Nashville Lifestyles Magazine September 2021

Let me tell you about my famous friend, Chris Young. His hit song with Kane Brown narrates his not-so-famous friends growing up in everyday America—the hometown heroes, the real people that you and I grew up with who aren’t selling out concerts and performing for thousands of fans. So, I’d like to tell you my own personal story about our cover star. A few years ago when I turned 40 (how many years ago is not important here), I wanted to host a big fundraiser for Make-A-Wish. My dream was to have a Christmas in July themed party. We were lucky enough to get a great venue with M Street, and The Mall at Green Hills worked with us on loaning their holiday decorations—we even had a Radio City Rockette…

I am so excited to have Chris Young on our cover this month. Talk about one of the nicest guys in showbiz. With his humble, Murfreesboro proud demeanor and his passion for giving back to the town (and the university—MTSU) that made him who he is, it’s easy to forget the mega success this country star has amassed. The multi-platinum performer has accumulated an impressive list of accomplishments, including membership in the iconic Grand Ole Opry, more than 4 Billion on-demand streams (that’s billion with a B), 13 Million singles sold, 12 career No. 1 singles, and 23 R.I.A.A. Gold/Platinum/Multi-Platinum certified projects. So yeah, he’s kind of a big deal. But he’s not here to shout about his success, he’s here to tout the importance of education and contribute to…

14 THE AVIARY AT L27 Perched 27 floors atop The Westin, L27 Rooftop transforms into an aviary in the sky. Guests are surrounded by blooming florals, lush greenery, and plenty of Instagram-worthy attractions. Choose from five specialty cocktails to sip on (in addition to a full bar) while soaking up bird’s eye views from Nashville’s highest rooftop bar. (L27 Rooftop Lounge at The Westin Nashville, 5 p.m.; L27nashville.com) 11 SUNSET SAFARI Wildlife and nightlife unite for Nashville Zoo’s premier annual fundraising event. Don your safari-best for a culinary adventure featuring some of the city’s best food and drinks from top restaurants and bars, along with live music from The Music City Sounds, while taking a walk on the wild side. (Nashville Zoo, 7 p.m.; nashvillezoo.org) 30-OCT. 6 NASHVILLE FILM FESTIVAL Movie buffs rejoice! The 52nd…

Nashville native and artist Liz Clayton Fuller graduated from Hillsboro High School and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration from Savannah College of Art and Design and her certificate in Natural Science Illustration from the University of Washington before returning to her hometown to pursue her passions as a naturalist and fine artist. Her work, which she describes as “a reflection of classic naturalists with a more contemporary feel,” has garnered the attention of art collectors and bird enthusiasts worldwide. The talented Clayton Fuller also shares her gift with students, teaching online classes in natural illustration and field journaling for the Bird Academy at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Recently the internationally-recognized natural science illustrator and accomplished fine artist’s black and white image of Lesser Yellowlegs was selected to…

Not to put too fine a point on it, but Sam Williams is part of a lineage without parallel in American music. As the son of Hank Williams Jr. and grandson of country legend, Hank Williams Sr., he’s once again proof that apples don’t fall far from trees. But in this family’s case, that means creating something uniquely your own. After signing to major label Mercury Nashville a few months back, Williams’ album debut, Glasshouse Children, arrived on August 20. And although it stands on some of country’s core building blocks, curious fans will soon realize: This Williams is on to something else entirely. “I love to be unexpected,” the young artist said, speaking by phone just before the project’s release. “It’s very interesting for me, to try to be conscious of my…

In celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community, Nashville Pride Festival has pulled out all the stops for two full days of entertainment, fun, and inclusivity. Featuring over 225 vendors, food trucks aplenty, three stages of live entertainment, showstopping headliners, and much more, the 32nd annual Pride Festival is sure to be one for the books. The Nashville Pride Festival, presented by Bridgestone and Nissan, will be held at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park on Saturday, Sept. 18 and Sunday, Sept. 19. The weekend kicks off with the highly anticipated Pride Parade on Saturday at 10 a.m. (starting at 2nd and Union), and rolls into an evening full of can’t-miss performances. At the forefront of star-studded performances is the Equality Main Stage. This year’s lineup includes the Grammy-winning duo Salt-N-Pepa, plus Kim Petras, Orville…