Cindy Watts
- Contributor, American Songwriter
- Country Music Writer, Freelance
- Editor, Nashville Lifestyles
Nashville
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Articles by Cindy Watts
Nashville's Most Beautiful People 2026: Marci Houff
Marci Houff Community volunteer and advocate | Hometown: Columbus, Ohio Community volunteer and advocate Marci Houff turned her own experience with ovarian cancer into action, founding Chic Awearness after moving to Nashville from Ohio. Now in her 19th year of remission, Houff has helped the organization raise nearly $1.5 million for ovarian cancer awareness, support, and research, primarily at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. What's something people are always surprised to learn about you?
Nashville's Most Beautiful People 2026: Nicole Gaines
Nicole Gaines Medical device director of operations Executive and experience designer | Hometown: Murfreesboro, Tennessee Nicole Gaines channels her creative spirit into The Clarity Shop, where she curates home goods and designs spaces meant to inspire style, peace, and a sense of wellbeing. Her holistic approach to interiors centers on the belief that your surroundings influence how you feel. What does beauty mean to you? To me, beauty has very little to do with physical appearance.
Nashville's Most Beautiful People 2026: Randa Newman
Randa Newman Scientist and storyteller | Scientist and storyteller Born in Seoul, South Korea | Grew up in Pikeville, Kentucky East Nashville-based actor, producer, and genetic counselor Randa Newman brings a distinctive perspective to her work, shaped by being born in Seoul and raised in Pikeville, Kentucky. A recurring guest star on "9-1-1: Nashville," she made her directorial debut in 2025 with "I’m a Winner," which earned the Audience Choice Award at the Nashville Film Festival.
Nashville's Most Beautiful People 2026: Matt Zahn
Matt Zahn Digital marketing / fitness instructor | Hometown: Belleville, Illinois Fitness instructor Matt Zahn brings an intentional, high-energy, and challenging approach to his classes, pairing tough workouts with EDM, pop, and plenty of fun. Outside the gym, he’s a devoted dog dad to Ollie, an unapologetic ice cream fan, and always up for an adventure. What's a recent moment that made you feel proud? Becoming an instructor at Barry's.
Nashville's Most Beautiful People 2026: Mathis Combaluzier
Mathis Combaluzier Chef/owner, Olala Café | Hometown: Cannes, France Provence-born pastry chef Mathis Combaluzier brings experience from some of the culinary world’s most respected institutions, including École Nationale Supérieure de Pâtisserie Alain Ducasse, Pierre Hermé, and the Mandarin Oriental in Paris. Now leading the kitchen at Nashville’s Olala Café, he blends French tradition with contemporary elegance through scratchmade pastries baked fresh daily.
Nashville's Most Beautiful People 2026: Mackenzie Palladino
Mackenzie Palladino Independent metalsmith | Hometown: Raleigh, North Carolina Metalsmith and Semplice Designs owner Mackenzie Palladino has built a signature style around unexpected pairings, including bronze tones and raw, rough-cut turquoise. Since moving to Nashville in 2021, her distinctive jewelry has caught the attention of artists including Ella Langley, Lainey Wilson, Bob Weir, and Billy Strings. Tell us about a cause or organization that's close to your heart.
Nashville's Most Beautiful People 2026: CJ Roberts
CJ Roberts Co-founder & CEO of Cowboy Cannolis | Hometown: Naples, Florida Culinary school attendee and entrepreneur CJ Roberts turned his passion for highquality ingredients into Cowboy Cannolis, a freshly piped, roaming cannoli service that brings a little Western flair to events around the world. A farm-to-table advocate with a background in building food and beverage companies, he combines handcrafted cannoli with an interactive experience designed to make dessert part of the show.
William Shatner & Brad Paisley Turn Friendship Into Art
Pop culture icon William Shatner was recording in a closet in Brad Paisley’s Nashville-area studio when Paisley’s wife, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, walked their dog by the window outside their home. The sun was setting. The actress could clearly see Shatner’s famous silhouette and the microphone. She raised her phone and snapped a picture of the unexpected moment. Shatner and Paisley have a decades-long friendship and an equally rich history of artistic collaboration.
