Tis the season to say “Alexa, play last Christmas” and then hit her with a “Play it again” every few minutes. Don’t be ashamed, we all love the holidays here in Nashville. Whether you’re the classics type, or looking forward to every new release, one thing that Christmas brings every year is a slew of new media that tells and retells stories old and new. One standard that seems to fit the bill of Christmastime aesthetic has to do with a gorgeous landscape and Nashville, Tennessee is home to grand beauty that is not just naturally thrilling, but comfortable, cozy. Some would even argue that there is no place like Nashville for the holidays (okay maybe that’s just us, but we can’t be too far off), especially once the locals dress up anything in the city that will stand still with lights, tinsel and more. What can I say? We love an excuse to cover everything with Christmas lights.
Along with being invested in holiday themes just because the extra cheer is fun in general, did you know that Nashville, Tennessee has been the backdrop to a number of festive films throughout history. Even the year 2020 has managed to present us with a brand new film, shot in Nashville, reinventing the classic tale of A Christmas Carol. Whenever you’re looking to feel a little closer to home while enjoying Christmas media with your family, take a look at this list. Here at Nashville Bar Bike, we consider each other and all of our guests to be like family and we just want everyone to feel cozy for Christmas this year and all the years to come. Don’t forget to check out our last post to find out what’s open in Nashville for the month of December and follow/like us on Instagram and Facebook. We are constantly updating the blog and social media with ideas for enjoying the city like the locals do. How many movies on this list have you seen?
Cheers from everyone at Nashville Bar Bike!
CMT Country Christmas
★ 7.3
Back in 2005, when people still tuned in to their favorite television channel to enjoy music videos, the CMT network was known for being the provider of all things involved with pop culture and country music. Even I remember my grandparents playing this special during Christmas, everyone talking and having fun while waiting on Grandma to finish up cooking the meal. If you’re looking for a little bit of Holiday cheer in the form of just music videos, not a live stage performance, then the CMT: 20 Merriest Christmas Videos special is the move to be made. Filming locations included Nashville, Los Angeles and New York City, combining some of the greats in music at the time. Whether you are trying to complete a certain ambiance with background noise, or want to gather everyone into one spot for a cup of eggnog, you can’t go wrong with an old TV special from CMT. Though this video special is over ten years old, most of the songs featured are still in heavy rotation during the holiday season, even if they are not considered to be classics just yet.
Christmas on Highway 101
Whether you are already familiar with the band Highway 101 or are just hearing about them today, there’s a fun time to be had with Christmas on Highway 101. Filmed between North Carolina and Nashville, this holiday special is not just paying homage to Highway 101 at Christmastime, but an example of the south and how beautiful the area can be around this time of year. Pop this DVD in and take a journey behind the scenes with a platinum selling band, all while enjoying classic Christmas tunes in a way you’ve never seen before. This piece is a truly intimate look at what goes on during filming, while showing off how much fun this time of year can be for a performing band.
Country Music Caravan
Back in 2005, when people still tuned in to their favorite television channel to enjoy music videos, the CMT network was known for being the provider of all things involved with pop culture and country music. Even I remember my grandparents playing this special during Christmas, everyone talking and having fun while waiting on Grandma to finish up cooking the meal. If you’re looking for a little bit of Holiday cheer in the form of just music videos, not a live stage performance, then the CMT: 20 Merriest Christmas Videos special is the move to be made. Filming locations included Nashville, Los Angeles and New York City, combining some of the greats in music at the time. Whether you are trying to complete a certain ambiance with background noise, or want to gather everyone into one spot for a cup of eggnog, you can’t go wrong with an old TV special from CMT. Though this video special is over ten years old, most of the songs featured are still in heavy rotation during the holiday season, even if they are not considered to be classics just yet.
Merry Christmas from the Grand Ole Opry
Almost synonymous with Nashville in general, the Grand Ole Opry is one standard part of Tennessee heritage. Planning a visit to Nashville is not complete without a visit to the Grand Ole Opry and with good reason. Founded back in the 20’s, the Grand Ole Opry has been the place to be when on the search for top tier country and western music, this special is no disappointment. Filmed in 1979, this special features favorite names like Ronnie Milsap, Loni Anderson and Barbara Mandrell, along with many others. If there is one thing that researching this article has taught us here at Nashville Bar Bike, it’s that Nashville has been putting out some of the best country versions of holiday tunes that you’ll ever find. But then again, we already knew that much about Nashville.
