5 Reasons Why You Need to Travel to Nashville for the CMA Awards in 2017

Experiencing Nashville at the peak of its presence is the ultimate adventure that any traveler should jump into at least once in their lives, so why not make it for the CMA Awards in 2017?

Written by Kelly Brickey
5 Reasons Why You Need to Travel to Nashville for the CMA Awards in 2017
Nashville, Tennessee downtown skyline at twilight

Nashville, Tennessee is best known most of all for its love of country music. Acting as the heart of the genre, Music City is home to so many of the artists that fans know and love from the radio. With the accessibility of music on every corner in the city, it comes as no surprise that the biggest awards show of the year, the CMA Awards, is hosted right in the midst of downtown Nashville.

With all of the glitz and glamour of the awards hitting the main part of town on Lower Broadway, it’s the perfect opportunity for anyone to come and see the whole week in action. Experiencing Nashville at the peak of its presence is the ultimate adventure that any traveler should jump into at least once in their lives, so why not make it for the CMA Awards in 2017?

Here are five reasons why you (and your friends or family) should take a trip to Nashville for the 2017 CMA Awards:

1. The opportunity to see your favorite country stars on the red carpet or at a local coffee shop.

While the best chance of catching a glimpse of your favorites may be on the actual day of the event at the red carpet or on the stage, you never know when one of them will head to a cool spot for dinner, like Adele’s or Kayne Prime, or grab a cup of joe to-go from Frothy Monkey or Fido on their way to another meeting. Hey, the chances are greater here than many other cities and it’s nice to know everyone is so friendly.

2. You never know who will end up where in town.

Because many stars head back to their homes here in Nashville, they like using their time in town to thank the fans for all of their support throughout the year. At least one concert happens downtown during the week where fans can show up for no cost to see an amazing gig put on by a country star. This year, Dierks Bentley played a free show for fans on Broadway ahead of the CMA Awards and Eric Church did a pop-up show in the Ernest Tubb Record Shop earlier this year. Those are the kind of surprises Nashville is all about.

3. The opportunity to get dressed up for a star-studded evening…priceless.

Everyone loves a good excuse to doll themselves up, and it sounds even more inviting when you have to dress to impress your favorite country stars that will just so happen to be in the same room as you. Ladies, grab those sparkly dresses and your tallest pair of stilettos and men, tuck in those button-ups and lace up your dress shoes because it’s about to get real fancy when you hit the show at Nashville’s own Bridgestone Arena.

4. The food scene is just as hot as the music scene.

Nashville has become quite the foodie town with its noteworthy chefs and exquisite eateries all across the city. Trevor Moran runs the Catbird Seat, which is Nashville’s first tasting-menu-only restaurant and makes for an interesting dining experience unlike any others. Plus, a major favorite among many country stars is City House, which chef Tandy Wilson infused both Italian and Southern flavors into one delectable menu. Start making your reservations now.

5. Music is EVERYWHERE.

When people say that Nashville is called Music City, it’s for a good reason: live music defines the life within this city. Whether you hear someone picking on a six-string in a honkytonk downtown, like Tootsie’s or The Stage, or a new band rocking out to their indie-punk sound over in East Nashville at places like The Basement East, there are countless opportunities to catch a show of your choosing. So get out there and find all of the music your heart desires.

Come visit Nashville for the CMA Awards in 2017, or anytime if you’d like. There are plenty of great things about Music City that visitors fall in love with every time they drive the streets and see the sights. Visit TN Tourism to start planning your trip to Nashville now.