney FastPass}, access to a special VIP Only exhibit at Graceland Mansion, an extra day pass, and a Keepsake Backstage Pass.)

The VIP area displays some interesting personal items, including Elvis’ sheriff’s badge and ID, his gold Social Security card, and his wallet with a picture of baby Lisa Marie.

Yeah, that’s me, hanging out on a purple velvet chaise lounge with Elvis. No biggie.

In addition to the exhibits we’ve touched on here, there are displays highlighting Elvis’ early years (Elvis’ Tupelo), military service (Private Elvis), how country music influenced rock ‘n roll, and much more.

If there hadn't been an Elvis, there wouldn't have been the Beatles. ~ John Lennon

ICONS: The Influence of Elvis Presley

{This was, for so many reasons, my absolute favorite part of the EPM Entertainment Complex exhibits.}

I guess until recently, I’ve tended to look at the development of music in a relatively linear way; one genre evolving and expanding, with new styles emerging from old and moving forward to form some unique sound that eventually comes into its own. However, our trip to Tennessee gave me a much different mental picture; instead of a timeline marching forward with tangents breaking off at particular intersections in time, I now see the progression of music as more of a web of influence; and like a spiders web, in which one fine silk thread, placed just so, can shake the entire system to its core. Elvis was, and continues to be, a single gossamer thread to which so many others are anchored. The ICONS exhibit clarified this idea beautifully.

Some of the performers who paid tribute to Elvis in the ICONS exhibit were obvious (Bruce Springsteen immediately comes to mind) , but both Mr B and I were genuinely surprised by others.

The first Elvis song I heard was ‘Hound Dog.’ I just heard this voice and it was absolutely, totally in its own place. The voice was confident, insinuating and taking no prisoners. He had those great whoop and diving moments, those sustains that swoop down to the note like a bird of prey. I took all that in. You can hear that all over Led Zeppelin.

– Robert Plant

It was like he came along and whispered some dream in everybody’s ear, and somehow we all dreamed it.

– Bruce Springsteen

I wasn’t just a fan, I was his brother. He said I was good and I said he was good. We Never argued about that. Elvis was a hard worker, dedicated, and God loved him. I love him and hope to see him again. There’ll never be another like him that soul brother.

– James Brown

If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, then you have accomplished something. Elvis did that and more for me and so many others.

– Dolly Parton

Before Elvis, everything was in black and white. Then came Elvis.... Zoom, glorious technicolor. ~ Keith Richards

And yes, even adorable Memphis native JT chimed in…

When you come from Memphis, music is in your blood. From the blues artist to Elvis Presley, they have had a major influence on my music. I admire Elvis, always have. He combined all of these different types of music and made it one.

– Justin Timberlake

No one name says more than his... Elvis. It roars while others whisper. ~ Paul Stanley, KISS

Whether you are a fan or just a music lover, a day at the Elvis Presley’s Memphis Entertainment Complex is so worth your time. Even if you are a lifelong fan like Mr B, you will come away with a new appreciation for Elvis’ life and contributions; and if you are simply a music lover like me, it will likely change your perspective on The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll and his place in music history forever.

Click here for ticketing Information

Did any of the tributes in the ICONS exhibit surprise you?

Disclosure: Many thanks to Graceland and Elvis Presley’s Memphis Entertainment Complex for hosting our visit. All images here are mine, taken and used with permission from Graceland/Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. for use on this website only. This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they will help us keep this site up and running – and (relatively) ad-free!! Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

Why You Will Love “The Guest House at Graceland”

August 11 By Renée 20 Comments

From first impression to last, the vibe at The Guest House at Graceland is a fusion of classic elegance and modern luxury – welcoming, refined, and unique as Elvis himself.

^{Many thanks to the The Guest House at Graceland for hosting our stay. This post may contain affiliate links.}
Mr B was over the moon when I told him that I had arranged for us to stay at The Guest House at Graceland. “You mean, we’re going to stay on Elvis’ property?” he asked.

“Yep. Just a block down and right across the street from Graceland Mansion.” He beamed. Almost glowed. I’ve known this man since I was fifteen years old, and I knew that just visiting Graceland was already overflowing his bucket big-time – he’d never even considered that he might get to stay there.

As for me, I wasn’t so sure… secretly, I didn’t know if I could endure (what I imagined would be) all those rhinestones and black velvet paintings in one place, even for Mr B. As it turned out, we were both in for a refreshing surprise.

Driving through the security gates at The Guest House at Graceland, all of my preconceived notions about the place just sort of fell away. From first impression to last, The Guest House is a classic, dignified celebration of Elvis Presley and his legacy.

When Elvis had friends and family visit Graceland, he would have them stay at a hotel down the street. He would have been thrilled to have had his own guest house where they could stay so close by. Lisa and I, and our entire family, are excited that visitors from around the world can now experience our unique resort hotel — The Guest House at Graceland.

– Priscilla Presley

With much of the design overseen by Priscilla Presley herself, Memphis’ newest luxury hotel reflects Elvis’ personal style. The vibe at The Guest House at Graceland is one of classic elegance and modern luxury – welcoming, refined, and unique as Elvis himself.

And not a single velvet painting in sight.

Hall - The Guest House at Graceland | The Good Hearted Woman

I fell in love with the symmetry of The Guest House halls: I found them to be very calming and reassuring.

The lobby is stunning, filled with instantly recognizable close-up images that evoke the spirit of Elvis: cuffs, sunglasses, popped collars. Note the high-backed lobby seats, specifically designed to echo those iconic Elvis collars!

Foyer - The Guest House at Graceland | The Good Hearted Woman

This picture totally does not do justice to the opulence and elegance of The Guest House lobby.

