• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Good Hearted Woman logo
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Bread
    • Comfort Food
    • Cooking Basics
    • Condiments
    • German Recipes
    • Main Dishes
    • Salads
    • Seafood
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
    • Sourdough
    • Snacks
    • Sweets
    • 30-Minute Meals
  • Cozy Living
    • Arts & Crafts
    • For Music Lovers
    • Food Holidays
  • US Travel
    • One Day in...
    • Pacific
    • Rocky Mountains
    • Southwest
    • The South
    • Hikes Near & Far
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Cozy Living
  • Road Trips
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Cozy Living
    • Road Trips
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Travel » Tennessee

    Top 8 Things to Do in Nashville for Music Lovers

    June 13, 2019 • Updated: July 28, 2021 • by Renée B. • This post may contain affiliate links.

    Top 8 Nashville Things to Do for Music Lovers {+ Tips for Travelers} | The Good Hearted Woman

    Eight must-see, iconic sites in Nashville, Tennessee - especially for true Music Lovers; plus our best Music City travel tips to make your life a little easier along the way.

    Maybelle Carter Mural
    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

    Nashville Legends Corner Mural

    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." 

    Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, Tennessee - Interior, Minnie Pearl Statue

    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.

    Country Music Hall of Fame - collage of images; mandolin

    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.

    RCA Studio B; The Everly Brothers

    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.

    Hatch Show Print - 8 Iconic Must-See Nashville Music Sites | The Good Hearted Woman

    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.

    Broadway, Downtown Nashville

    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.

    Ernest Tubb Record Shop

    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.

    Ernest Tubb Record Shop

    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.

    Ernest Tubb Record Shop

    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.

    Carter Vintage Guitars mural

    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."

    Carter Vintage Guitars - interior; hand-painted guitar cases

    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.

    Carter Vintage Guitars - mural

    8. Grand Ole Opry

    DO NOT MISS THIS! This ain't your granny'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.

    Grand Ole Opry

    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.

    Wavy Line

    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 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. 

    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!

    Top 8 Nashville Things to Do for Music Lovers    Top 8 Nashville Things to Do for Music Lovers {+ Tips for Travelers} | The Good Hearted Woman    Top 8 Nashville Things to Do for Music Lovers {+ Tips for Travelers} | The Good Hearted Woman

    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

    More Tennessee Travel

    • 50 Miles on the Natchez Trace Parkway (Tupelo to US-72)
    • One Day in Tupelo, Mississippi
    • A New Era at Graceland: Elvis Presley's Memphis
    • Why You Will Love "The Guest House at Graceland"
    699 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Yummly
    • Flipboard

    About Renée B.

    Renée is writer, music maker, artist, and storyteller. In her spare time, you can find her writing love songs about cowboys, exploring the moss-covered nooks and crannies of the Pacific Northwest, and making music with her talented singer-husband.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Frankie says

      May 20, 2021 at 10:49 pm

      Yes, Ashely is right. Last winter I visited "The Stage On Broadway", it is really a wonderful place to experience live country music in Nashville.

      Reply
    2. Ashley says

      March 21, 2021 at 11:16 pm

      Hello Renee
      Thank you for this informative content. I would like you to add one more place that I found during my Visit of Nashville, that is called as The Stage On Broadway, that offers great live country music bands and dance bars experience.

      Reply
      • Renée says

        March 22, 2021 at 11:07 am

        Thanks for the tip, Ashley!

        Reply
    3. Legends Corner says

      March 16, 2021 at 3:02 am

      Hey, thank you for this amazing blog. I would like to add one more place that I found amazing for live music and night life bars. It is called as Legends Corner that offers a classic dive bar experience that provides great country music.

      Reply
    4. Aarika says

      June 16, 2019 at 1:08 pm

      Nashville is so amazing! I love that there are so many amazing things to see and do, especially for music lovers. Thanks for sharing this wonderful list of activities!

      Reply
    5. sarah camille says

      June 14, 2019 at 2:32 pm

      I love Nashville - have lots of family there - and it's always interesting me to hear what people like to do there on visits. I agree 100% with your list. The Ryman and Grand Ole Opry might be my all-time fav but its hard to choose!

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Primary Sidebar

    Adorable middle-aged couple in forest setting. (i.e., Me & Mr B)

    Join me & Mr B for the best in home cooking and cozy living - from the beautiful Pacific Northwest and beyond.

    More about us →

    Follow Us

    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter

    fresh recipes

    • Homemade Chocolate Covered Cherries
    • Classic Hot Buttered Rum
    • Cinnamon Roll Wreath (Danish Pastry Ring)
    • Orange Tea Ring (Danish Wreath)
    • Team Colors 7 Layer Dip
    • Orange Spiced Cranberry Sauce

    game day eats

    • Team Colors 7 Layer Dip
    • Crispy Sauerkraut Fritters (Easy Air Fryer Recipe)
    • 20 Best Game Day Food Ideas
    • Sweet & Spicy Grilled Buffalo Wings
    • Cool Buffalo Blue Cheese Dip
    • Roasted Garlic Spinach Artichoke Dip

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Disclaimer
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Statement
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Statement

    Follow

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • Twitter

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Meet Me & Mr B

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 The Good Hearted Woman. All rights reserved.

    699 shares
    699 shares
    We Value Your Privacy
    To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
    Functional Always active
    The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
    Preferences
    The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
    Statistics
    The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
    Marketing
    The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
    Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
    View preferences
    {title} {title} {title}
    We Value Your Privacy
    We use cookies to make this website a better place. Cookies help to provide a more personalized experience and relevant advertising for you, and web analytics for us. To learn more about the different cookies we use, check out our Cookie Policy.
    Functional Always active
    The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
    Preferences
    The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
    Statistics
    The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
    Marketing
    The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
    Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
    View preferences
    {title} {title} {title}
    We Value Your Privacy
    To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
    Functional Always active
    The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
    Preferences
    The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
    Statistics
    The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
    Marketing
    The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
    Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
    View preferences
    {title} {title} {title}
    We Value Your Privacy
    We use cookies to make this website a better place. Cookies help to provide a more personalized experience and relevant advertising for you, and web analytics for us. To learn more about the different cookies we use, check out our Cookie Policy.
    Functional Always active
    The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
    Preferences
    The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
    Statistics
    The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
    Marketing
    The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
    Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
    View preferences
    {title} {title} {title}