Nashville’s Transformation: From Honky-Tonks to a Collaborative Cultural Hub
Nashville has grown from a small town with intimate bars into a thriving center for music and hospitality. While country music remains a cornerstone of its identity, the city now embraces a wide range of genres and artists—from Jimmy Buffett to B.B. King—creating a diverse and inclusive music scene.
Over the past 25 years, neighborhoods like East Nashville, the Gulch, and Germantown have developed distinct cultural vibes, expanding the city’s creative footprint beyond Broadway. At the heart of this growth is a spirit of collaboration, where musicians and venues work together rather than compete, fostering a sense of community.
This collaborative ethos extends into the hospitality industry, which has become a platform for women in leadership. Nashville offers real opportunities for career growth, with many women now running major venues and shaping the city’s future.
Safety and community engagement are also key pillars. Monthly meetings between venue security teams and police, along with real-time communication tools like WhatsApp, help maintain a safe environment—especially for visitors attending celebrations like bachelorette parties.
As Jim Peters of the Responsible Hospitality Institute notes, Nashville’s ongoing dialogue between city officials, law enforcement, and venue operators is a model of effective urban collaboration.
Looking ahead, Nashville continues to live up to its title of Music City, offering endless opportunities for artists and unforgettable experiences for visitors. As Kelly Kaplan puts it: “From the moment you arrive to the moment you leave, you’ll be entertained—and exhausted in the best way.”
Kelly Kaplan is a pillar of the Nashville community. With over 20 years of experience in the Tourism/Hospitality industry, she currently is the Community Outreach Coordinator for the Mayor’s Office of Nightlife in Nashville.
Her most recent position was the Partnerships & Outreach Manager for the expansion of The Giving Kitchen in Tennessee building relationships and offering assistance to Food & Beverage workers that are going through crisis. Beginning her career straight out of high school, Kelly has shown her strong work ethic from day one rising from industry server to the events mastermind she is today. Since locating to Nashville from Chicago, she has handled sales and events for; Stadium Club at Vanderbilt, Sheraton Music City, Maggiano’s Little Italy, BB King’s Blues Club and Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville & Nashville Underground.
Even though not a native, Kelly absolutely considers Nashville her home and her ties the city reign strong as she is the past Chair for The DISTRICT, Inc., the Chair for the 2nd AVE Strong initiative, a Member of Heels & Handshakes, Music City Concierge Association and past members of many other organizations in Nashville.
Kelly’s passion for her career shines through every day as she strongly lives by the philosophy “choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