There are subtle touches of Elvis everywhere, from the understated “EP” wall sconces that line the halls to the close-up jumpsuit details of the wall art. Even the signs that tell you what floor you’re on are iconically Elvis.

The Guest House at Graceland has 450 guest rooms on six floors, as well as a number of uniquely-themed VIP suites. (Lamentably, Mr B and I did not get to stay in one of the VIP suites. Maybe next time ?)

Our room was clean, comfortable, surprisingly spacious – and notably not overly “Elvisy.” (I personally LOVED the Jail House Rock image on our wall!) The bed was extremely comfortable, with luxury linens and a kitten-soft throw blanket that practically dared me to stop petting it.

Elvis movies, concert footage, and specials are available on room TVs at all times, as well as a 24-hour live-stream of the entrance to Graceland. Free Wi-fi, free airport shuttle service, and shuttle service to Graceland Mansion and the newly opened Elvis Presley’s Memphis Entertainment Complex is also included in your stay (or you can make the five minute walk on foot). They provide free shuttle service to Downtown Memphis/Beale Street as well.

But as nice as it is to have soft sheets and free shuttle service, we all know that sometimes it’s the little things that really elevate a hotel experience. Some of the amenities that Mr B and I particularly appreciated include the in-room Keurig (Mr B has got to have his coffee!) and the larger-than-average naturally-sourced luxury bath products. (You can buy full-size items in the hotel gift store.) The dual-head rainfall shower was a big plus too.

Clearly, great consideration was taken in designing and appointing The Guest House at Graceland, from the carefully chosen color scheme to the cushions in the guest rooms.

I’m one of those people who touches everything, and with all the textures on the The Guest House walls, I was in heaven.

The Guest House at Graceland has been open less than a year and from our experience, they still have a few minor kinks to smooth out. For example, during our stay a system glitch set fire alarms off all over the hotel at about 1:15am. (Never a good thing, especially for bone-weary travelers.) But… Life. Plus, it gave us a good story. Overall our stay was pleasant, relaxing, and truly memorable.

The service we received at The Guest House was, in all cases, first-rate. We were especially impressed with our hotel attendant, Aramis. (Yes, like the Musketeer 😉 )

I don’t know what Aramis’ actual title at the hotel is. I asked him once, and he replied, “Everything. I do everything.” And apparently, he does. When we first arrived at The Guest House at Graceland, it was Aramis who carried our luggage to our room and introduced us to its amenities. He likewise acted as our concierge during our stay, and directed us to some great local blues and barbecue destinations. At one point, he even served as our shuttle driver.

In every instance, Aramis was gracious, amiable, and proficient. (And if by chance our review has any weight with hotel administration/powers-that-be, we encourage them to give this young man a raise and a promotion: he is an both an exceptional representative of The Guest House and a true ambassador of Memphis hospitality.)

The hotel throughout is, in a word, Beautiful. There are a number of lovely common areas, as well as a ball room, meeting rooms, and other large event spaces.

One of the highlights for Elvis fans at The Guest House at Graceland is the full-scale replica of the Grand Staircase at Graceland, complete with the blue curtain at the top of the stairs, the mirrored wall and the chandelier, just like at the entrance foyer of Graceland.

Staircase - The Guest House at Graceland | The Good Hearted Woman

PRO TIP: This is a great spot to take that commemorative Graceland photo! (I have no idea how we forgot to do this while we were there.)

As part of our all-inclusive Elvis Presley’s Memphis Celebration Package, we were treated to a wonderful breakfast each morning at Delta’s Kitchen, one of the two full-service restaurants at the hotel. (Note that breakfast is not included with the regular room rate at this time.)

The service at Delta’s Kitchen was friendly and efficient, and the food was all tasty and satisfying. The breakfast buffet offered a broad variety of choices, from fresh fruit to homemade biscuits and gravy to the biggest tray of bacon I’ve ever seen. Made-to-order omelets were also available upon request.

In addition to Delta’s Kitchen, The Guest House at Graceland offers a number of other fine and casual dining choices. The Lobby Lounge is a great place to kick back and relax with your favorite beverage while you nosh on selections from their a la carte light dining menu.

Happy Hour specials are available daily from 4pm until 6pm at the Lobby Lounge.

EP’s Bar & Grill, a Memphis-inspired setting with lots of Southern flair, serves contemporary interpretations of Elvis’ favorite food and beverages.

If you’re not up for a sit-down meal, the Shake Rattle & Go offers grab-&-go favorites to get your day started, including coffee, espresso and delicious baked treats. Open all day, it also features freshly made sandwiches, salads, and snacks.

On-site entertainment options include everything from foosball by the pool to daily showings of Elvis’ movies in the hotel’s full-size, 464-seat movie theater.

The outdoor pool and hot tub are open seasonally. The hotel also offers a 24-hour access fitness room.

The area surrounding The Guest House feels as though it could use some serious renovation, but once inside hotel security gates, the grounds are beautifully attended, and safety and security abounds. Parking was included with our stay in our Celebration Package, and the entrance gate and all parking areas are manned 24/7 by security attendants. (Without the package, self-parking currently costs $10 per day, with valet parking available for an additional fee.)

If you are an Elvis fan heading to Memphis, this is the place to stay – no question; and even if you’re not a big Elvis devotee, if you’re heading to Memphis and plan to go to Graceland, this is a beautiful, memorable destination.

Guest room rates are very reasonable for a luxury hotel of this caliber, varying between approximately $127 (the current deal on TripAdvisor) to $249 a night for standard rooms, depending on the night and the season.

