Entertainers to Entrepreneurs

Nashville, Tennessee is one of the country’s fastest-growing cities and a popular destination for anyone looking for a good time. Football fans cheer on the Titans at the gorgeous Nissan Stadium; outdoor activist paddle the Cumberland River, and, of course, it’s the birthplace of country music. It is common knowledge that Nashville is the state’s capital. However, it is not so commonly known that it is also officially dubbed the Bachelorette Party Capital of the World. Broadway Street is a paradise for anyone looking to bar hop and to enjoy the real spirit of Nashville. With over thirty-two bars on the strip, it’s easy for everyone to get their kicks.

Broadway hasn’t always been the entertainment hub it is today. Thirty years ago one could buy real estate for as little at $10,000, and if one did, they received very strong advice against
it because of high crime rates in the area. Today, the average performing bar rakes in close to ten million in revenue a year! This astronomical boom in the honky-tonk bar industry has led to a curious overtaking on the scene. The rising stars who started out playing night after night in these bars for tips are now the ones owning them!

In a genius marketing move, one of country music’s most recognizable artists, Alan Jackson, bought the oldest building on Broadway. This building served as a hospital during the civil war; the home to Bullet Records (the label created to record the stars of The Grand Ole Opry), and is now a four-story honky-tonk with each story boasting its own live music and specialties. AJ’s Good Time Bar represents the first of its kind to hit the Nashville scene and has become one of the most popular bars on the strip.

It did not take long before other artists starting following suit. One of the biggest names in country music and a coach on The Voice, Blake Shelton, has opened multiple Ole Red locations from Tennessee to Oklahoma. Florida Georgia Line’s FGL House prides itself on unique southern cuisine with California flair and Dirks Bently’s Whiskey Row is the tallest rooftop bar in Nashville, scenery as well as entertainment. Additionally, John Rich of Big and Rich says “Thank you for your service” by offering 2 for 1 to all veterans, active military, and first responders all day every day at Redneck Riviera.

All of these artists have known what it is like grinding and gigging waiting for their big break and now they are providing a great opportunity for rising stars to become well-known celebrities. Millions of fans flock to these celebrity-owned bars hoping to get a glimpse of greatness, but it’s the newcomers playing every night that provide the partons with a good time. From entertainers to entrepreneurs, the Nashville community is grateful for these artists that choose to give back to the community in both a monetary and supportive way.