Nashville

       

    My First Trip to Nashville had to include lots of things. While I only spent 2 full days here and missed a lot, I did catch some cool things. I thought I'd do things a little differently: write less and do more photos. This is hard for me, since I love writing! My parents and I went. This was my dad's first time back to Nashville in over 40 years (except driving through once!)

Little Jimmie Dickens is from WV too. When three WV men get together things might get wild.  I actually saw him in concert with Brad Paisley once on my birthday!

Cody Alan, host of CMT's Hot 20 Countdown,  reading the show's script from an IPad. I guess cue cards are a thing of the past. Filming outside a bar in Nashville on Broadway.

This is the Gaylord hotel beside The Grand Ole Opry. I thought I had seen some pretty hotels until I step foot in this lobby. 

Monelle's for dinner. We were seated at this huge round table and ate dinner with 11 strangers. 4 from Chicago. 3 from Nashville. 2 from St Lake City, (I forget where the other 2 were from, I didn't talk to them because they were on the opposite side of the table!) There are rules, you have to pass Food to the left and no cell phones at the table. But the food is amazing! 

My favorite picture of the vacation. Kid Rock is nowhere near my favorite performer; however, I just think it turned out awesome!

Just looking into the face of my my "Idol!" I voted for her every week on Idol for three months! 

CeCe Winans on the Grand Ole Opry stage. I also saw Rhonda Vincent, Eli Yong Band, Brett Eldridge, Charlie Daniels Band, Thompson Square and Daryle Singletary. 

On the way to Nashville, I met up with a former neighbor from my Orlando days. 

EZ- Stop Cafe in Kentucky. This little cafe is on The Bluegrass Parkway exit 42. I highly recommend their fried chicken, biscuits and gravy, broccoli casserole, blackberry cobbler and fried potatoes! We ate their twice. Once on the way down and once on the way back. Also A gas station and primitive store in the same building. 

A picture in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Dolly Parton and Porter Wagner. 

The dress Carrie Underwood was wearing when she won Idol and the poster of the night she became a memeber of the Grand Ole Opry. It was cool because I remember both of these things! 

These two pictures are at The Ryman. Just two of my favorite performers. I got to go backstage where they both have walked. Another cool thing the posters were made by the Hatch Print shop. Hatch is a printing company that hasn't been in Nashville for about 150 years. I saw posters made by them everywhere. They are quite the staple in Nashville. I managed to get a poster at the Grand Ole Opry gift shop.

Studio B Tour. Greats like Elvis, Dolly have recorded many songs here before the studio closed for tours; however, since the closure, today's artist like Martina McBride and Carrie Underwood have stepped in here to record songs as well! 

Pictures of The Ryman! What started out as a place for revivals, soon became also a place for meetings, politician rallies, concerts and more. After 20 years of sitting empty it is now reopened for tours and concerts. 

Alan Jackson has a rooftop and karaoke bar on Broadway in Nashville. It's pretty cool; but, what was really cool is this magazine cover on the wall, my first concert was the tour where Martina opened for Alan! So that was a cool flashback! 

Every writer loves a good type writer! 

Million Dollar Quartet! 

And to end my photo essay I also saw The Queen of Gingers Reba!