The Guest House at Graceland

3600 Elvis Presley Blvd
Memphis, Tennessee 38116
901.443.3000

^{Disclosure: Many thanks to the The Guest House at Graceland for hosting our stay. As always, all opinions and photos (except as noted) are our own. This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they will help us keep this site up and running. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!}

Coming up next: The Newly Opened Elvis Presley’s Memphis Entertainment Complex

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Top 7 Things to Do in Memphis {Music Lovers Edition}

July 26 By Renée 27 Comments

Memphis is a town that lives and breathes music. Check out our picks for Top 5 Must-dos for Music Lovers, plus two great bonus destinations.

♫ ♪ Put on my blue suede shoes | and I boarded the plane
Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues | In the middle of the pouring rain ♫

This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.

I still remember the first time I heard “Walking in Memphis” – on KINK in Portland, a year or so before my second daughter was born. At that time, I’d never so much as touched a toe south of West Virginia, but something about that song spoke to a deep-roots place in my belly, and I couldn’t wait until I could get my hands on the whole album. {This, children, was in the days before iTunes or Amazon (or even Napster 😉 ) } – back when you had to wait for a CD to arrive at Music Millenium, and then rush down to grab a copy before they were all gone.

We must have played that CD a thousand times. Dig Down Deep. Walk on Water. Silver Thunderbird (which always makes me think of my dad and his pocket comb). Perfect Love. True Companion. And always, Walking in Memphis; a song which over time became lullaby for my girls about a magical, musical land: like Puff’s Honalee, it almost wasn’t real.

But Memphis is real. And walking down Beale Street – with music pouring out of every brick and around every corner – is a sublime experience. Especially if music feeds your soul.

**5 Memphis Must-Dos for Music Lovers**

1. Take an evening stroll down Beale Street

♫ ♪ …I’m walking in Memphis | Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale ♫

Formally declared the Home of the Blues in 1977 by an act of Congress, Beale Street is where the cool kids hang out. (Or at least they used to.) Kids like Louis Armstrong, Memphis Minnie, Muddy Waters, and B.B. King. Once of the most iconic streets in America, Beale Street is the heart of downtown Memphis.

Walk down Beale Street any given evening and you’ll hear a musical stew pouring out of open doors all along the three-block stretch – delta blues, jazz, rock ‘n’ roll, R&B, and gospel. Walk through a door, and the music will grab you and pull you in.

♫ ♪ W.C. Handy, won’t you look down over me…

WC Handy Statue - Top 7 Things to Do in Memphis {Music Lovers Edition} | The Good Hearted Woman

WC Handy, Father of the Blues, stands in a WC Handy Park on Beale Street.

Fun Fact: Just a block away from Beale Street, Gibson Guitar’s famous factory produces B.B. King’s signature ES-355 Semi-Hollow body. (See the “bonus” destinations at the bottom of this post.)

2. Visit Graceland

Of course you’re going to Graceland. Of course you are.

♫ ♪ Saw the ghost of Elvis | On Union Avenue
Followed him up to the gates of Graceland | Then I watched him walk right through ♫

Top 7 Things to Do in Memphis {Music Lovers Edition} | The Good Hearted Woman

The actual “Gates of Graceland.”

Sadly, we did not see Elvis (or even his ghost) at Graceland. Nevertheless, it was a surprisingly captivating tour. Not only did I learn a ton about the man, his family, and his music (not to mention the impact he had on American culture), but I found that seeing Graceland in real life brought a measure of earnest humanity to the Elvis mythology. Even if you aren’t a big Elvis fan, a visit to Graceland needs to be on your list. (More on Graceland coming soon.)

The living room at Graceland Mansion.

♫ …there’s a pretty little thing | Waiting for the King | Down in the Jungle Room ♫ ♪

The “Jungle Room” was not nearly as sultry or exotic as I had imagined. :/

Speaking of Graceland…

3. Sign the Wall

It seems like every adventure has at least one defining, unforgettable moment. For Mr B, signing the fieldstone wall at Graceland was one of those moments. It was for me too, but for somewhat different reasons. (We’ll be sharing more about this in a later post.)

All you need to sign the wall is a Sharpie and a few minutes.

PRO TIP #1: If you go at night, the experience will feel more risky and exhilarating!

PRO TIP #2: It’s not risky at all. In fact, it’s totally legal (and even encouraged). Two police cars drove by us while we were signing.

4. Tour Sun Studios

The Birthplace of Rock & Roll.

Founded in 1952 by Sam Phillips, Sun Studios is where it all began.

Our tour of Sun Studios was an entirely different experience than our tour of RCA Studio B. Sun is smaller, grittier… more raw. Ghosts are still singing in the walls.

In the beginning, Sun was home to an impressively wide variety of talent, as Sam Phillips was willing to give anyone who came off the street to record a chance. It didn’t matter what they played, Sam recorded it all: gospel, blues, hillbilly, country, boogie, or western swing. The label had no limits.

Then, in 1954, Elvis Presley walked through the doors of Sun Studios, and Sam found himself with the artist he had been looking for: someone who could perform the blues with passion and energy, and still reach across both musical and racial barriers. Sam and Elvis opened a door that would never again close.

Our tour of Sun Studios started with a climb upstairs to a small but impressive museum filled with some amazing music history artifacts. After learning about Sam Phillips and the artists who recorded there, we went downstairs into the studio itself. Like I mentioned earlier, there are ghosts in those walls, let me tell you. It is an amazing feeling to know you are standing where sounds that changed American music were first recorded.

If I had space and time, I could go on forever about the artists who recorded at Sun Studios over the years. These names are synonymous with the 1950’s music revolution – the artists who gave us that “good ol’ fashioned Rock n’ Roll.”

Sun Studios - Top 7 Things to Do in Memphis {Music Lovers Edition} | The Good Hearted Woman

Not gonna lie: Mr B was thrilled to sing into the Shure 55 microphone at Sun Studios that was once used by Elvis Presley. (He was trying to play it cool. He failed.)