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Nashville's Most Beautiful People 2026: Clayton Johnson
Clayton Johnson Recording artist and songwriter | Hometown: Modesto, California Nashville-based country artist and songwriter Clayton Johnson returned to his country roots after years playing guitar for artists including Scotty McCreery and Sabrina Carpenter.
Meet Our 2026 Most Beautiful People Cover Star, Pia Toscano
Pia Toscano Singer-songwriter | Hometown: Howard Beach, New York Powerhouse vocalist Pia Toscano first captured national attention on Season 10 of "American Idol" and has since toured the world with artists including Jennifer Lopez, David Foster, and Andrea Bocelli. With two albums and a Las Vegas residency under her belt, Toscano is back in the studio working on her next chapter of original music. What’s something people are always surprised to learn about you?
Nashville's Most Beautiful People 2026: Doug Grindstaff
Doug Grindstaff Business broker and small business owner (oysters, water treatment) | Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee Business broker and small business owner Doug Grindstaff brings an entrepreneur’s perspective to his work as an M&A broker at Website Closers, where he helps business owners navigate the complexities of selling their companies. With businesses in oysters and water treatment, he understands the entrepreneurial journey firsthand. What's a recent moment that made you feel proud?
Nashville's Most Beautiful People 2026: Laura Finley Hasenbank
Laura Finley Hasenbank Fashion designer | Hometown: Franklin, Tennessee Nashville designer Laura Finley Hasenbank founded Laura Finley Atelier in 2025 with a philosophy of "livable luxury" — timeless pieces designed to make an ordinary day feel like an occasion. From her made-toorder collection to bespoke bridal gowns and special occasion pieces, each garment is designed and sewn by Hasenbank in her Nashville atelier. What's something people are always surprised to learn about you?
Nashville's Most Beautiful People 2026: Rachel Brown
Rachel Brown Business Operations at Hey Now Records, Content creator | Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee Rachel Brown grew up in Nashville and earned her undergraduate degree and MBA from Pepperdine University before beginning her career in fashion merchandising at Kendra Scott’s headquarters in Austin, Texas. With a lifelong love of country music and a desire to work in the industry, she returned home to Nashville, pivoted to music, and now serves as manager of operations at Hey Now Records.
Nashville's Most Beautiful People 2026: Molly Katherine
Molly Katherine Content creator | Hometown: Orlando, Florida Molly Katherine, widely known online as Scarlett O'Hair, is a content creator and performer who sings at fantasy-inspired events across the U.S., including the Nashville Fantasy Ball and Neverland Ball in New York City, as well as themed shows around Nashville. Her fashion, hair, makeup, and decor content is also heavily influenced by the fantasy world, which she interprets through a modern, avant-garde lens.
Nashville's Most Beautiful People 2026: Taylor Morland
Taylor Morland Professional model | Hometown: Sarasota, Florida Professional model Taylor Morland signed with Wilhelmina Models at 14 and recently achieved a career milestone by booking Guess, joining the ranks of models who have represented the iconic brand. Now 23 and living in Nashville, the Sarasota, Florida, native is happiest at home with her collie, Dolly, or behind the wheel of her vintage 1983 Ford F-150. What's something people are always surprised to learn about you?
Nashville's Most Beautiful People 2026: Chloe Holladay Hubbard
Chloe Holladay Hubbard NFL majorette, business owner of Exxtra by Chloe, social media content creator | Hometown: Hartselle, Alabama Dancer and majorette Chloe Holladay Hubbard made history in 2025 as the Tennessee Titans’ first majorette and the NFL’s first majorette since 2002. A former University of Alabama Crimsonette, Holladay Hubbard has also built a massive social media following, with more than 1 million followers on TikTok alone.
Nashville's Most Beautiful People 2026: Maxwell Woledzi
Maxwell Woledzi Professional soccer player for Nashville SC | Hometown: Nima, Ghana Nashville SC defender Maxwell Woledzi turned his first Nike contract at 17 into an opportunity to help girls in his home country gain access to sports gear, eventually launching the Maxwell Woledzi Foundation in 2018. Woledzi joined Nashville SC in December 2025 from Norway’s Eliteserien while continuing to grow the foundation’s reach through tournaments in Ghana and beyond.