Ernest Saves Christmas
🍅 36%
One of ten films starring the idea of Ernest P. Worrel, Ernest Saves Christmas was only a fraction of the entire commercial, then television show turned film series that was shot throughout Nashville. From the year 1980, until the final direct to movie film in 1998, Ernest P. Worrel was a wacky character that entertained the masses with silly antics. Featuring actor Jim Varney, Ernest Saves Christmas tells the tale of Ernest on the hunt for a replacement to a Santa Clause that has become too old to continue providing gifts. Though most of the series was originally shot in Tennessee, this film was almost entirely filmed in Orlando, Florida. However, a few scenes were still done in Nashville, solidifying the spot on our list. How many of the Ernest movies have you seen? Let us know on Facebook or Instagram, we are always curious to know more about our guests!
A Belle For Christmas
★ 4.9
Everyone knows that the one true way to guarantee that a Holiday film will be able to tug at the heart strings of all involved is to include a puppy in the storyline. A Belle For Christmas is a film starring a sweet puppy named Belle, amongst some bigger names in the industry that walk on two legs, most of the time. Equal parts adventure and adorable, gather the kids together for a fun and original storyline for the holidays with A Belle For Christmas.
An Old-Time Country Christmas
As mentioned earlier in the article, Nashville is famous for being a central hub of country music creation and Christmastime is no different than any other season throughout the year. An Old-Time Country Christmas was a made for TV movie filmed in 1969 with all of the classic musicians that have been staples of country and western music since the beginning. From Dolly Parton to Jim Ed Brown, Loretta Lynn and many, many more, An Old-Old Time Country Christmas takes you back to the good old days, holiday style. With a variety of acts to keep you entertained, this film would make a prime backdrop to any December get-together. A full version can even be found on YouTube.
A Nashville Christmas TV Short
Filmed in 2017, this made for TV showing is an instant classic, following the tone of past television premieres. Featuring everyone from Wynonna Judd to Lorrie Morgan, A Nashville Christmas does a great job at continuing the tradition of classic holiday tunes in the style of country and western music. Just under an hour long, you can’t go wrong with adding this piece to your Christmas movie playlist.
Bill Anderson: A Waffle House Christmas
While this video is just that, a music video, we felt it deserved a spot on the list. Bill Anderson put out A Waffle House Christmas in 2018 and would you believe that Kid Rock is actually on the cast list? Normally, a Christmas themed song is one that is uplifting, full of hope for this time of year. This is not one of those songs. During A Waffle House Christmas, families come to the Waffle House for a meal and end up having to deal with more than they bargained for. Though this song has been in rotation at the Grand Ole Opry for many years, the video is still relatively new. If you’re looking for something to listen to that is a little less cheerful but still entirely too much fun, you can’t deny the fun being had in A Waffle House Christmas.
Conclusion
Here at Nashville Bar Bike, we are coming at you with the purest of intent all year long. Right now, we are on a mission to make sure that all of our family (yes, that means you, you’re family now, we will see you for a plate at dinnertime) has the best possible experience for the holiday season this year. If you are looking to plan a trip or just stay in with those you love the most, there’s a blog post available to help ease the stress of planning an entire vacation. While Christmastime and the Holiday season in general always seem to involve a ton of planning, traveling, family interactions and more, the one thing that seems to gather everyone into one room to just have a good time is a solid Christmas flick. Alongside classics like the Santa Clause and Rudolph, we hope there’s something on this list that will make you and yours feel closer to home while enjoying some incredible Christmas specials together. Even in these strange times, watch party websites and apps are cheaper than ever, with some free versions available, so you can enjoy anything from the comfort and warmth of your own home, while staying virtually close to friends and family. We know that there are plenty of options to choose from, hopefully this list and those prior can help you figure out the prime way to celebrate. From movies to TV specials to music videos and back again, there is a media format that will set the tone flawlessly. Don’t forget to give us a follow and like on social media to stay up to date with what’s happening in Nashville Tennessee, and always tell your friends about the Nashville Bar Bike whenever you’re discussing the city. Happy Holidays from everyone here at Nashville Bar Bike! We can’t wait to meet you!