Attend a Songwriters Show + Support a Great Cause

I love supporting a cause and giving back to our fabulous Nashville community in any way I can. Just a few of the many perks of living in our city are the talented folks and music involved to help raise funds for charity. Creative Nation, a music publishing and management company owned by Luke and Beth Laird, is hosting a benefit for local organization Preston Taylor Ministries on Tuesday, October 21. 

The evening will include performances by Creative Nation’s talented roster songwriters: Luke Laird (hits include Carrie Underwood's "So Small", "Last Name", Little Big Towns "Pontoon", and Sara Evans "A Little Bit Stronger"), Barry Dean ("Pontoon", Jason Aldean's "1994" and Ingrid Michaelson's "Girls Chase Boys"), Natalie Hemby (Miranda Lambert's "White Liar", "Automatic", and Lady A's "Downtown") and Maggie Chapman, as well as some special guests. 

Don't miss your chance to be up close and personal with some of the biggest song writers in the world, all while helping provide hope to children living in the Preston Taylor public housing area, who every day face problems like drug use, gang involvement, teenage pregnancy, illiteracy, poor school performance, and crime.

The event begins at 6:00 PM at 3rd & Lindsley with all proceeds going directly to PTM. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased here. 

My chat with Jennifer Lopez, Harry Connick Jr., and Keith Urban in Nashville

Whew, ya'll. Today was quite the whirlwind, and a day filled with firsts: My very first press line, first time meeting a pop superstar, first time meeting a cast member of one of the best movies EVER - Hope Floats (right?), and first time to hang with one of my favorite country musicians.

Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez, and Harry Connick, Jr. in Nashville

American Idol 2014 auditions are now in full force, and Nashville is the latest pit stop for the judges looking to find the best of the best talent in the country. I have to admit, last night, I literally couldn't sleep. I felt like I was about to start a brand new job, or enter my freshman year of high school all over again (both terrifying in their own right). But thanks to some preparation by rehearsing Love Don't Cost a thing lyrics/choreography, and some advice from my friend Sarah at Sarah Lai PR, I managed to confidently conquer my latest Nashville experience.

When the judges made it down to our end of the line, I wanted to know anything and everything they thought about Nashville (and a little about that show American Idol). Alas, this is what I discovered:

Drink Beer and Support a Good Cause

Ya'll. I'm going to go ahead and just put it out there - I love beer. And what I love even more than beer itself is a good beer festival. And what I love even more than beer and a good beer festival is a beer festival that supports a good cause. Join me and 60 (yes, 60) breweries on June 28 from 1-6 p.m. at the Nashville Predators Craft Beer Festival for all the beer you can stand to sample. Tickets are $50 bucks, and include unlimited tastings, a souvenir glass, and a voucher for a Preds game in September or October of this year.

Proceeds benefit the Nashville Predators Foundation, which supports Middle Tennessee non-profit groups and programs in the community. Sounds like a win/win event to me.

Purchase your tix and get more info on the festival here.