Nashville Lifestyles Magazine February 2020

This is my seventh time writing to you about the February issue— that’s seven years of celebrating all things love and candy hearts and booed-up bliss. But this year, I’m dedicating this page to my fellow singles; the other solo riders in my tribe who, like me, have been taught to believe happiness comes from the over-the-top grand gestures in romantic comedies like Love Actually, Sleepless in Seattle, and every movie starring Julia Roberts in the 1990s. To you I say this: It may feel like everyone is in love, like every relationship is or has to be “the one,” and like being single is a punishment. Not true! Sure, Hallmark cards and Lifetime movies may have conditioned us to believe finding your perfect match is the be-all, end-all of life…

Love. Exciting and New… Welcome to our February issue. (We’re expecting you!) I’m very excited about this one, and not just because it’s a Leap Year, which means we stay on newsstands an extra day. I’m thrilled to share the love story of our cover stars—country singers and newlyweds Carly Pearce and Michael Ray. I had the best time chatting with them about their recent Nashville wedding (with an afterparty at Music City’s best kept secret, Nashville Palace) and about Michael’s epic proposal in Tulum. If you haven’t heard how it all went down, skip directly to page 60. We also spoke with some other local couples to hear their own Nashville love stories. From blind dates to accidental meetings, I’m always curious to learn people’s “meet cute” tales. And the sweet…

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: AXEL 6-9 An eye-catching new ice spectacle is coming to Bridgestone Arena. Glide into the vibrant world of AXEL, Cirque du Soleil’s newest on-ice spectacle, coming to Bridgestone Arena for six performances, from February 6 to 9. Join Axel, a young graphic artist and musician, as he ventures into his hand-drawn universe, falls in love, and embarks on a fast-paced quest—resulting in an epic fantasy for the whole family. The production combines spectacular skating, breathtaking acrobatics on ice, stunning visual effects, and live music that integrates popular songs with original scores to guide the characters and audience through this exhilarating journey. Additionally, the production brings a fresh look into the world of ice skating by combining freestyle skating with traditional pairs, solo, and adagio work. This pulse-pounding production is…

The Nashville Wine Auction will host a three-day celebration of exceptional wine and food, “Pairings with Our Favorite Chefs,” from February 27 to 29. The event will feature some of the Nashville Wine Auction’s most supportive chefs, who have worked hard to support the organization’s mission of uniting the wine community to fund the fight against cancer. The festivities kick off on February 27, with 11 Private Vintner Dinners held in fine restaurants and private homes throughout Nashville. The fun continues throughout the next two days at City Winery with “Wined Up!” on February 28, and “Pairings” on February 29. “Pairings” serves as the grand finale to the fun-filled three days, as guests will enjoy a six-course gourmet meal in which talented chefs create tasty pairings for special wines. The…

The 2020 Ballet Ball is bringing a Versailles inspired, black-tie evening filled with music, dancing, and entertainment to celebrate its 31st anniversary as Nashville Ballet’s largest fundraising event. The event, held on February 29 at Schermerhorn Symphony Center, includes a cocktail hour, a seated dinner catered by Kristen Winston, and a highly anticipated performance by the Nashville Ballet with Maren Morris and Rayland Baxter. The evening will conclude with dancing until 1 a.m. to entertainment by Sing a Song Dance Band. This year’s Ballet Ball will be chaired by Allison Cotton and Emily Humphreys, along with honorary co-chair Suann Davis. “We chose to honor Suann as our honorary co-chair because of her many years of commitment to the Ballet through service on the Board, as a Ballet Ball Chair, and as a true…

The San Diego native, who has co-hosted the syndicated country radio show Nash Nights Live alongside Shawn Parr for the last six years, is going solo. With a new show, Nights With Elaina, launching February 3, and a third season of her podcast, Breaking Thru With Elaina, on the horizon, Smith is poised to rule the airwaves. The on-air personality, who came to Nashville by way of a pop radio gig on Florida’s Space Coast, filled us in just ahead of the show’s official announcement. Age: 31 On moving to Nashville: It was a wild experience, especially because when I was working in Florida, it was a very small town. Then, here I am in this new show, and I think when we started we were on on about 50 stations and…