Sun Studios is still an active recording studio, and continues to reflect the diversity and vision that was first embraced over sixty years ago. If we ever have a chance to visit Memphis again, we will take this tour again. It’s that good.

Tours of Sun Studios are given every day at the bottom half of every hour from 10:30 AM through 5:30 PM.

5. Listen to Live Blues

♫ ♪ Now Muriel plays piano | Every Friday at the Hollywood…

As luck would have it, just before leaving for Tennessee, Mr B and I saw Marc Cohn perform nearly every cut from his Walking in Memphis album live at the Aladdin in Portland, on the album’s 25th anniversary tour. The Aladdin is an intimate venue, and we had fourth row seats. Almost as entertaining as the songs Marc sang were the stories he told about writing them. It was fascinating to learn more about Walking in Memphis’ Muriel; the very real, remarkable woman who inspired this piece of the song. {Song Stories: Walking in Memphis}

We didn’t get to see Muriel (sadly, she passed away many years ago) but we did spend an evening listening to the amazing BB King All-Star Band at BB King’s Blues Club on the corner of Beale and 2nd. (We ate some pretty decent barbecue there too!)

The food at BB Kings Blues Club was good. Not great, but definitely a solid Good. (I highly recommend the Shrimp & Cheese Grits.) The music was Awesome.

Have some extra time?

Here are two more great destinations just half a block from Beale Street to add to your itinerary.

6. Tour the Gibson Guitar Factory

The Gibson Factory tour didn’t make our short list because it isn’t what I would categorize as a must-do, can’t-miss thing, but it is definitely worth your time if you find yourself with an extra hour on your hands.

I wish I could show you pictures from the tour, but they don’t let you take them, and my stealth photography skills (as my daughters will tell you) ~~suck~~ are nonexistent.

What I can show you are some beautiful guitars from the Gibson showroom. For example, the guitar above and on the left below – a custom guitar created by a single master luthier over the course of an entire year – is the single most expensive guitar I’ve ever touched. It comes with 14 kt gold hardware, mother-of-pearl inlay, and a $26,669 price tag.

The Gibson Factory tour costs just $10 a person and takes about 45 minutes, start to finish. You get to walk through the entire guitar-making process, from raw wood materials through the intricate process of binding, neck-fitting, painting, buffing, and tuning that creates these iconic musical instruments.

7. Visit the Memphis Rock n’ Soul Museum

If you want a solid, interactive, informative education about the history of Southern music and the Memphis sound, the Memphis Rock n’ Soul Museum is the place to visit. Personally, I think one of my biggest takeaways from this experience was a far clearer understanding of the vital role of the musical pioneers who persisted, for the love of music, through racial, regional, and socio-economic barriers to create music that transformed our country.

According to its creators at the Smithsonian Institution, “Rock ‘n’ Soul: Social Crossroads” is the story of the body of music that had the most influence on the culture and lifestyles of the world during the middle 20th Century unto this day. It affected the way we walked, the way we talked, the way we combed our hair and the way we dressed – not only in Memphis or the nation, but the entire world.

The museum is divided into seven galleries that trace Southern music and the Memphis sound over time. Beginning with Rural Culture, which illustrates the musical traditions of the rural South historically, you move through the roots of Southern music, the social challenges it responded to, and the social changes for which it is responsible. The tour begins with short, informative movie; then you are given an audio headset so you can walk through the rest of the museum at your own pace. (It took us just under an hour to do the whole tour.) Always there is music, from short clips to full-length songs, highlighting each point along the way.

The Memphis Rock n’ Soul Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (The Memphis Rock n’ Soul Museum is literally right across the street from the Gibson Factory, so it’s almost like a two-fer.)

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they will help us keep this site up and running – and (relatively) ad-free!! Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

Blue Guitar - Top 7 Things to Do in Memphis {Music Lovers Edition} | The Good Hearted Woman

Ruby Wilson, known as “The Queen of Beale Street,” was a blues and gospel singer, and an actress. She sang in clubs on Beale Street for over 40 years.

If you could visit Memphis, where is the first place you would go? {Let me know in the comments!}

The Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum: Why You Need to Visit

July 19 By Renée 20 Comments

A visit to The Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum may change how you think about American music – in all its forms – forever.

This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.

I’ll be honest: initially, Mr B was way more excited about visiting The Country Music Hall of Fame Museum in Nashville than I was. It makes sense; his country musical roots run deep, even back to the old-timey music of a bygone era; while mine lean more toward folk, rock, and blues.

What I didn’t understand before our Tennessee trip was how profoundly his music has influenced my music (and vice versa) over time.

The Country Music Museum

Chartered in 1964, the museum portion of The Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum has compiled one of the world’s most extensive musical collections, including images and photographs, oral histories, digital archives, and a priceless collection of musical instruments.

Porter - Country Music Hall of Fame | The Good Hearted Woman

I was just a little kid when Porter Wagoner was big on television, but I still remember that jacket. (Seriously. How could anyone forget it?)

The heart of the museum is Sing Me Back Home: A Journey Through Country Music, a permanent exhibition that immerses visitors in the story of country music, as revealed through artifacts, photographs, vintage video and recordings, and interactive touchscreens.

The first thing that hit me as we wandered through the Sing Me Back Home exhibit was how closely our music history is tied to our cultural history in this country. Mr B and I were both particularly moved by some of the instruments on display from the early pioneers of country music. It is awe-inspiring to consider the hands that played these instruments, and their contributions to music, and how those contributions continue to influence the music we listen to today.

Autoharp - Country Music Hall of Fame | The Good Hearted Woman

Sara Carter’s autoharp, Minnie Pearl’s hat, and Bill Monroe’s mandolin.

All those iconic instruments got me thinking… Over the years, how many people listened to Sara Carter play her autoharp as part of America’s first commercial rural country music group? How many skirts swirled across a wooden floor to the sound of Bill Monroe’s mandolin?

