Reese Witherspoon is one of the most powerful women in Hollywood; a bankable star who also runs the media company behind a string of hit TV shows.
Well known for her southern charm and famously proud of her roots, she even named her son Tennessee after her home state.
She's not the only A-lister to settle in the southern parts of America. With Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively reportedly heading south to join stars such as Taylor Swift, who lived in Nashville as a teenager and is back on the scene, and star couple Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban having strong connections there, it looks like Tennessee is fast becoming the place to go.
Nashville
Ultimate southern gal Taylor Swift went public with The 1975’s Matt Healy in Nashville in May. After her performance in the city’s Nissan Stadium they were seen out with Gigi Hadid and the gang, so it's truly the place to be for celeb spotting!
During our stay, we checked into the downtown Bobby Hotel, which has a rooftop pool and movie-trailer cocktail area. The hotel is a popular haunt of southern stars including Miley Cyrus.
We ate at Noko – Nashville’s answer to Nobu with the South American addition of wood-burnt steak. We also enjoyed a mix of fine grilled meats and fish at Oak Steakhouse. This restaurant has a floor-to-ceiling collection of red wines and we watched the sommelier fetch our pinot noir by sliding on a ladder across the wall of wine as if searching for a book in an old library.
For that Legally Blonde-approved curl, hit the Pink Soda Salon next door to The Hermitage Hotel, a favourite hangout of the local fashion elite Lily Aldridge and Karen Elson.
The swanky Sinatra Bar and Lounge is one of only two places in the world with official permission to use Ol’ Blue Eyes’s name – the other is in Las Vegas. Next door to the Bobby Hotel, it is the perfect place to end the evening with supper or cocktails.
Celeb style
Anyone who follows southern belle Reese on social media will be familiar with posts showing her modelling her Draper James collection or posing outside the Nashville store.
That’s right, the world-famous actress and producer has her own clothing line and shop too. It is instantly recognisable with its bright blue and white stripes and cutesy white benches. It sells an amazing array of summer dresses, gingham prints and cute sweaters.
We were lucky enough to stumble across the “tent sale”, an annual event with cut prices, cookies and country music for a shopping experience straight out of Sweet Home Alabama. Y’all would love my new Draper James bag!
Franklin
About 20 miles south of Nashville, Franklin feels like a movie set and is one of our favourite spots in Tennessee. We hung out at the Five Points Franklin Market and took in the stunning houses and wide, tree-lined streets before heading to the historic downtown area and the unbelievably quaint Triple Crown Bakery pictured on Reese’s Instagram, to sample the pie bars, cookies and cakes. We didn’t want to leave.
A stone’s throw from where Reese went to school, the Mall At Green Hills is where the stars shop and it’s easy to see why. The red-brick exterior houses luxury names including Gucci and Chanel and American brands such as Macy’s and Abercrombie and Fitch.
Creek Life
Rustic Leiper’s Fork is not to be missed. At Wines In The Fork you can sit by a creek sipping Tennessee’s surprisingly fine wine and listen to live country music for only $15.
A short walk away are a handful of cafés including Foxe & Locke, all with live music, whiskey and wine. Remember, this is a local southern hang-out and if you order shandy you will get “is-this-Brit-crazy?” looks.
The awesome Country Boy restaurant has traditional interiors and locally sourced dishes. Reese has dined here, as has Leiper’s Fork resident Justin Timberlake (who is the owner of the Millville Hotel, where Nicole Kidman is said to have had her first dates
with Keith Urban!).
Hit The Road
From Nashville, take a road trip and in less than three hours you could be at Elvis Presley’s mansion Graceland in Memphis, or in Alabama, home state of Magic Mike’s Channing Tatum, who says, “Anywhere they say ‘y’all’, that’s where I call home,”
Pull on some cowboy boots, hire a car and take in views straight out of Thelma And Louise, but without the drama. Be sure to stop at the Loveless Café on your way out for a breakfast of chicken and waffles (insanely good) or try the key lime pie, a favourite of Reese, who has visited with her family. The star describes it as a “must for good old-fashioned southern food” and we completely agree.
How to book
Visit bobbyhotel.com to view current offers and buy tickets to the hotel’s Backyard Sessions. Book direct flights from London to Nashville with British Airways.
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