18 December, 2017Print
AJ’s Good Time Bar Ranked #1 in Nashville by Billboard
After just one year in existence, AJ’s Good Time Bar has become the #1 bar in downtown Nashville! And the ranking comes from no less than the most-respected of all entertainment outlets, Billboard.
In a recently published listing of the “5 Best Nashville Restaurants, Bars and Clubs” (created as part of a larger list of the nation’s &ldquoTop 10 Music Honky-Tonks in Nashville and Beyond”), Alan Jackson’s 8,000 square-foot downtown entertainment venue took the top spot, above some of the city’s longest-running hot spots.
"This nightspot…owned by recent Country Music Hall of Fame member Alan Jackson, might be a little too new for some to accept on this list,” Billboard notes, “But when you walk into the club…you immediately feel right at home.” The ranking also credits the country superstar and his team for the thought and care they gave to preserving the building while simultaneously creating a space that locals and Music City visitors alike are flocking to. “Jackson and his planners did a wonderful job in coming up with a place that has the same comfortable feel that one of the proprietor’s songs has. Since the opening earlier this year, AJ’s has become one of the top destinations for artists to look into playing – a trend that should very much continue!”
The latter accolade – AJ’s emerging as a go-to place for performers and music lovers alike – proves that Jackson’s desire to create a genuine Broadway honky-tonk that’s a true home to country music is being realized. AJ’s Good Time Bar is housed in the oldest building on Broadway, a space that dates to the Civil War when it served for a time as a hospital. But its music history runs deep – in the 1940s, it housed the city’s first used record store; jukeboxes were sold there, as well. It was once home to Bullet Records, the south’s first independent record label and Nashville first home-grown label…a company that recorded and released music by Grand Ole Opry stars such as Minnie Pearl and R&B talents like B.B King, whose Bullet release is considered his big break.
AJ's Good Time Bar, the only completely artist-owned establishment on Nashville's Lower Broadway, opened October 5, 2016. This year, the third-floor and rooftop spaces were added. In just 12 months of existence, the venue had served over half-a-million drinks by the time it celebrated its first anniversary the same month the Georgia native was inducted into the nearby Country Music Hall of Fame.
That night, Jackson, his family and friends celebrated the Hall of Fame induction at AJ’s, surprising fans and patrons as he entered. It was just the latest unscheduled appearance by the superstar, who frequently stops by his namesake venue – in May, in fact, Jackson and his band gave a surprise late-night performance following an earlier full-length, sold-out concert at the city's Ascend Amphitheatre. This year has seen AJ's playing host to such events as CNN's live rooftop coverage of the August solar eclipse...leading a hurricane relief fundraising initiative among the honky-tonk community…serving as the location for a series of radio and sporting event broadcasts…all while providing countless memorable moments for patrons far and wide.
Billboard’s #1 ranking for AJ’s is just the latest example of how the venue’s energy and atmosphere have caught the attention of the entertainment and lifestyle media. "AJ's is true to the city's famed honky-tonks, with stages on each floor, offering real country music throughout," says Taste of Country, while Food & Wine promises, "You're sure to have a good time at AJ's."
Check out AJ’s #1 ranking among Nashville’s bars and honky-tonks here:
For more on AJ's Good Time Bar, visit ajsgoodtimebar.com.
About AJ's Good Time Bar:
Located at 421 Broadway in the heart of downtown Nashville, AJ's Good Time Bar is named for Jackson's 2008 chart-topper "Good Time." Each floor sports a different personality, showcasing Jackson's varied interests and hobbies. On the first floor, "AJ's Honky Tonk" prominently features live country music, while the second-floor "GT Bar" offers a sports- and car-themed atmosphere. The "Hullbilly Bar" on the third floor is proving to be one of the venue's biggest draws -- it's modeled after Jackson's Merritt Sportfish boat seen in his music videos for "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" and "Long Way to Go." That level also features karaoke and live music. The rooftop "Star Bar" caps AJ's Good Time Bar, providing a panoramic view encompassing the historic Ryman Auditorium, Broadway, Nissan Stadium and all of downtown Music City from its vantage point four stories above the stretch of road commonly called the "Honky Tonk Highway," just like Jackson's current tour. As sole owner and visionary behind the venue, Jackson is known to make appearances at AJ's during the week and when not on the road. He's also a majority owner in ACME Feed & Seed, located just blocks away at 1st Avenue and Broadway.
About Alan Jackson:
Recently inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame, Alan Jackson’s membership among country music’s all-time greats is the latest in a long line of career-defining accolades that include three CMA Entertainer of the Year honors, more than 25 years of membership in the Grand Ole Opry, a 2016 Billboard ranking as one of the Top 10 Country Artists of All-Time, induction to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Heritage Award as the most-performed country songwriter-artist of ASCAP’s first 100 years. The man from rural Newnan, GA has sold nearly 60-million albums worldwide, ranks as one of the 10 best-selling male vocalists of all-time in all genres. He has released more than 60 singles – registering 50 Top Ten hits and 35 #1s (including 26 Billboard chart-toppers). He has earned more than 150 music industry awards – including 18 Academy of Country Music Awards, 16 Country Music Association Awards, a pair of Grammys and ASCAP’s Founders and Golden Note Awards. Jackson is one of the most successful and respected singer-songwriters in music. He is in the elite company of Paul McCartney and John Lennon among songwriters who’ve written more than 20 songs that they’ve recorded and taken to the top of the charts. Jackson is one of the best-selling artists since the inception of SoundScan, ranking alongside the likes of Eminem and Metallica.