Maybelle - Country Music Hall of Fame | The Good Hearted Woman

Maybelle Carter, known as “mother Maybelle,” bought this Gibson L-5 in 1928 for $275. Today it is priceless.

Dylan, Cash, and the Nashville Cats

Musically, I’ve always been intrigued by unlikely collaborations. (Led Zepplin’s Robert Plant and bluegrass queen Allison Krauss’ amazing collab on Raising Sand immediately comes to mind.)

Take, for example, the collaboration of Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. (Surprised? I was!) As you may know, Dylan is a musician associated far more closely with 60’s counter-culture, flower children, folk music, and the singer-songwriter enclave than traditional Country Music.

And yet, there he was on the second floor of the The Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, standing right next to one of Johnny’s black suits.

Bob Dylan is unquestionably a profoundly talented, poetic songwriter, writer, and Nobel prize laureate {yep!}, but singer? Well anyway, I love the sentiment of Johnny’s quote.

In addition to Sing Me Back Home and its other permanent exhibits, the museum hosts a number of temporary featured exhibits. The principle featured exhibit during our visit was “Dylan, Cash, and the Nashville Cats: A New Music City,” which highlighted this iconic, albeit unlikely, musical pairing.

Recalling the Nashville music scene in the late ’60s and early ’70s, this exhibit illustrated clearly how this unlikely association continues to influence the music, and energize fans and musicians alike.

It turns out that, in 1966, against the advice and wishes of his record label executives, Bob Dylan came to Nashville to record his classic album Blonde on Blonde. In doing so, he inspired a string of folk and rock musicians to follow his lead, and this following became known as the Nashville Cats.

The Nashville Cats weren’t a band, but rather a loose association of talented studio musicians in the 1960’s and 70’s, when the best of the best made their home in the Nashville area. You may not recognize the names, but you’ve almost certainly heard their work – on records by artists as diverse as Joan Baez, Steve Miller, the Byrds, and three of the four solo Beatles, to name just a few.

Other exhibits in The Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum showcase contemporary artists, including those who have made a significant impact on country music in recent years. At the time of our visit, these included Jason Aldean, Shania Twain, Taylor Swift, and many others.

The Country Music Hall of Fame

In addition to providing a home for its amazing musical museum, this building is also home to The Country Music Hall of Fame. Membership in the Hall of Fame is the highest honor a country music professional can receive. Performers, songwriters, broadcasters, musicians, and executives in the industry are inducted in recognition of their contributions to the development of country music.

Wall of gold records at The Country Music Hall of Fame.

The building itself is filled with musical images and symbolism. For example, from the air, the building forms a massive bass clef, and the building’s front windows are built to resemble piano keys.

Stone bars on the Rotunda’s outside wall symbolize the notes of the Carter Family’s classic song “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.”

If you are visiting Nashville, be sure to plan a visit to The Country Music Hall of Fame Museum. Whether you are a lifelong country music fan or simply curious, it may very well change how you think about country music forever.

THANK YOU so much for being a faithful reader and supporter
of The Good Hearted Woman. ? Be sure to PIN this post!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

Tennessee & Music Travel from GHW

Love Music? Then Add Tennessee to Your Bucket List!

Home of 1000 Hits: RCA Studio B {Nashville}

What We Learned from Bob & Johnny at The Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum

Top 7 Things to Do in Memphis {Music Lovers Edition}

Why You Will Love "The Guest House at Graceland"

How to Make Nashville Hot Chicken {Step-by-Step}

Tupelo, Mississippi {Day Trip from Memphis: Part 1}

50 Miles Along the Natchez Trace Parkway {Day Trip From Memphis}

A New Era at Graceland: Elvis Presley's Memphis

Nashville & Memphis for Music Lovers {Tips & Itinerary}

Home of 1000 Hits: RCA Studio B {Nashville}

July 11 By Renée 22 Comments

RCA Studio B is the oldest surviving recording studio in Nashville. Here, 1000 hits were brought to life and American music history was made.

^{This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.}
It’s just a small blue X taped out at the intersection of four old-school linoleum tiles. All by itself, it doesn’t look like much at all. Right?

Sometimes, appearances are deceiving: that blue X is the Sweet Spot at the historic RCA Studio B – a distinct point in the universe where countless artists have stood to create musical history.

Here, 1000 hits were brought to life. Stand on this spot, close your eyes, and you can’t help but feel a little chill of excitement in the connection.

Built in 1957, this unassuming little building on Nashville’s famous Music Row became a cradle for what became known as the Nashville Sound. A distinct departure from the “honky-tonk” country music of the time, the Nashville Sound was characterized by smooth strings, sophisticated background vocals, and crooning lead vocals.

Tours of RCA Studio B are arranged through The Country Music Hall of Fame. When our tour group arrived, we were ushered into an anteroom lined on three sides with pictures of musicians past and present. The fourth wall was devoted to Elvis’ recordings. We had plenty of time to scan the walls as our guide played recordings of a wide variety of artists and told us some interesting stories about them.

Mr B should be a Nashville tour guide. (Seriously, Mr B should be a Nashville star, but that’s another story for another day.) Anyway, he grew up on the old-timey country music, and as we looked around the room, he excitedly pointed out singers to me that I’d never even heard of and told me stories about them like they were second cousins.

More than 35,000 songs were recorded at Studio B during the golden age of the Nashville Sound (1957 to 1977) including more than 1,000 American hits, 40 millions-selling singles, and over 200 Elvis Presley recordings. But this place is so much more than numbers, or hit records, or even Elvis. (OK, that last one is probably debatable.)