Nashville's Most Beautiful People 2026: James Lankford
James Lankford Professional ballet dancer, Nashville Ballet | Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee Nashville Ballet dancer James Lankford began training at 14 through the School of Nashville Ballet’s Young Men’s Scholarship Program and joined the main company at 18. Now a lead performer who has danced roles including Romeo in "Romeo and Juliet," Lankford gives back as an instructor in the program where his own dance career began. What is the most recent moment that made you feel proud?
Nashville's Most Beautiful People 2026: Payton Sullivan
Payton Sullivan Coastal cowgirl country singer-songwriter | Hometown: Fairview, Tennessee Payton Sullivan is carving out her own artistic lane with what she calls "The Ultimate Coastal Cowgirl," a fusion of country storytelling and island rhythm. The singer-songwriter, who has amassed 11 million career streams and more than 100,000 followers on both Instagram and TikTok, is signed with Sony Music Publishing, will open for Sugarland on tour this fall, and has new music on the way.
Nashville's Most Beautiful People 2026: Alanna Royale
Alanna Royale Singer-songwriter | Hometown: Albany, New York and Boston, Massachusetts Nashville DJ and R&B and soul singer Alanna Royale has been making her presence known since arriving on the local music scene in 2013, when she landed a headlining slot at Nashville Pride Fest and won Road to Bonnaroo.
Nashville's Most Beautiful People 2026: Jermaine Johnson II
Jermaine Johnson II Defensive lineman, Tennessee Titans | Hometown: Eden Prairie, Minnesota Tennessee Titans defensive end Jermaine Johnson II arrived in Nashville after beginning his NFL career as a first-round draft pick of the New York Jets in 2022. The former Georgia and Florida State standout was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year during his college career. What's something people are always surprised to learn about you? People are always surprised to learn that I love anime.
Nashville's Most Beautiful People 2026: Daniel Musto
Daniel Musto Co-founder of Daniel Diamond | Hometown: New Jersey Daniel Musto, co-founder of Daniel Diamond, has helped bring the glamour and heritage of country music beyond the stage. With clients including Gwen Stefani, Megan Moroney, Shania Twain, and Dolly Parton, Musto believes stagewear — and rhinestones — shouldn't be reserved for musicians. What does beauty mean to you? True beauty is found in those who bring out the beauty in others. To feel loved is to feel beautiful.
Nashville's Most Beautiful People 2026: Anjelah Johnson-Reyes
Anjelah Johnson-Reyes Comedian Anjelah Johnson-Reyes has built a global following through seven comedy specials and sold-out tours, including her recent "The Family Reunion" tour, which sold more than 200,000 tickets. Splitting her time between Nashville and Los Angeles with her husband, daughter, and dog, she recently released her latest special, "Ugly Baby," and launched "Funjelah," a comedy and mental health podcast. What's something people are always surprised to learn about you?
Nashville's Most Beautiful People 2026: Priscilla Block
Priscilla Block Country music artist | Hometown: Raleigh, North Carolina Country artist Priscilla Block has amassed more than 1.1 billion career streams and earned her first No. 1 at country radio with the Justin Moore duet “You, Me, and Whiskey.” With more than 5 million fans across social media, Block is heading into a new chapter with her sophomore album, Things You Didn’t See, out now. What’s something people are always surprised to learn about you?
Best Sports Bars in Nashville: Where to Watch Football, NFL, SEC & More
Big screens. Great menus. Lively atmospheres. Nashville knows how to do game day. The city has no shortage of places where the TVs are always on, the drinks are cold, and the crowd is locked in on every play. We rounded up some favorite spots across town to catch the action, grab a bite and have fun with friends. Almost Friday Sporting Club Almost Friday Sporting Club brings the weekend energy all week long, pairing cold beers with a lively, come-with-your-crew vibe.
Christian Music Star Brandon Lake Opens Up About Success, Mental Health, Family Life, and Faith
Brandon Lake has six Grammy Awards, billions of streams, platinum singles, sold-out arenas, and more recognition than he once knew how to imagine. None of it, he says, defines him. “I literally have six Grammys,” Lake says. “Did that change my life? Maybe it gives me a little more credibility. I’m super thankful for them.
