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Starting this year, an annual Dolly Day in Nashville will celebrate the legendary artist's legacy of philanthropy and giving back to the community.

Why it matters: Nashvillians can celebrate Dolly Parton on 9/25 — chosen in honor of her hit song "9 to 5" — by giving to her charitable causes, performing random acts of kindness or simply wearing pink.

Driving the news: The creation of Dolly Day was announced Thursday by the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp, the Music Community Foundation, Mayor Freddie O'Connell's office and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce.

The event will, of course, include musical performances, with bands performing "9 to 5" at 5pm on stages across the city.

Businesses are encouraged to light their buildings pink, and local eateries will offer Dolly-themed specials.

The festivities will conclude with a brief fireworks display downtown at 9:25pm.

Yes, but: Giving back will be at the root of Dolly Day, just like it was at the center of Parton's career.

The Community Foundation is launching the Give Like Dolly campaign as part of the Dollywood Foundation's national Give Like Dolly initiative.

Starting on Sept. 25, donors can support local nonprofits across four areas of special interest to Parton, helping children, helping people heal, helping neighbors in need and "helping someone find their song."

"Dolly has shown us what can happen when generosity is rooted in a genuine love for community," Community Foundation CEO Hal Cato said in a statement.

Zoom in: People can also give directly to Parton's Imagination Library of Middle Tennessee.

Superstars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood pledged to donate proceeds from their downtown honky-tonk on Sept. 25 to the Nashville Public Library and the Imagination Library.

What's next: In recognition of Parton's tremendous contributions to the city, O'Connell will read a proclamation officially proclaiming Sept. 25 as Dolly Day in Nashville.

If you go: Free Dolly Day buttons, stickers and bookmarks will be available at visitor information centers at Bridgestone Arena and Fifth + Broadway.

Residents and visitors are invited to leave messages pledging how they plan to carry on Parton's kindness at the Bridgestone Arena visitor center.

Visit the CVC's website for more information, including fun activities on Dolly Day.

Nashville creates Dolly Day to be celebrated on 9/25

Nashvillians can celebrate Dolly Parton each year on Sept. 25 by giving to her charitable causes, performing random acts of kindness or simply wearing pink.

Dolly singing onstage in front of a microphone.

Photo: Richard E. Aaron/Redferns via Getty Images


Starting this year, an annual Dolly Day in Nashville will celebrate the legendary artist&#x27;s legacy of philanthropy and giving back to the community.Why it matters: Nashvillians can celebrate <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Dolly Parton" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/08/25/dolly-parton-has-died-at-80-obit" data-vars-content-id="2dd410dc-8fb2-47e4-9cd3-bf56b7192dc6" data-vars-headline="Nashville creates Dolly Day to be celebrated on 9/25" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/08/25/dolly-parton-has-died-at-80-obit" target="_self">Dolly Parton</a> on 9/25 — chosen in honor of her hit song &quot;9 to 5&quot; — by giving to her charitable causes, performing random acts of kindness or simply wearing pink.

Things to Do

News

The fate of Nashville's publicly owned fairgrounds racetrack will likely be in the hands of voters next year after organizers on Friday turned in enough petition signatures to put the issue on the ballot.

Why it matters: The racetrack has been the source of political intrigue, activism and debate for more than 15 years.

A plan from the group Restore Our Fairgrounds would permanently ban auto racing at the fairgrounds and replace it with affordable or workforce housing on the list of required programming there.

Catch up quick: After several false starts, Restore Our Fairgrounds got the green light earlier this year from city officials to begin collecting voter signatures to try and put their plan on the ballot.

Yes, but: The proposed referendum needed more voter signatures than any previous petition drive in Metro history at around 41,000.

In order to pull it off, Restore Our Fairgrounds hired a slate of  consultants.

By the numbers: The group said it turned in more than 74,900 voter signatures, which is the most for a Nashville initiative in recent memory.

Between the lines: Because the measure hasn't advanced to the ballot, the group has not yet been required to disclose its fundraising.

John Ingram, the wealthy lead owner of the Nashville SC, is a known supporter of the plan to ban racing.

Zoom in: Backers of the petition drive say auto racing doesn't make sense at the fairgrounds. They describe the track as a noisy neighborhood nuisance and also a pollutant of nearby Browns Creek.

They say park space and affordable housing are better uses of the racetrack site.