Elvis is, of course, a big draw for many to Studio B. He recorded over 200 songs here, including Are You Lonesome Tonight, and How Great Thou Art for which he won a Grammy. (Fun fact: All three of Elvis’ Grammys were awarded for Gospel recordings.)

This Steinway, the centerpiece of RCA Studio B’s instrument collection, is known as the “Elvis Steinway Piano.” It is generally considered to be Elvis’ favorite piano, and was the one he used to rehearse before recording some of his greatest hits.

RCA Studio B: Home of 1000 Hits | The Good Hearted Woman

Photo Credit: Prayltno via Flickr [CC BY 2.0]

So many famous fingers have flown across those keys, and you can hear it being played in countless songs recorded at Studio B. (This piano is so famous that it has its very own Facebook page!) It made Mr B and I both wonder at the stories behind all those scratches and dings above the black keys.

Photo Credit: Geoff White via Flickr [CC BY-NC-ND 2.0]

Mr B is a diehard Elvis fan, but The Everly Brothers were my personal favorite in the amazing Studio B lineup. (Those harmonies!) One of their signature recordings, All I Have to Do is Dream, is the song Mr B and I always use to warm up when we sing together, and standing in the space where they first recorded it was deeply moving to both of us.

It was during our tour of Studio B that I first became fascinated with the intricate web of musical influence that reaches up from the South to weave its way into American musical history. (I’ll be sharing more about this in future posts.)

Learning about the scope and caliber of the music created in this space took my breath away. (I have to admit, that happened a lot on our Tennessee adventure.) Here’s just a sampling musicians who recorded here:

Roy Orbision recorded two of his biggest hits, Only the Lonely and Crying.
Dolly Parton wrote her mega-hits Jolene and I Will Always Love You on the same day and recorded both here, as she did Coat of Many Colors, her beautiful tribute to her life in Appalachia.
Waylon Jennings recorded, among others, Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line, That’s The Chance I’ll Have To Take, and Stop The World (And Let Me Off) – years before Outlaw Country was even a flicker.
Charlie Pride recorded Kiss an Angel Good Morning and Is Anybody Going To San Antone here. (My Dad used to sing Charlie Pride while he mowed the lawn. Mr B sings his songs to me now.

Studio B is still a working recording studio, and modern-day artists like Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, Wynonna, and many others have followed their legendary predecessors into this amazing space. In terms of the evolution of American music, the impact of RCA Studio B and the artists who recorded there cannot be overemphasized; moreover, regardless of your musical tastes, they have unquestionably influenced the music you listen to today.

Chairs - RCA Studio B: Home of 1000 Hits | The Good Hearted Woman

If those walls could talk.

Take the RCA Studio B Tour!

If you are planning to visit Nashville, RCA Studio B needs to be on your itinerary. Tours are available for a relatively small additional fee (currently about $11) to anyone who purchases admission to The Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum. Start to finish, the tour lasts about one hour, and transportation is included.

THANK YOU so much for being a faithful reader and supporter
of The Good Hearted Woman. ? Be sure to PIN this post!

Disclosure: Many thanks to the Country Music Hall of Fame for providing us with complementary tour tickets. This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

Tennessee & Music Travel from GHW

Love Music? Then Add Tennessee to Your Bucket List!

Home of 1000 Hits: RCA Studio B {Nashville}

What We Learned from Bob & Johnny at The Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum

Top 7 Things to Do in Memphis {Music Lovers Edition}

Why You Will Love "The Guest House at Graceland"

How to Make Nashville Hot Chicken {Step-by-Step}

Tupelo, Mississippi {Day Trip from Memphis: Part 1}

50 Miles Along the Natchez Trace Parkway {Day Trip From Memphis}

A New Era at Graceland: Elvis Presley's Memphis

Nashville & Memphis for Music Lovers {Tips & Itinerary}

25+ Savory, Slow-food Slider Recipes (plus, ‘The Great Slider Debate’)

June 23 By Renée 30 Comments

From the American South and beyond, here’s a delicious collection of 25+ Savory, Slow-food Slider Recipes that you can really sink your teeth into!

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What is a slider and where did they come from?

White Castle, generally credited as the country’s first fast-food chain, also gets credit for inventing the original slider – a little two-inch square burger with a ridiculously thin meat patty – and introducing it to the world.

Over the last decade, sliders have been popping up like daisies on menus all across the US, from greasy spoon drive-ins to upscale gastropubs. In no place are they more ubiquitous than in the American South, home to both White Castle and its tiny-burger rival, Krystal.

Depending on who you ask, a slider is either (a) a mini-hamburger, or (b) a mini-sandwich. Unless you ask Adam Kuban, [Editor Emeritus, Serious Eats], who unequivocally defines and defends the original slider recipe:

A slider is something very specific. It is not just a mini hamburger. It’s a thin, thin slip of beef, cooked on a griddle with onions and pickles piled atop patty. The steam from the onions does as much cooking as the griddle. The buns are placed atop the onions, absorbing the pungent aroma and flavor.

Personally, I prefer to use the broadest interpretation possible – a slider is a little bun with a yummy, mostly protein-based filling. However, while I may not agree with Mr Kuban on the defining points, I do have to give him some serious props: he has constructed what is probably the best copycat recipe around for traditional beef-n-onion sliders.

The Great Slider Debate

White Castle first opened its doors in Wichita, Kansas in 1921. Eleven years later, Krystal was founded in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In a modern-day Mason-Dixon fast food standoff, Tennessee and Kentucky are the only two US states in which the two chains cross paths.

Since Mr. B and I had to grab a couple of quick meals on our last trip to Tennessee, we decided to seize the opportunity to weigh in on The Great Slider Debate.

Whose slider recipe is better – White Castle or Krystal?

Slider Recipes | White Castle versus Krystal

Both White Castle and Krystal sliders take up about the same amount of real estate as a Saltine cracker.