9 New Italian Restaurants in Nashville You Need to Try Right Now
From inviting neighborhood spots to ambitious chef-driven concepts, Nashville’s newest Italian restaurants are proving there’s never been a better time to order another plate of pasta. Whether you’re craving handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza, or a finely crafted spritz, these new restaurants are bringing new energy and plenty of flavor to Music City.
Peter Frampton Plays On as New Documentary Comes to Nashville Film Festival
At 76 and with six decades of rock 'n' roll experience to his credit, Peter Frampton has lived enough life to fill several documentaries. There was his meteoric rise, the nearly 20 million-selling Frampton Comes Alive!, the sudden fame, and the years when the career he'd built faltered. Then, he played his way back into the spotlight and a place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In recent years, he’s publicly faced a medical diagnosis that threatens his livelihood: playing guitar. On Sept.
Remembering Dolly Parton: A Personal Tribute to the Country Music Icon Who Changed Lives
Our Editor, Cindy Watts, reflects on her personal relationship with late country music icon Dolly Parton and the lasting impact she had on her life, career, and East Tennessee community. As soon as the house lights came back on, I bolted out of the Grand Ole Opry House auditorium to the backstage area. I wound through the corridors to an out-of-the-way dressing room, pulled my laptop from my bag, and started to write. It was Oct.
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The Truth Nashville: Inside Live Nation’s New Wedgewood-Houston Concert Venue Opening This Fall
When Sally Williams talks about The Truth, she doesn’t start with the building, although it’s beautiful. She talks about community. The beloved longtime Nashville music executive has spent decades helping shape some of the city's most historic institutions, including Ryman Auditorium and the Grand Ole Opry.
Brandon Lake on Faith, Family and Finding Fans Beyond Christian Music
Profanity isn’t part of Brandon Lake’s daily vocabulary. But when a stranger used it to compliment his music at a gas station, the arena-headlining Christian singer knew it was another sign his music was reaching the right people. “Yo, wait,” Lake recalls the man saying. “Aren’t you Brandon Lake?” Lake smiled and nodded. The man, whom Lake described as rough around the edges, didn’t ask for a selfie, mention church, or talk about his favorite song. He blurted: “Dude, I effing love your music, bro.
Country music star Kip Moore has Reason to Believe
Kip Moore’s statuesque blonde publicist and I walked out of Sunset Grill in Nashville just a few steps behind the country singer. She turned her head and said, “I feel like I just sat through three hours of therapy.” It was circa 2011, and Moore hadn’t released an album yet. Brimming with charisma and bulletproof sex appeal, he was the record label’s hot new artist. Executives promised he was “their guy” and wanted to drum up as much media interest as possible ahead of the release.
Ziggurat House in East Nashville Sets Record With $2.9 Million Design-Forward Home Sale
The first thing you notice at the Ziggurat House in East Nashville isn’t the square footage, or lack thereof. It’s the tile. In the Ziggurat House, pattern isn’t an accent. It’s part of the architecture. It climbs the walls of a bathroom in a precise, geometric flow. Tile frames a courtyard in saturated greens and terracottas. It wraps areas of the 1930s Spanish bungalow in hand-painted visuals that feel intentional, artistic, Southwestern, and not at all East Nashville.
For many of us, Dolly Parton was home | Opinion Original
The world lost an icon. East Tennessee lost a neighbor, role model, muse and source of hope. Cindy Watts Guest Columnist Aug. 28, 2026, 5:02 p.m. CT As soon as the house lights came back on, I bolted out of the Grand Ole Opry House auditorium to the backstage area. I wound through the corridors to an out-of-the-way dressing room, pulled my laptop from my bag, and started to write. It was Oct.
For many of us, Dolly Parton was home | Opinion
As soon as the house lights came back on, I bolted out of the Grand Ole Opry House auditorium to the backstage area. I wound through the corridors to an out-of-the-way dressing room, pulled my laptop from my bag, and started to write. It was Oct. 12, 2019, and Dolly Parton had just completed the first of two performances celebrating her 50th anniversary as a Grand Ole Opry member. The Tennessean's print deadline was looming. Within minutes, the door eased open. Dolly poked her head in.
