It's Not Your Grandpa's Nashville Christmas

I can't even imagine what some of the old timers would say about Music City right now. Just imagine for starters this weekend ... December 1st, Kid Rock is Grand Marshall of the Nashville Christmas Parade!

Next, could they imagine the opening of Kid Rock's Big Ass Honky Tonk Rock & Roll Steakhouse? Yes, that is the name.

Kid Rock is a very personable guy. One on one, it's hard not to like him. He's Detroit street-smart but has come to this pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

In 1980 when I rolled into town, Lower Broadway was pretty much a dump. There was very little other than Tootsie's and The Ryman you would take anyone to see. Now it's Disneyland with a twang. From the Cumberland River up for the next seven blocks, it's show time! Bars and as they now call it, The Honky Tonk District. It is still very much a work in progress but every day there's something new. The rooftop bars and street level party rooms with music and booze flowing.

I say work in progress because you only have to travel to Memphis and Beale Street to see what cosmetically might be the desired outcome. Memphis has the look but not quite the in-style heat of the molten level Nashville. Memphis did do a great job fixing up its downtown ... and The Peabody is a huge touch of Southern class.

Downtown Nashville is changing and growing like a wild weed. Public Works is just trying to keep up with all the trash created by these new booze places. With the mini-scooters whizzing around, the peddle beer carts, Ubers and Lyfts and very little parking. It is a wild place like none other.

Nashville is not South Beach and it's not Bourbon Street. It's not Vegas. It's not Austin. It is unique with its history on display, such as the Country Music Hall of Fame and Cash/Cline museums. The name-branded bars and winning NHL team. These $150,000-a-year average Amazon workers coming will have plenty of places to play. But it is for sure not your Grandpa's Nashville.

Christmas 2018 may be edgy with Kid Rock starring in the parade, but look at the retro tradition that Brett Eldredge has shown at the recent NYC Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting.

Mr. Eldredge could have easily gone onstage in the '50s with Frank and Dean as the newest Rat Pack member. He has the sound and the look and the class. He is pure 2018/19 with the heart of 1958/59. You find his GLOW Christmas album (maybe even on vinyl) and it will be your favorite holiday album.

So much going on looking toward the future. Maybe it's going too fast but it's going, no doubt about that.

2018 has been filled with such great change and success in so many corners, but ... not to be a party pooper but you can't look at this year without thinking of the Borderline Bar victims. Another year of Country music fans caught up in a senseless mass murder.

The hurricane that touched the families of some of our biggest names. Panama City and the area is coming back slowly but coming back. The West Coast fires, crazy politics. This roller coaster is moving very quickly.

Happy New Year and Merry Christmas to those who work and play in music's most exciting format: Country!