Meet the Music City Makers

Nate Bargatze is a GRAMMY-winning comedian, author, podcaster, and director. But before all that, he was just a “Tennessee Kid” growing up in Nashville. “A lot of my stand-up is based on my family, friends, and life here in Nashville,” Bargatze says. “I wouldn’t be the comic I am today if it weren’t for Nashville.”

As a native, Bargatze has seen the city’s rapid growth firsthand, but he still finds himself going back to the classics. His tried-and-true stops include a show at Zanies Comedy Night Club, a round of tacos at San Antonio Taco Company, and a game at Vanderbilt University.

“There’s a lot more to Nashville than people expect. Broadway is a big part of Nashville and a really fun one to visit, but there are so many neighborhoods and corners with their own feel,” Bargatze says. “That’s the part people end up loving too.”

But of all the things the city has to offer, there’s one place in particular that he can’t get enough of: the Grand Ole Opry.

“It’s an incredible venue with so much history and charm,” he says. “I think everyone should go at least once in their life.”

So, if you’re looking for ways to make your trip a chart-topping success, just ask the creatives that make Nashville, well, Nashville.

Natalie Busby is a Nashville-based womenswear designer known for her versatile, well-made clothing for everyday life. The collections in her East Nashville shop emphasize timeless silhouettes, neutral palettes, and high-quality, often sustainable textiles, with garments produced locally in small batches. Her work reflects a commitment to ethical production and modern, effortless style that adapts to a range of lifestyles.

1. What is your ideal day in Nashville?
   Morning coffee and croissants from Mama Bread, followed by a walk through Shelby Bottoms Greenway. Lunch at Mas Tacos Por Favor, then East Side shopping at Lemon Laine, East Nashville Antiques, Star Struck Vintage, Thunder Moon Collective, and Galena Garlic Company. Kick off the evening with a patio dinner at Butcher & Bee and end the night with drinks at Urban Cowboy. Perfection. 
2. What makes the Nashville community unique?
   There is a lightness and curiosity here. The most talented people and coolest businesses in town don’t take themselves too seriously. Nashville has attracted so many people away from bigger cities to escape the big-city grind. They get down here and still want to create and build amazing things, but in a way that feels more on their own terms. And the people from here have been doing that all along. 
3. What Nashville destination is currently on your to-visit list?
   Salt Ranch (a boutique hotel and pool club in East Nashville that combines a midcentury motor court vibe with a historic main house). Everything they are doing looks so beautiful. Can’t wait to check it out.

Founder of The Cupcake Collection, Mignon Francois is a No. 1 national bestselling author, renowned baker, and entrepreneur who has inspired millions on her journey from drowning in debt to building The Cupcake Collection, a multimillion-dollar empire. Her grassroots success story has garnered national attention from the “Today” show, Southern Living, Entrepreneur, and Business Insider, to name a few.

1. What makes Nashville home to you?
   My dreams were planted, nourished, and flourished here. It’s the place that allowed me to build The Cupcake Collection from a vision into something that brings people joy every day. More than anything, it’s home because of the supportive, creative, and deeply connected people who cheer for me and my family’s success every day. Nashville reflects who I am: soulful, open-hearted, and inventive. 
2. What brought you to Nashville?
   I came to Nashville to pursue an opportunity and stayed because the city embraced my vision. Its entrepreneurial spirit and supportive community made it the perfect place to turn an idea into a thriving business and to build something from the ground up. 
3. What part of Nashville inspires your work?
   The spirit of perseverance and community in North Nashville’s Germantown inspires everything I create. Steeped in history, the neighborhood’s architecture and brick-paved sidewalks echo my childhood home in New Orleans, grounding my work in memory and place. The Cupcake Collection reflects that journey through flavors that celebrate tradition and heritage – each cupcake rooted in the city that made it possible.

Songwriter and owner of Liz Rose Music, Liz Rose is a multi-GRAMMY Award winner and 2007 SESAC Nashville Songwriter of the Year. Her credits include 16 songs with Taylor Swift and Little Big Town’s double-platinum smash hit, “Girl Crush.” Rose has written songs for many other artists, including Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, and Tim McGraw. Together, her songs have sold more than 20 million copies. She is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Music City Walk of Fame in 2025.