White Castle vs. Krystal

We tried to be as objective as possible in our review. It had been more than 15 years since either Mr B or I had eaten a White Castle slider, and neither one of us had ever tried a Krystals slider before. In both cases, we sampled the basic Cheese Slider (or Cheese Krystal, as the case may be).

Appearance: The sliders look basically exactly the same. The White Castle slider seemed a bit loftier; it was almost as tall as it was wide. By comparison, the Krystal slider was a bit flatter and had more the appearance of a miniature burger.
Size: I didn’t get out a caliper gauge or anything, but by all appearances, they seemed to be exactly the same size.
Buns: White Castle buns seemed much lighter and airier than Krystal buns. More importantly, they had a very slight, yet distinct sweetness that I missed in the Krystal bun. The Krystal bun felt a little more dense, and would probably hold up a bit better if you had to take it home before eating it. [Point: White Castle]
Cheese: Standard fast food yellow processed cheese. Nothing distinctive in either case.
Meat: The meat in both sliders was the same size and thickness (just under 1/4′ high). White Castle’s slider meat seemed to be slightly seasoned, whereas Krystal‘s tasted a little flat to us.[Point: White Castle]
Onions: In both cases, the onions used were reconstituted from dried onion bits, or at least they tasted like they were. The onions were better on the White Castle sliders; they tasted like maybe they put a little Worcestershire sauce or beef stock or something on them to season them, or perhaps it was just “flavor crystals” from the grill. In any case, the Krystal onions were just not as flavorful. [Point: White Castle]
Other Condiments: White Castle sliders come with a pickle. Period. Krystal sliders come with a pickle and mustard, which Mr B and I both liked, so…[Point: Krystal]

WINNER: White Castle

Summary: If you want a sweeter, lighter slider, White Castle is the place to go. If you like a more tangy slider with a denser bun, go with Krystal. In any event, if you’ve never even once sunk your teeth into one of these little east-of-the-Mississippi coronary cloggers, it’s an experience you might want to try. At least once.

Even if you never set foot in the South, you can still enjoy a savory little slider anytime! Get started with one of these delicious slider recipes!

25+ Savory, Slow-food Slider Recipes

Sliders are just plain fun! These hearty, palm-size wonders of the sandwich world make a perfect party food; with limitless filling options, you'll be sure to have something to fit everyone's tastes, and you can easily make enough for a few or for a crowd.

From the American South and beyond, here's a delicious collection of savory, slow-food slider recipes that you can really sink your teeth into!

BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders with Vinegar Slaw

Photo Credit: www.therisingspoon.com

Quick & easy sliders made with slow cooker pulled pork, sweet & smoky BBQ sauce, and crunchy vinegar slaw. This is excellent for using up leftover shredded pork & it's a good excuse to make a big batch.

Kentucky Hot Brown Slider Sandwiches

Photo Credit: buythiscookthat.com

Kentucky Hot Brown Sliders from Buy This Cook That give a whole new face to the legendary Kentucky Hot Brown.

Carolina Pork Sliders and Sweet Coleslaw

Photo Credit: littlefamilyadventure.com

These Carolina Pork Sliders with Sweet Coleslaw, filled with pork barbecue topped with a spicy vinegar based sauce, are a bite-sized version of traditional Carolina barbecue.

Easy Party Cuban Sliders

Photo Credit: www.cookingonthefrontburners.com

Easy Party Cuban Sliders loaded with ham, pork, Swiss cheese, and pickles; topped with a tangy Dijon mustard poppy seed spread.

Slow Cooker Carolina Pulled Pork Sliders

Photo Credit: www.platingpixels.com

Slow Cooker Carolina Style Pulled Pork Sliders made with fork tender pulled pork with rich spices. Perfectly paired with sweet and crisp coleslaw and slider buns buns.

Blackened Salmon Sliders

Photo Credit: www.askchefdennis.com

When it's time to up your game with a delicious new treat to serve your friends and family, my Blackened Salmon Sliders with an Asian Slaw are sure to please even the pickiest eater!

Ham and Gruyere Sliders with Raspberry Mayo

Photo Credit: www.platingpixels.com

These Ham and Gruyere Sliders are a quick and easy party appetizer with meat and meted cheese topped with a homemade raspberry mayo between moist, toasted slider buns.

Quick and Easy Baked Pizza Sliders

Photo Credit: ramshacklepantry.com

These Quick and Easy Baked Pizza Sliders are tasty and can feed your whole pack with not very much time. Such a tasty meal to be made any night of the week.

Easy Pull Apart Italian Sliders Recipe

Photo Credit: crayonsandcravings.com

Packed with salami, pepperoni, prosciutto, mozzarella, tomato sauce, these tasty Italian sliders are perfect for to serve as a meal or a tasty appetizer!

Tandoori Chicken Sliders

Photo Credit: spicecravings.com

Tandoori Chicken Sliders are mini-burgers made with marinated & grilled chicken, buttery-soft slider buns and dressed with a tart & spicy cilantro-chutney spread.

Pork Tenderloin Sliders with Apples & Onions

Photo Credit: whoneedsacape.com

These Pork Tenderloin Sliders with Apples & Onions are sure to be a new favorite! With tender pieces of pork and chunks of caramelized apples & onions. Delish!

Hamburger Sliders

Photo Credit: www.atablefullofjoy.com

These hamburger sliders are easy to make and super delicious! Using a sweet Hawaiian roll or a mini bun you can’t go wrong with these! They are a hit every time!

Turkey Sliders

Photo Credit: littlesunnykitchen.com

Warm and cheesy turkey sliders made from leftover turkey meat. They’re bursting with flavor and feed a crowd!

