You never know who or what you’ll see in Downtown Nashville.
Usually saying that covers anything from country music artists dropping into their own bars, or bachelorette parties hanging out the side of booze buses. But what if I told you that when I say “who” or “what,” I’m including the likes of country music artists that are… no longer living?
You’ve likely heard the stories and tales of the ghost of Hank Williams haunting the historic Ryman Auditorium. Funny enough, that’s the building that he was once banned from after he was kicked out of the Grand Ole Opry. Maybe he’s trying to make up for lost time in the afterlife?
It’s rumored that a number of the spirits of country music legends are spotted in and around the Ryman – the Mother Church of Country Music. The alley in between the Ryman Auditorium and the various, adjacent Broadway bars is apparently a popular spot for apparitions, with some reportedly seen leaving the Ryman and sneaking into some of the honky tonks for a drink.
One bar that’s had a number of spooky Hank Williams sightings is Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge. The world famous establishment has had ghost sightings really ever since Tootsie Bess opened its doors in the 1960’s. The honky tonk was always seen as the place-to-be for struggling country artists, and now apparently also attracts country artists that have moved on into another realm.
Over the years, unexplained blackouts and hovering figures have perplexed those who have visited the Nashville bar. And if anything ever goes wrong or awry in the establishment, the ghost of Hank Williams Sr. is often blamed. Though he passed away many years before Tootsie’s officially opened, many believe that his spirit likes to perform at the Ryman, then relax post-show with a drink at the Orchid Lounge.
According to the legend, a white mist resembling Williams has been spotted – and even photographed – within the bar on numerous occasions. Hank Sr. must be trying to get a drink from beyond… which makes me worry that the bar situation isn’t all that great in the afterlife. The good news is that Williams’ ghost doesn’t seem to be alone at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge. The establishment’s first ever owner – Tootsie Bess – is also believed to haunt the Honky Tonk.
So next time you are in Downtown Nashville, make sure to keep an eye out for any spirits walking amongst the thousands of tourists that pack the streets of Lower Broadway.
And if you go into Tootsie’s, you best be ready to share a beer with “Hey Good Lookin'” singer himself.