The other side: Racing supporters fought the signature collection with a campaign called "decline to sign." They accused the anti-racing group of misrepresenting their proposal by focusing on affordable housing — the most pervasive political issue in Nashville right now — and not the racing ban.

The opposition group also was not required to disclose its donors, but Speedway Motorsports Inc. executive Marcus Smith is a known supporter of fixing up the fairgrounds racetrack.

The proposal doesn't actually require Metro to build more affordable housing at the fairgrounds. The plan would amend the charter to say Metro must have workforce or affordable housing at the fairgrounds.

However, there's already workforce housing as part of the development surrounding Geodis Park, so some stakeholders believe those units would meet the new charter requirement.

Friction point: For racing supporters, the fairgrounds track is hallowed ground. It's been around since 1904 and previously hosted NASCAR's top circuit races.

Future stars like Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Sterling Marlin got their starts at the fairgrounds.

There hasn't been a NASCAR race since 2000.

Flashback: Voters have already weighed in on the future of the fairgrounds once. In 2011, they voted to preserve racing, a fair, flea market and other programming at the fairgrounds under a charter amendment that passed by a wide margin.

That amendment also created a high bar of at least 27 council votes to demolish any building at the fairgrounds.

State of play: There's a proposal in the works from Speedway Motorsports Inc. to partner with the city to build a new racetrack facility and bring NASCAR back to Nashville.

Mayor Freddie O'Connell expressed skepticism about the racing ban, but has not advanced a racetrack financing plan.

With thousands of voters supporting a referendum, it may be unlikely that O'Connell files a racetrack renovation with the Metro Council until after next year's election.

What's next: The Election Commission must verify the signatures. During such petition drives, it's common for some signatures to be tossed for a variety of reasons.

If the signatures are approved, a legal challenge from the pro-racing side is all but certain.

The bottom line: If such a challenge fails in court, then voters will decide the fate of auto racing at the fairgrounds once and for all.

Organizers turn in enough signatures to put fairgrounds racing ban on the ballot

Organizers turned in thousands of petitions to trigger a referendum in Nashville over banning racing at the fairgrounds.

Illustration of a race car with a question mark on the side, instead of a number.

The fate of Nashville&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="publicly owned fairgrounds racetrack" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2025/12/08/proposal-ban-auto-racing-nashville-fairgrounds" data-vars-content-id="551be313-567f-4c20-86a6-da497d25fc6f" data-vars-headline="Organizers turn in enough signatures to put fairgrounds racing ban on the ballot" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2025/12/08/proposal-ban-auto-racing-nashville-fairgrounds" target="_self">publicly owned fairgrounds racetrack</a> will likely be in the hands of voters next year after organizers on Friday turned in enough petition signatures to put the issue on the ballot.Why it matters: The racetrack has been the source of political intrigue, activism and debate for more than 15 years.<ul><li>A plan from the group Restore Our Fairgrounds would permanently ban auto racing at the fairgrounds and replace it with affordable or workforce housing on the list of required programming there.</li></ul>

Politics

A Georgia congressman sent a letter to the top U.S. transportation official this week, expressing concerns about federal funding for Tennessee's I-24 toll lane project.

Why it matters: The toll lanes are supposed to bring in billions of dollars for Tennessee's transportation funding and help ease congestion on the busy I-24 corridor between Nashville and Rutherford County.

Driving the news: In a letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, U.S. Rep. Clay Fuller questioned plans for the project to use a Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan.

Since its launch in 1998, the TIFIA program has approved $52 billion in federal assistance.

The largest loan to date was nearly $4 billion for the State Route 400 project in Fuller's home state of Georgia.

What he's saying: In his letter, Fuller worries TDOT would borrow "in the excess of $10 billion" for the project, and expresses concern that such an amount "would crowd out other viable and important projects nationwide."

State of play: Tennessee awarded the toll project to a consortium of businesses called DriveTN, which outbid its next closest competitors by a wide margin in order to secure the deal.

DriveTN committed $24.8 billion in promised payments to Tennessee compared to the next highest bid of $7.4 billion.

DriveTN's bid included $9.2 billion in estimated construction costs, which raised eyebrows for Fuller.

The other side: A spokesperson for the Tennessee Department of Transportation said the state remains in an active procurement and can't provide additional details. The contract for the project isn't finalized.

Yes, but: In an interview with the Nashville Business Journal, TDOT Commissioner Will Reid confirmed state officials are talking to U.S. senators and federal officials about a loan that will reach "uncharted territory for projects this large."

