Nashville has changed a lot since I was born here in 1977. Just yesterday someone was asking me why the hell people call it “NashVegas”. Without the neon and flashing lights on Demonbreun and without the strip clubs and pawn shops on Lower Broad, the term no longer makes much sense. We are much more metropolitan than country these days (or at least we think we are). There aren’t many southern accents within the city limits these days (aside from tourists). Not to mention the tremendous growth in the amount of money that has infiltrated our big small town. There is one thing that I think is ingrained in the natives and I want to preserve. If you ask me, this is the one thing that defines Nashville.
I think that the residents of Nashville may be the least star-struck people on the planet. In Nashville, famous people are no big deal. It is neat to see someone famous, but I don’t know any Nashville natives that ask strangers for autographs or pictures. It is cool to see someone famous and all, but I am not going to go out of my way to say hi. Sure, if I am standing next to someone in line I will say hi if I recognize them and am fond of their work. More often than not I don’t even realize who it was until much later. I think it is just ingrained in my psyche that it is not a big deal.
The problem is all these newcomers. I think that “What is the proper response to seeing someone famous?” should be a question on the drivers license test. If you want to live here you gotta know how to act. If I am at a bar and people are making a fuss over someone famous I can’t help but to feel a little embarrassed. Damn newbs.