Ham and Cheese Sliders with Garlic Butter Sauce

Photo Credit: www.sweetteaandthyme.com

These easy freezer-friendly sliders are so good, you’ll need to hide a pan for yourself. The garlic butter sauce brushed over the sliders is out of this world!

Philly Cheese Steak Sliders

Photo Credit: www.sweetandsavorybyshinee.com

Messy little Philly cheese steak sliders are irresistibly cheesy and flavorful, perfect for your game day menu!

Chicken and Waffle Sliders

Photo Credit: foodfolksandfun.net

These Chicken and Waffle Sliders are the easiest game day, Super Bowl, or party food recipe that you will make! They’re quick & easy to make and they’re always a crowd pleaser.

Spicy Pulled Pork Sliders

Photo Credit: www.kitchengonerogue.com

There’s nothing quite like tender, juicy, sweet and spicy slow cooked pulled pork sliders. These are a copycat recipe of my favorite sliders, which I discovered at a Texas country road bbq joint!

Chicken Banh Mi Sandwich Sliders

Photo Credit: thekitchengirl.com

Banh mi is a scrumptious Vietnamese sandwich that hits ALL flavors of the palate. This slider recipe piles grilled chicken, fresh veggies, and quick pickled veggies on slider rolls. The mayo, sriracha, cilantro, and jalapeño give it classic Asian food vibes!

Turkey, Cheddar and Bacon Sliders

Photo Credit: plowingthroughlife.com

Smoky bacon bits sprinkled on sharp white cheddar cheese are the perfect complement to sliced or shredded turkey. Mix up a sweet poppy seed glaze and pour over sweet Hawaiian rolls for baked turkey sliders that will be gone as soon as they come out of the oven!

Looking to get your Southern cooking on? Try our Naked Colonel’s KFC Original Recipe Copycat; or, if you like things a little hotter, take a bit of our crazy-delicious Nashville Hot Chicken! Then finish things off with a slice of this amazing Southern-style Triple-layer Strawberry Cake.

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This amazing Nashville Hot Chicken recipe (adapted from Hattie B’s famous recipe) results in a crispy, tender, fiery fried chicken with a spicy kick that is positively addictive.

This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.

What is Nashville Hot Chicken, and what makes it so awesome?

Nashville Hot Chicken is heaven and hell in a one transcendent bite.

I need that fried chicken recipe!!!

How to Make Nashville Hot Chicken – Step-by-Step

Step 1: The Dry-Brine

Step 2: The Dredge-Dip-Dredge

Step 3: The Fry

↓↓ This is what your chicken should sound like when it is frying. ↓↓

Step 4: The Spicy Coating (Wet Application)

Just how Hot is this Nashville Hot Chicken recipe anyway?

Step 5: The Serve

Nashville Hot Chicken

Equipment

Ingredients

For the Dry Brine

For the Dip

For the Dredge

For the Spicy Coating

Garnish

Instructions

Step 1: The Dry-Brine

Step 2: The Dredge-Dip-Dredge

Step 3: The Fry

Step 4: The Spicy Coating (Wet Application)

Step 5: The Serve

Notes

Nutrition

Can I make this Nashville Hot Chicken recipe in an Air Fryer?

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Music lovers, here’s our list of eight iconic, must-see, don’t-even-think-of-skipping sites in Music City, along with our best Nashville travel tips to make your life a little easier along the way.

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Eight Iconic, Must-See Nashville Music Sites

1 . Ryman Auditorium

2. Country Music Hall of Fame

3. RCA Studio B

4. Hatch Print Show

5. Honky Tonk Highway

6. Ernest Tubb Record Shop

7. Carter Vintage Guitars

8. Grand Ole Opry

Nashville Travel Tips

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Stretching 444 miles from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville Tennessee, the historic Natchez Trace Parkway takes travelers on a journey through history; from Native American burial mounds to Civil War sites to lush nature trails and sweeping vistas.

What is the Natchez Trace Parkway?

Mile 266.0 – Parkway Visitor Center and Headquarters

Mile 269.4 – Old Trace & Confederate Gravesites

Mile 275.2 – Dogwood Valley

Mile 278.4 – Twentymile Bottom Overlook

Mile 286.7 – Pharr Mounds

Mile 308.4 – Cave Spring

Mile 308.8 – Bear Creek Mound

Mile 308.9 – Alabama-Mississippi State Line

Mile 317.0 – Freedom Hills Overlook

Mile 320.3 – Buzzard Roost Spring

Learn more about the Natchez Trace

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Looking for a great day trip from Memphis? Check out our real-life itinerary for our day trip from Memphis, Tennessee to Tupelo, Mississippi and back again (including our ridiculously Hobbit-like meal schedule).

DAY TRIP: Memphis to Tupelo {Roundtrip}

Tupelo Convention & Visitors Bureau

Downtown Tupelo

FairPark

Natchez Trace Parkway

DAY TRIP ITINERARY: Memphis to Tupelo {Roundtrip}

Short Version

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The newly opened Elvis Presley’s Memphis Entertainment Complex is vast, eye-opening, humbling, and a must for music lovers of all kinds.

Elvis the Entertainer Career Museum

Presley Motors Automobile Exhibit

VIP Exhibit & Lounge

ICONS: The Influence of Elvis Presley

From first impression to last, the vibe at The Guest House at Graceland is a fusion of classic elegance and modern luxury – welcoming, refined, and unique as Elvis himself.

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Memphis is a town that lives and breathes music. Check out our picks for Top 5 Must-dos for Music Lovers, plus two great bonus destinations.

5 Memphis Must-Dos for Music Lovers

1. Take an evening stroll down Beale Street

2. Visit Graceland

3. Sign the Wall

4. Tour Sun Studios

**Just how Hot is this Nashville Hot Chicken recipe anyway?**

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**5 Memphis Must-Dos for Music Lovers**

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