The Business Journal reports those talks are "poised to produce a record" TIFIA loan, but Reid declined to say the dollar amount.

"Can the TIFIA program manage this much of a loan, and how is that going to shape the market? We want to work through that so it works for everyone involved," Reid told the Business Journal. "We get the value that was promised to us … but we also don't blow up the entire TIFIA program."

How it works: Choice Lanes allow motorists to pay a toll to bypass congestion in the regular interstate lanes.

In addition to questions about funding for the project, Choice Lanes has drawn criticism for affecting property owners in south Nashville.

In an interview with the Nashville Business Journal

affecting property owners in south Nashville

Georgia congressman questions federal funding for TN Choice Lanes

U.S. Rep. Clay Fuller questions the use of a record federal loan for Tennessee's Choice Lanes project.

Illustration of the Tennessee State Capitol building with lines radiating from it.

A Georgia congressman sent a letter to the top U.S. transportation official this week, expressing concerns about federal funding for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tennessee&#x27;s I-24 toll lane project" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/12/19/nashville-new-optional-toll-lanes" data-vars-content-id="65eb1884-137d-4671-9242-2bf0cb0e070f" data-vars-headline="Georgia congressman questions federal funding for TN Choice Lanes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/12/19/nashville-new-optional-toll-lanes" target="_self">Tennessee&#x27;s I-24 toll lane project</a>.Why it matters: The toll lanes are supposed to bring in billions of dollars for Tennessee&#x27;s transportation funding and help ease congestion on the busy I-24 corridor between Nashville and Rutherford County.

Against the backdrop of a troublesome time for the craft beer industry, Nashville-based Jackalope Brewing Company turned in excellent sales numbers in recent months.

Why it matters: Jackalope's surge offers a bright light on the heels of closures and declining sales.

By the numbers: According to new Nielsen retail data provided by the brewery, Jackalope beer sales grew 17.1% for the 26 weeks ending on Aug. 8.

By comparison, Nashville's overall craft beer and cider market declined by 1.5% in dollars and 3.8% in volume.

Catch up quick: Jackalope launched in 2011. Steve Barone, an entrepreneur who owns a hospitality company called Pikeld Concepts with several bars under its umbrella, bought the brewery in 2024.

Jackalope acquired fellow independent brewery Black Abbey earlier this year.

What he's saying: "Nashville is home. The plan has always been to get really good at what we do in one market — the beer, the people, the operating model, all of it — and then take that across Tennessee and eventually into neighboring states," Barone said in a statement. "This data tells us the first part is working."

Zoom out: Nashville, like other beer markets, saw a string of mergers and acquisitions in recent years. Knoxville-based Xul acquired Southern Grist.

Memphis's Wiseacre joined forces with Bearded Iris.

The intrigue: The company says focusing on two popular styles among craft beer fans fueled the success.

"We weren't participating in light lagers and IPAs — we were really just dipping our toes in the market — but now we are," Steve Wright, Jackalope's chief revenue officer, tells Axios.

If you go: Jackalope is located at 429B Houston Street in the Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood.

a troublesome time for the craft beer industry

Exclusive: Nashville's Jackalope Brewing Co. posts strong growth numbers

Jackalope turned in excellent sales in recent months following its acquisition of Black Abbey.

Four small beer tasters on a wooden flight paddle sit on a bar counter; left to right: pale ale, amber, golden, and dark red beers, with a blurred background.

A flight of beer from Jackalope. Photo: courtesy of Jackalope Brewing Company

Against the backdrop of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a troublesome time for the craft beer industry" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2025/09/02/nashville-craft-beer-industry-ownership-changes" data-vars-content-id="af641e71-7b11-4b69-8423-9600be0e0014" data-vars-headline="Exclusive: Nashville&#x27;s Jackalope Brewing Co. posts strong growth numbers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2025/09/02/nashville-craft-beer-industry-ownership-changes" target="_self">a troublesome time for the craft beer industry</a>, Nashville-based Jackalope Brewing Company turned in excellent sales numbers in recent months.Why it matters: Jackalope&#x27;s surge offers a bright light on the heels of closures and declining sales.

Latest news on Wall Street, Corporate America and financial regulation.

Business

A vital East Bank hotel project won't be finished in time for the Super Bowl in Nashville in 2030, creating consternation among city leaders.

Why it matters: The situation illustrates a frayed relationship between Metro and the Fallon Company, which is the city's chosen master developer for the land around the new Titans stadium.