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Our August 2026 Cover Star Jessie James Decker on Building KITTENISH, Just Feed Me, and a Lifestyle Brand Empire
When Jessie James Decker took the stage as the keynote speaker at Nashville Lifestyles' Women in Business event on Aug. 20, she had much more to discuss than her music career. The singer, television personality and entrepreneur has built a growing lifestyle business rooted in fashion, food, and home.
Inside a Nashville Penthouse Designed by Pembrooke & Ives for a Music Industry Executive
The first thing you notice in this Pembrooke & Ives-decorated Music City penthouse isn't the view. Though with the expansive windows, the view is spectacular. It's the exposed spiral staircase that first commands attention. The staircase curves through the living room like a ribbon, drawing the eye upward to a double-height wall of windows and an assertively colorful, unframed painting. Below it, the room is more familiar. A pale sofa softened with blush-toned pillows backs up to the window.
Best Weekend Getaways Near Nashville
One gave the world Elvis Presley. The other built its reputation on healing waters. Yet both Tupelo, Mississippi, and Hot Springs, Arkansas, prove that some of the South’s most memorable getaways are hiding just beyond Nashville’s backyard. One weekend can mean tracing the King’s footsteps, feeding buffalo, and indulging in caramel corn. The next might include soaking in thermal baths, cheering on thoroughbreds, and wandering through botanical gardens.
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Jessie James Decker: Exactly Where She's Meant to Be
For most of her life, Jessie James Decker knew exactly what she wanted to be when she grew up. She didn't get what she wanted — she got more. As a teenager with dreams of country music stardom, she pictured sold-out arenas, chart-topping singles and life on a tour bus. She never imagined herself leading a fashion brand, writing bestselling cookbooks or building a business empire. Yet when she looks back, she doesn't see the career she missed. She sees the life she gained. On Aug.
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Americana Honors & Awards
Get Americana Honors & Awards news, stories, and commentary from American Songwriter Magazine, the #1 source for music news since 1984
Women in Business 2026: Rea Frey
Nashville has never been short on ambitious women — professionals who dream bigger, work harder, and open doors for those who follow. From entrepreneurs and executives to creatives, advocates, and innovators, these women are making an impact in their industries, strengthening our community, and proving that success is even more meaningful when it’s shared. They are leaving a lasting mark on Music City — one bold decision at a time. How would you describe what you do?
Women in Business 2026: Holly Rexroat
Nashville has never been short on ambitious women — professionals who dream bigger, work harder, and open doors for those who follow. From entrepreneurs and executives to creatives, advocates, and innovators, these women are making an impact in their industries, strengthening our community, and proving that success is even more meaningful when it’s shared. They are leaving a lasting mark on Music City — one bold decision at a time.
Women in Business 2026: Lauren Oschman
Nashville has never been short on ambitious women — professionals who dream bigger, work harder, and open doors for those who follow. From entrepreneurs and executives to creatives, advocates, and innovators, these women are making an impact in their industries, strengthening our community, and proving that success is even more meaningful when it’s shared. They are leaving a lasting mark on Music City — one bold decision at a time. In your own words, how would you describe what you do?
Women in Business 2026: Rhonda Cammon
Nashville has never been short on ambitious women — professionals who dream bigger, work harder, and open doors for those who follow. From entrepreneurs and executives to creatives, advocates, and innovators, these women are making an impact in their industries, strengthening our community, and proving that success is even more meaningful when it’s shared. They are leaving a lasting mark on Music City — one bold decision at a time.
50 Years In, Vince Gill Is Still Creating
For many artists, five decades in music might be a reason to slow down. Vince Gill is using the milestone as motivation. As he prepares for his annual summer residency at the Ryman Auditorium July 30-Aug. 1 and Aug. 6-8, the Country Music Hall of Famer is also in the midst of a sweeping and ambitious career project. 50 Years From Home is a yearlong series of monthly EP releases celebrating 50 years as a recording artist.
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