While shooting t

he second season of the country music flavored series Nashville, the producing company, Lionsgate, invited an HFPA delegation to their locations in Nashville, TN. Charles „Chip“ Esten, who stars as Deacon Claybourne, guided a tour through the expansive sound stages which included an exact replica of the original Bluebird Cafe, a famous Nashville hangout for songwriters, whose so-called Writers’ Rounds are a traditional way of introducing their newest creations to be judged by their peers. An example of such a meeting of collaborating songwriters was presented at the historic Ryman Auditorium, the birthplace and former home of the world-famous Grand Ole Opry. Stephen G. Buchanan, Executive Producer of Nashville and General Manager of the Grand Ole Opry, introduced a trio of songwriters – Brandy Clark, Josh Osborne and Trevor Rosen – who shared their most successful compositions with the visiting journalists. Two cast members, Chris Cormack and Jonathan Jackson, performed as well.

The TV series Nashville centers around the troubled music legend Raya Jaymes (Connie Britton), her conflicts with the rising newcomer Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere) and focuses on the human interactions and corporate power plays within Nashville’s country music industry. At the concert hall of the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in downtown Nashville the journalists observed the shooting of a glamorous social event, a scene central to the fourth series of the show. An evening at the Grand Ole Opry with stellar appearances by cast members Clare Bowen, Chip Esten and Sam Palladio and crowd pleasing performances by Country legends Ricky Skaggs and Trace Adkins concluded the visit. Adkins who ten years earlier was honored with a lifetime membership by the Grand Ole Opry received standing ovations from the full house and congratulations via video clips from fellow Country stars such as the Oak Ridge Boys and Blake Shelton.

The new season of „Nashville“ will debut on September 25 on ABC. —-Elmar Biebl