Best Places To See Celebrities In Nashville

Well, we're definitely not part of the "in" crowd around Nashville, but we do see a good deal of celebrities whenever we're out & about!

Here are some of the best places where you are most likely to spot a celebrity in & around Nashville (...of course, we're excluding all of the music venues and locations where "stars" are on hand for a specific function).

Consider these:

• Hole-in-the-wall pubs like One Stop Cafe in Franklin, Bunganut Pig in Franklin, Puckett's Grocery/Restaurant in Franklin & Leipers Fork

• Movie theaters (Franklin Cinema, Thoroughbred 21 in Cool Springs, 100 Oaks/Regal Hollywood 27 in Nashville)

• Restaurants (La Hacienda in Franklin, Pancake Pantry in Nashville, Dotson's in Franklin, Loveless Cafe in Franklin, Golden Corral in Cool Springs)

• Snack shops (Smoothie King in Cool Springs, Starbucks in Franklin)

• Churches (they say that the singing in most Nashville churches is so good because of all the professional singers filling the seats and singing in the choir!)
  
  
• Hockey games (Predators at the Gaylord Entertainment Center)

• Football games (Titans at the Coliseum)

• Grocery stores (Publix in Williamson County, Puckett's Grocery in Leipers Fork, Kroger in Brentwood)

• Major intersections (near Green Hills, Mack Hatcher, Franklin Road -- in their own vehicles)

• Area highways (I-65 -- often being chauffered in black undercover limousines)

• Malls (Cool Springs Galleria, Green Hills Mall)

• Trendy districts (West End, Hillsboro Village, Music Row, and of course downtown Nashville)

• The airport (Nashville International Airport)
  

I'm sure there are plenty of others, but these are the just places where we (or our friends) have seen "celebrities" -- all those people with famous names who are really just down-to-earth people like you & me looking for a good time, or a good place to eat.

Looking for Names?...

While we've definitely seen our fair share of famous celebs (not all Country music stars, by the way) in and around Nashville in the 4 years we've lived here, many of the names escape us at the moment.

Perhaps we will continue to add to this list as time goes on, but for now, here's a sampler:

Jessica Andrews - Predators hockey game
Deana Carter - Predators hockey game
Charlie Chase Target in Cool Springs
Kenny Chesney - Smoothie King in Cool Springs; driving in Franklin
Ashley Cleveland - driving near Fieldstone Farms in Franklin; movie theater in Cool Springs
Sara Evans - Puckett's Grocery in Franklin
Jeff Fisher - church
Tom Fitzgerald - Williamson County men's softball games
Eddie George - Embassy Suites sports bar downtown Nashville
Vince Gill - Pancake Pantry in Nashville; Predators hockey game
Amy Grant - Opry Mills mall, Nashville Predators hockey game
Lee Greenwood - Nacho's Mexican restaurant in Franklin
Faith Hill - Nashville airport
Scott Holt - Cooker's restaurant in Cool Springs
Brad Hopkins - Golden Corral in Cool Springs
Alan Jackson - La Hacienda in Franklin; Titans football game
Waylon Jennings - Embassy Suites downtown Nashville
Buddy Jewell - Jillians at Opry Mills Mall
George Jones - pulling out of his driveway in Franklin
Naomi Judd - Thoroughbred Movie Theater in Cool Springs, chiropractor
Wynonna Judd - Dotson's in Franklin; church
Toby Keith - Nashville airport
Kid Rock - Nashville Predators vs Detroit Red Wings hockey game
Erron Kinney - Golden Corral in Cool Springs
Irlene Mandrell - Joe's Crab Shack in Nashville
Sterling Marlin - Starbucks in Franklin
Richard Marx - church
Martina McBride - Thoroughbred 20 Movie Theater in Cool Springs
Mark McGuinn - 100 Oaks Movie Theater in Nashville
Rickey Medlocke - Famous Dave's in Cool Springs
Ronnie Milsap - Nashville airport
Stacy Mitchhart - Nashville airport
Dave Ramsey - Williamson County driver's license branch
Trent Tomlinson - on a Southwest Airlines flight
Dan Tyminski - Royal Thai restaurant & Genghis Grill in Cool Springs
Phil Valentine - Kroger in Brentwood
Phil Vassar - church, Nashville airport
Tomas Vokoun - Publix in Franklin (Fieldstone Farms), Nacho's Mexican restaurant in Franklin
Darrell Waltrip - Titans football game, movie theater
Steve Wariner - Thoroughbred Movie Theater in Cool Springs
Craig Wiseman - Noshville Deli in Nashville
Frank Wycheck - Publix in Brentwood; Williamson County men's softball games

A Word About Photographing Our Neighbors

While I would encourage you to always have your camera on hand for this and other reasons, I would also encourage you to respect their privacy.

As Jim always says whenever I see someone famous and think about taking a picture:

"Just remember, the more our 'famous neighbors' are inconvenienced by people taking their picture and asking for autographs, the less likely they will be to continue going out in public places and mingling with us 'regulars'."

Truth is, we have very few photographs of those we've seen out & about. (But, I have to be honest... there have been a handful I wish we would've -- especially Alan Jackson on this day.)

According to "Peggy Post on Modern Manners" (in Good Housekeeping, March 2006):

It's inconsiderate to approach a celebrity during a random street sighting. However, if you spot someone famous at a public event -- such as a movie opening or a book signing, where a celeb knows she'll be on display -- you can feel free to ask for an autograph. Otherwise, respect the person's space; you'd wish for the same if your roles were reversed.

Other Places For Nashville Star-Gazing

The following locations come highly recommended by others:

• Nashville area Restaurants
  
• Bars, Clubs, Restaurants & Shops
  
• Music City Marathon
  
• Elliston Place Soda Shop
  
• Mario's Restaurant
  
• Cracker Barrel
  

Finally, the ultimate authority in town regarding local celebrities is Brad Schmitt. For the inside scoop on who was spotted where, don't miss his daily "Brad About You" column in the Tennessean newspaper.

Check out these Nashville tourist tips from others!

Here is Meredith (from Brentwood)'s take on some Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban rumors.

Star-Gazing On Nashville Bus Tours

You could always take a tour bus through various parts of Nashville to view the stars' homes and other locations where the local celebrities hang out.

You've got your popular "drive-by tours" where you rarely leave the vehicle, and the guide stops in front of noteworthy locations for you to take photos and video footage from inside the bus or van.

To be able to say you've been there, done that, you'll want to consider a "stop-n-go tour" where you get on and off the vehicle several times in order to go into various buildings.

You might consider the Nash Trash Tours (hosted by the Jugg Sisters). Word is... it's a TRIP!

Another Nashville tour company that always ranks high among the tourists: Gray Line Bus Tours. We took their tour of Studio B on Music Row and thoroughly enjoyed it. Their driver/tour guide made the tour especially enjoyable!

Another to consider: Nashville Sightseeing Tours.

If you liked this, you'll love...

• Alan Jackson's Home: Living Like Royalty


• Music & Musicians: Seen & Heard In Nashville


• Barbara Mandrell's Nashville Mansion In John Rich's 'Gone Country'