City officials are worried about the optics and logistics of having a major construction site next to Nissan Stadium when the Super Bowl is in town.

Driving the news: Top Fallon executives informed the East Bank Development Authority board on Tuesday that its estimated timeline for the hotel is running slower than previous updates.

Friction point: Fallon told the authority in May 2025 it expected to begin construction of the hotel this year and finish in early 2029. That would have left plenty of time for the 2030 Super Bowl. 

But in its latest update, Fallon said it does not have final financing for the hotel.

The company also has not selected a flagship hotel brand for the 600-room hotel project or finished design work.

Zoom in: The Super Bowl is obviously a big deal for Nashville, but there's a broader financial concern about the mixed-use development coming together as soon as possible.

The new Nissan Stadium will open next year. Sales tax collections generated from the development around it are supposed to help pay for the debt on the project. 

What he's saying: "Unfortunately, it wasn't a surprise to us. It was a surprise to many, so we'll need to do a better job making sure everyone's aware of that," Fallon Company CEO Michael Fallon said.

In a slide show for the board, he walked through critical updates that have taken place behind the scenes, including Metro work like site appraisals and infrastructure approvals. 

Fallon says it needs to know where infrastructure, like sewers and utility, on the site will go and when it will be finished before it can complete financing and design work.

A Fallon spokesperson says the company secured an financial partner, and more details will be coming soon.

Yes, but: Board members expressed concerns and pressed the Fallon Company for why the hotel project has been slower to come together than expected. They also asked what the city could do to speed up the process.

One possibility board member Jimmy Granbery suggested was delaying groundbreaking for the hotel until after the Super Bowl to avoid a partially built tower and construction site on the week of the city's preeminent showcase.

That option may be a deal-breaker for Fallon, which also plans to develop other aspects of the East Bank.

What we're watching: At the suggestion of Granbery, the board voted to appoint Metro Planning Department director Lucy Kempf to convene a meeting with all stakeholders, including the Fallon Company, to determine next steps.

Kempf's appointment is notable because she is a well-respected Metro official.

Mayor Freddie O'Connell tasked Kempf last month with overseeing six Metro projects on the East Bank, including road work and new parks, with the goal of having them finished before the Super Bowl.

What she's saying: "There are a ton of moving parts, but it is really critical for everyone to be up front about what the risks are and what the opportunities are," Kempf said about the future of the hotel site.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional information about Fallon's financing.

Metro officials concerned after East Bank hotel delay

Metro officials are worried after the Fallon Company said its timeline for an East Bank hotel is running slower than expected.

Animated illustration of a construction crane lifting a giant foam finger that reads "#1."

A vital <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="East Bank hotel project" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/05/06/new-renderings-show-plan-for-nashville-s-east-bank" data-vars-content-id="f2852cc9-7f39-4775-bd0b-8f48de2877af" data-vars-headline="Metro officials concerned after East Bank hotel delay" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/05/06/new-renderings-show-plan-for-nashville-s-east-bank" target="_self">East Bank hotel project</a> won&#x27;t be finished in time for the Super Bowl in Nashville in 2030, creating consternation among city leaders.Why it matters: The situation illustrates a frayed relationship between Metro and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the Fallon Company," data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/09/12/metro-east-bank-development-firm-fallon-company" data-vars-content-id="f2852cc9-7f39-4775-bd0b-8f48de2877af" data-vars-headline="Metro officials concerned after East Bank hotel delay" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/09/12/metro-east-bank-development-firm-fallon-company" target="_self">the Fallon Company,</a> which is the city&#x27;s chosen master developer for the land around the new Titans stadium.<ul><li>City officials are worried about the optics and logistics of having a major construction site next to Nissan Stadium when <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the Super Bowl is in town" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/05/19/nashville-picked-to-host-super-bowl-in-2030" data-vars-content-id="f2852cc9-7f39-4775-bd0b-8f48de2877af" data-vars-headline="Metro officials concerned after East Bank hotel delay" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/05/19/nashville-picked-to-host-super-bowl-in-2030" target="_self">the Super Bowl is in town</a>.</li></ul>

Nate Rau

Featured stories

Georgia congressman questions federal funding for TN Choice Lanes

Exclusive: Nashville's Jackalope Brewing Co. posts strong growth numbers

Metro officials concerned after East Bank hotel delay

Organizers turn in enough signatures to put fairgrounds racing ban on the ballot

Nashville creates Dolly Day to be celebrated on 9/25