1. What’s one hidden gem/experience you think visitors should know about?
   A show at The Listening Room and a bar called Never Never. 
2. What makes the Nashville community unique?
   The closeness, the support, and the love for our city and each other. 
3. Fill in the blank: You can’t leave Nashville without experiencing __.
   The Bluebird Cafe. (The world-famous Bluebird Cafe has played a role in launching the careers of some of music’s biggest stars, from Garth Brooks to Taylor Swift. It became famous for its songwriter showcases and signature “in the round” format. The 90-seat listening room gained international recognition through ABC’s hit television drama “Nashville.”)

Lily Saito joined Nashville Ballet in 2018, where she has performed principal roles in Paul Vasterling’s “Swan Lake,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “Nashville’s Nutcracker,” “Cinderella,” and “Firebird.” Born and raised in New York City, Saito began her ballet training at the School of American Ballet, where she had the privilege of performing at Lincoln Center as a child in George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker.” She then trained at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, the Ellison Ballet, and the Washington Ballet before starting her professional career at the American Repertory Ballet. 

1. Why is Nashville the perfect place for creatives like yourself?
   Nashville is such a special place for creatives because of how open and collaborative the community is. Whether you’re working professionally or just creating for the joy of it, people here are eager to connect. As a growing city, it continues to attract artists from all over the world, each bringing something unique. There’s a forward-thinking energy here that I find incredibly inspiring. 
2. What is your ideal day in Nashville?
   My ideal day starts with peaceful morning yoga in the sun, followed by a walk in one of Nashville’s beautiful parks. I’d grab a bite at Thistle Farms, a cafe that supports women survivors on their journey to healing. I love supporting businesses with a meaningful mission. I’d end the day salsa dancing at one of the vibrant events hosted by Nashville’s Latin dance community (like Nashville Salsa Dancing), as it’s one of my passions!
3. What’s one hidden gem/ experience you think visitors should know about?
   Some of Nashville’s best hidden gems are just outside downtown. A short drive leads to scenic roads, peaceful parks, farmland, and charming local cafes and restaurants such as The Loveless Cafe. I also love visiting the Nashville Farmers’ Market, as it’s one of my favorite spots to explore and support local vendors.

Vivek Surti is the founder/ owner of the MICHELIN-recommended Tailor Nashville. Since opening in 2018, Tailor has appeared on Bon Appétit’s Hot 10 list of America’s Best New Restaurants and Thrillist’s 12 Best New Restaurants in America and was a James Beard Award Semifinalist for Outstanding Hospitality. Surti is a James Beard Award Semifinalist for Best Chef: Southeast, and he represented Nashville as a TasteTwenty Chef for the James Beard Foundation’s Taste America culinary series.

1. What is your ideal day in Nashville?
   I love waking up and grabbing a coffee at Crema Coffee – my favorite coffee shop in the world! After that, I love hiking with my wife in one of our many parks; Radnor Lake and Percy Warner are favorites. For lunch, it’s usually Arnold’s Country Kitchen for the classic meat-and-three or S.S. Gai for amazing Thai grilled and fried chicken. For the latter part of the afternoon, I enjoy walking around Germantown, which is the neighborhood Tailor is in, for shopping, parks, and taking in the local feel of the city. For dinner, it’s Rolf and Daughters, which is my favorite restaurant in town. For dessert, we love going to Sarabhas Creamery, an Indian ice cream shop right next to Vanderbilt. At night, we love listening to music at Rudy’s Jazz Room and grabbing a nightcap at The Patterson House. Nashville is such a fun city with endless possibilities. 
2. What’s one hidden gem/experience you think visitors should know about?
   We have the largest Kurdish population in the United States, so I’d definitely hit up restaurants like House of Kabob and Edessa and markets like Newroz and Azadi. 
3. What part of Nashville inspires your work? Do you have a specific piece that you feel reflects it?
   I often call my restaurant, Tailor, a songwriter's night for food. What I love about songwriter nights is that you get to hear the story and context of a song before you hear it. The first time I heard the context, the song immediately became more special to me because I knew the backstory. We basically do the same thing at Tailor by providing context behind your food before you eat it, so it’s more meaningful when you get to experience it.