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Where is Gerke Going? First stop, Nashville!

Paul Gerke hit the road to showcase some awesome travel destinations, and this week he makes a stop in Nashville.

Paul Gerke is on the road and he's showing us some incredible travel destinations.

Up first on his road trip, Nashville, Tennessee! All Friday morning, Gerke is taking us to some of the city's most popular spots.

The state capitol is the 24th-most populated city in the United States. Nashville is home to several colleges and universities, including Vanderbilt and Belmont. Nashville is known as a “foodie” city, boasting some of the best hot chicken/fish and barbecue in the country. 

If you’re a country music fan, you’ll have to stop by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the Belcourt Theatre, Ryman Auditorium, and the Grand Ole Opry House. If live music is more your thing, you can expect to find plenty in “The District,” a string of bars and clubs downtown.

Here's a rundown of the places he'll be visiting while in town:

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

The greatest honor for any country musician? Permanent enshrinement in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.  One of the world’s largest museums also boasts one of the world’s most extensive music collections- featuring nearly 200,000 recordings. You can also find about 500,000 photographs and a litany of country music memorabilia, including some of the most influential instruments ever used in the genre. Paul Gerke and Museum Editor Michael Gray show off some of what the Hall of Fame has to offer!

Grand Ole Opry

“The Show That Made Country Famous,” The Grand Ole Opry is a world-renown country music stage show that has been on the air since 1925. It’s the longest-running radio broadcast in U.S. history. Membership in the Opry is one of the most prestigious honors in country music, and just getting to play on the program often brings artists to tears. Paul Gerke and tour guide Laura Leigh show off the Grand Ole Opry House and give you the same backstage view that countless country music pioneers have seen with their own eyes.

Trisha Yearwood

Trisha Yearwood is a member of the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame. She has sold over 15 million albums worldwide and has won three Grammys and four Country Music Association Awards. Yearwood is married to fellow country music superstar Garth Brooks. In this exclusive interview from Yearwood’s Nashville office, she shares stories about her rise to prominence, musical influences, and life at home.

Predators Hockey

Nashville is home to two professional sports franchises: the NFL’s Tennessee Titans and the NHL’s Nashville Predators. The latter has enjoyed some recent success, thanks in part to a rabid fan base with a unique tradition of tossing catfish onto the ice. With the help of Predators President and CEO Sean Henry, and some rowdy fans, Paul Gerke reveals the roots of the unusual ritual.

Chicken Tasting Segment

Nashville might go by the moniker “Music City,” but any local will tell you - it’s also “Hot Chicken City.” There’s no shortage of places to score some, but most of the people we talked to recommended either Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack or Hattie B’s. It’s time to put two Nashville favorites to the test!

Line Dancing

If you’re going to dress like a cowboy, you’d better know how to do at least one of two things: rope a steer or line dance. Since Paul Gerke certainly can’t do the former, he’ll have to learn the steps of the latter. Line dance instructor Vanna Hall shows him the ropes at the iconic Wildhorse Saloon!

JoLivi

Country music meets the Aloha State! Meet JoLivi, a Hawaii native, Nashville-resident and special guest on the show. JoLivi has opened for Andy Grammar, Gavin DeGraw, and Lindsey Stirling. She has been compared to the sounds of P!nk and Trisha Yearwood, and her new single “Better” is being released TODAY!


Bachelor(ette) Party

Looking for a place to host a bachelor or bachelorette party? Want it to be somewhere other than Vegas? Look no further than Nashville, one of the hottest spots in the world for grooms and brides-to-be. Our special guests explain why Music City is the place to be to celebrate before taking your vows.

For stuff you didn't see on TV, check out some hilarious outtakes and awesome interviews from Paul's time in Nashville on our YouTube channel.

Paul will reveal his next stop next Friday on Today in AZ! For clue and behind-the-scenes content, follow the 12 News Facebook page and Paul Gerke on Twitter.

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