Jessi Alexander’s Nashville: Songs, Stories, and Inspiration

"Being from Jackson, Tennessee, I had Memphis on one side of me — home of the blues — and Nashville on the other, with the sounds of traditional country music. I was pulled in both directions, but ultimately, I knew that if I wanted to be a professional songwriter, Nashville was the place to be. I loved songs so much, and this city just felt like home."

"There is so much talent and inspiration everywhere you turn in Nashville. For a songwriter, it really is a hotbed of inspiration. Everywhere you look, there is someone doing something that pushes you, inspires you, or makes you want to get better. I’m also deeply drawn and committed to trying to preserve the history of this town and to the people who helped build Music City into what it is today."

"Absolutely. When I was a student at MTSU in Murfreesboro, I would drive into Nashville all the time to places like 3rd & Lindsley and The Bluebird Cafe to hear some of the songwriting icons perform. I also loved hanging around coffee shops like Fido, which back then was such a great place to network, meet other creatives, and find your people. Some of my closest friends to this day are people I first met at Fido."

"Being a native Tennessean, I’m probably a little partial, but I really feel like Nashville has the best of all worlds. There’s so much good food, good people, and good music all in one place, and that combination makes it really special."

"You really can’t go wrong with The Bluebird Cafe, The Station Inn, or the Ryman Auditorium. They’re all such iconic Nashville rooms, but in completely different ways. There’s something special about hearing a song in a place that carries so much history."

"I’d tell them to drive through Leiper’s Fork, stroll downtown Franklin and browse the shops, and have some soul food at Bishop’s. Then I’d make sure they tour the Ryman Auditorium and catch a show at the Grand Ole Opry. You really can’t go wrong with that lineup."

"The Bluebird Cafe. It’s an experience you can only really get in Nashville. You get to hear the stories behind the songs and sit in an intimate room while songwriters gather in a circle, telling stories, laughing, and sometimes even crying. It’s a live music experience like no other."

"I love Epice in 12 South. It’s one of my favorite spots in Nashville for a great meal, and I especially love the laid-back atmosphere."

"The Station Inn! Grab a pizza and a beer and watch some of the best bluegrass musicians in the world pick. It’s one of those places where you’ll leave with your mind blown and your soul fed by the level of musicianship in that room."

"I’m inspired by reading books, watching movies, traveling, and just living life. But sometimes all it takes is driving the country roads on the outskirts of town. The farms, the rolling hills, the sunsets, and the Southern charm woven through everything make it pretty easy to feel inspired here."