In 2023, the Scene’s readers gravitated toward stories about controversy and neighborhood intrigue. They also flocked to articles about local artists made good, lawsuits and good places to eat.
Below, find a roundup of the 10 most-read Nashville Scene articles of 2023, with just a little bit of context.
10. Bankruptcy Reveals a Web of Real Estate Debt in Green Hills and 12South
Overgrown properties with half-finished homes are taken over by a federal trustee in the city’s richest neighborhoods
Reporter Eli Motycka wrote about a complicated tangle of real estate debt in August. “Brian Layton’s bankruptcy case has left a trail of million-dollar homes in visible states of disrepair across 12South and Green Hills. A spate of lawsuits has revealed tens of millions of dollars in debt spread out across a vast network of LLCs connected to Layton in various states of legal and financial trouble.”
9. Surgeon, Professor Alleges Discrimination at VUMC in Lawsuit
Former orthopedic residency program director claims career hindered by bias over gender and sexual orientation
In March, a Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt University employee sued the school and the hospital for discrimination and retaliation based on her gender and sexual orientation. Wrote reporter Kelsey Beyeler at the time: “Plaintiff Dr. Ginger Holt is a gay orthopedic oncology surgeon and medical professor who says in a court filing that she ‘has been consistently held to a higher standard than her male colleagues, been removed from a role she held for years as program director and vice chair of Eeducation, and had her salary cut in half.’” Our reporting on lawsuits frequently sees a lot of traffic. This one was far-and-away the most-read.
8. Memphis Rap Standout Moneybagg Yo Makes His Music City Debut
A look at the chart-topping MC’s career ahead of his stop at Bridgestone Arena
Memphis-turned-Atlanta rapper Moneybagg Yo brought his Larger Than Life Tour to Bridgestone Arena in August. Contributor Charlie Zaillian previewed the show, noting that Moneybagg has made “some of the most evocative hip-hop of recent years.” Wrote Zaillian of Moneybagg’s 2021 album: “The sprawling 22-track set, expanded to 29 tracks with the A Gangsta’s Pain: Reloaded edition, is the sound of potential realized.”
7. Tennessee Holler Founder’s Home Reportedly Targeted in Weekend Shooting
'This violence has no place in a civilized society and we are thankful no one was physically hurt,' says Justin Kanew, who lives in Williamson County
In the spring, liberal media activist Justin Kanew — known as the founder and driving force behind The Tennessee Holler — reported that his College Grove home was targeted in a shooting. The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office and the TBI would not confirm to reporter Hamilton Matthew Masters that Kanew’s home was indeed the target of a shooting, but did confirm that deputies responded to an “aggravated assault” in the area at the time.
6. On a Roll: How CMA’s New Artist of the Year Made It to the Top
Antioch’s own Jason ‘Jelly Roll’ DeFord went from handing out mixtapes to taking home a CMA Award
In November, Antioch’s own Jason “Jelly Roll” DeFord took home the CMA Award for New Artist of the Year. Days later, he graced the cover of our publication thanks to an in-depth story from longtime contributor Sean L. Maloney. Maloney has been tracking Jelly Roll’s career for a long time — from slinging tapes in parking lots to sharing a stage with Wynonna Judd — so it was a delight seeing the two come together for one of my favorite Scene stories of the year. I’m glad to report that our readers enjoyed it too.
5. Scheduling Pileup Imperils NASCAR Deal
A late-called community meeting threatens to push Cooper’s $164 million fairgrounds overhaul to next mayor, council
Longtime Nashvillians know that perhaps no neighborhood issue is more hot-button than racing at The Fairgrounds Nashville. As he neared the close of his sole term as mayor, John Cooper tried to cement a deal with regional track operator Speedway Motorsports to overhaul the fairgrounds and bring in NASCAR racing. In June and July, a somewhat convoluted scheduling issue related to the Metro Council threatened to shut the whole thing down. (Spoiler alert: We do not have NASCAR racing at the fairgrounds, so you likely know how that turned out.)
4. Bill and Shannon Miller to Bring Sinatra Bar and Lounge to Downtown Nashville
The Millers continue to transform Nashville’s entertainment offerings with their Icon Entertainment
This year, prolific business owners Bill and Shannon Miller of Icon Entertainment opened Sinatra Bar and Lounge downtown. Freelance contributor Margaret Littman spoke with the Millers ahead of Sinatra’s opening. A lot of people read it.
3. Lower Broad Musicians Bristle at Tootsie’s Contract
Pushback may lead to a change in terms
In the summer, several musicians who play what’s known as the Tootsie’s Circuit — the collection of Lower Broad bars owned by controversial Nashville businessman Steve Smith — pushed back against a contract they were told to sign. Wrote contributor Margaret Littman at the time: “The one-page contract, which they say comes from an organization called Honky Tonk School, requires artists to pay 10 percent of their Tootsie’s Circuit base pay to Honky Tonk School, as well as 10 percent of all other performing earnings.” Fishy stuff!
2. Jason Aldean: Ignorant or Just Full of Crap?
In his video for 'Try That in a Small Town,' Aldean performs in the location where Henry Choate was lynched in 1927
Also in the summer, conservative country star and seemingly permanent Boner Awards issue contender Jason Aldean released a video for his wildly angry song “Try That in a Small Town.” The video was filmed in part at the site of a racist 1927 lynching — and that’s just the tip of the iceberg in regard to a video whose most generous interpretation is “tone-deaf and bizarre.” Longtime columnist Betsy Phillips dove into the historical context surrounding this one, and as usual, she did not hold back.
1. Best of Nashville
For three-and-a-half decades, we here at the Nashville Scene have done our best to share with our readers what makes Music City special. That’…
The Scene’s annual Best of Nashville issue is a massive undertaking. Between our Readers’ Poll and our Writers’ Choices, BON rounds up our staff’s, our freelance contributors’ and our readers’ favorite local food, art, music, businesses, media, athletes and beyond. We started work on the issue at the beginning of the summer, and published it in October. I’m happy to say it was our best-read issue of the year.
