Music City is full of excellent singers, but that doesn’t mean us regular folks should hesitate to step up to the mic. Enjoy the free mini concert from the professionals, but don’t be intimidated. Here are some of Nashville’s best spots for karaoke.
If you want dive bar vibes …
Santa’s Pub
2225 Bransford Ave.
A staple. You’ll pay a cover charge, but the drinks are cheap and there’s no shady “tip to skip” business. I’ve seen a range of songs resonate here, from metal to country to the whole bar singing along to “My Heart Will Go On.” Just do not curse — Santa’s rules.Â
From Fran’s to Betty’s, everyone in Nashville wants the same thing
Fran’s
2504 Dickerson Pike
Alternately known as Fran’s Eastside, Fran’s Dive Bar or just Fran’s, the longtime favorite Nashville karaoke haunt relocated to Dickerson Pike a couple years back. Fran’s, which offers karaoke on Friday and Saturday, does hit different in its newer and slightly bigger location, but it hits nonetheless. I’d suggest a classic rock or country tune to gain points with the cool-kid crowd gathered around their cheap buckets of beer.
Rosie’s Twin KegsÂ
413 W. Thompson Lane
On karaoke nights, the vibe is less about making it big and more about just having fun. As for song choice, I will not take credit for this perfect description: It’s like if all the people who drink PBR made a joint playlist.Â
Hubba Hubba Tiki Tonk
922 Main St.
Though it opened in October 2022, East Nashville’s Hubba Hubba Tiki Tonk feels like it might’ve existed in its Main Street location as a well-kept secret for decades longer. The specialties here are kitschy decor and tiki drinks — not to mention wrestling, shows and other events. But check their Instagram page (@hubbahubbatikitonk) for details on karaoke nights, when things get loud.
If you’re hitting Broadway …Â
AJ’s Good Time Bar
421 Broadway
On Broadway, there’s WannaB’s, which specializes in karaoke. But my favorite place to sing is the third floor of AJ’s Good Time Bar. It’s almost exclusively country and usually not too crowded. Look, if you’d like to sing the absolute banger that is “Chattahoochee” at Alan Jackson’s own bar, this is your chance to do it.Â
If you want to collect karaoke bars like pressed pennies … Â
Lonnie’s Western Room
308 Church St.
Lonnie’s regulars Double Treble are my new favorite internet people. Follow their lead by putting on a spirited performance on the most stately stage setup in town.Â
Miss Kelli’s Karaoke Bar
207 Printers Alley
If you don’t like the vibe at Lonnie’s, turn the corner and head to the slightly below-ground Miss Kelli’s in Printers Alley. The crowd skews young, and the bar’s famous Jell-O shots get everyone ready to participate — especially if it’s pop punk.Â
Wild BeaverÂ
212 Commerce St.
A few blocks from Miss Kelli’s and Lonnie’s, Wild Beaver runs rampant with tip-to-skip participants. But it’s the only place we’re aware of where you can ride a mechanical bull while waiting your turn. Just be careful with the Beaver Brews. (It’s not something special … it’s just Natural Light.) Â
If you want a good photo …Â
Cross-Eyed Critters
101 20th Ave. N.
Nestled inside the Graduate Hotel, Cross-Eyed Critters has an active crowd of mostly tourists who will lose their minds over a range of songs. For example: My cousin and I slayed a version of “Summer Nights” there once. The Chuck E. Cheese-style animatronic creatures there to back you up are certainly noteworthy too.Â
Sid Gold’s Request Room
If you want a live piano … Â
Sid Gold’s Request Room
3245 Gallatin Pike
Piano bar Sid Gold’s attracts a lot of people who do singing as a job. It’s an opportunity to cheer someone on during their own one-song concert, then get up there to do something subversive. (Ever heard “Sk8er Boi” on piano?) Musical-theater selections are very welcome.
If you want a private room ...Â
Sichuan Hot Pot & Asian CuisineÂ
5680 Nolensville Pike
Sometimes karaoke is best shared between a few close friends. On Nolensville Pike, Sichuan Hot Pot & Asian Cuisine offers private rooms that have both a hot-pot setup and a karaoke setup. Two activities in one!Â
Kung Fu SaloonÂ
1921 Division St.
It’ll cost you to reserve them, but Kung Fu Saloon has two private rooms if you’d like to make karaoke part of your night out in Midtown.Â
If you want help from a drag queen …
The Lipstick Lounge
1400 Woodland St.
“A bar for humans,” as one of the nation’s few remaining lesbian bars refers to itself, means a song for everyone too. Picking a song that the LGBTQ community will appreciate isn’t rocket science, and if you falter, a drag queen will do the lord’s work to pick you back up. It happened to me trying to sing “Somebody That I Used to Know” as a solo.Â
D. Patrick Rodgers contributed to this article.
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