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Today’s newsletter is 982 words — a 4-minute read.

Lorenzo Washington, who worked tirelessly to preserve Jefferson Street's iconic music history, died last week at 83.

Washington launched the independent nonprofit Jefferson Street Sound Museum in 2011 to celebrate the thoroughfare's unparalleled place in U.S. music history.

• Jefferson Street was Nashville's original Music Row, lined with live music venues where Black musicians would regularly perform.

Venues like the Del Morocco Club, the New Era and Club Stealaway lined the road where touring artists like Ray Charles and BB King performed and local legends like Marion James and Jimmy Church cut their teeth.

• Washington grew up going to those clubs. Though he wasn't a musician or a music industry professional, he launched small, independent record labels releasing hip-hop, gospel and R&B music.

His first foray into telling Jefferson Street's story was a music genealogy tree, which showed the many music venues once located there and the famous artists who performed in them.

• The museum is lined with club posters, newspaper articles and other priceless music relics. Everyone from schoolchildren to music lovers and older Nashvillians who grew up going to concerts at the clubs would visit.
• Earlier this year, the museum was added to the national Civil Rights Trail.

One of Jefferson Street's most famous tales is a young guitarist named Jimi Hendrix briefly playing in the backing band for rock pioneer Little Richard.

Washington was a wealth of knowledge because he was there, and he was passionate about keeping the history alive.

• In 2025, the International Blues Society awarded Washington the Keeping the Blues Alive award.
• The Nashville Scene gave him the Best Culture Specialty Museum award in 2019.
• Last year, Mayor Freddie O'Connell lauded Washington as a "living legend."

"Lorenzo opened his own home in 2011 so that Jefferson Street would never be forgotten," the National Museum of African American Music posted on Instagram.

• "Through the Jefferson Street Sound Museum, he preserved the photographs, instruments, and stories of a North Nashville corridor where Jimi Hendrix, Ella Fitzgerald, Jackie Shane, and hundreds of local artists made music history.⁠"

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Constitutional Amendment #1 on the Nov. 3 ballot could allow judges to deny bail for as many as 144 additional criminal offenses, according to a new report from the nonprofit ThinkTennessee.

Why it matters: The amendment would alter a constitutional protection that has existed in Tennessee since 1796, potentially allowing more people to be kept in jail while awaiting trial.

Friction point: Supporters, including Tennessee prosecutors and top Republicans, say it would give judges additional tools to protect the public from people accused of serious crimes.

• Opponents, including the ACLU of Tennessee, warn that expanding pretrial detention would weaken protections for people who have not been convicted and could increase pressure on local jails.

How it works: Tennessee's constitution currently guarantees the right to bail except in capital cases when the evidence meets a high threshold.

• The amendment would expand judges' discretion to deny bail on charges including second-degree murder, aggravated rape and a suite of additional offenses that require convicted defendants to serve at least 85% of their sentences.
• Judges would have to explain their decisions on the record.

The big picture: The amendment could further strain Tennessee's county jails.

• As of June, jails in 21 of the state's 95 counties were operating at or above capacity, according to ThinkTennessee.

Follow the money: Counties spend an average of $69.20 housing an inmate per day. It's unclear how many additional people might be detained if the amendment passes.

Share this story ... Early voting runs through Thursday

Tennessee proceeded with Christa Pike's botched execution despite signs of IV trouble, according to a court filing. (Tennessean)

⚠️ Ten people were taken to local hospitals last week after a car rear-ended a pedal tavern downtown. (NewsChannel 5)

📖 Nashville honored the 111-year-old North Branch library with a new historic marker. (Nashville Scene)

Taylor Swift's Nashville years didn't just launch her career. They helped shape how she writes, works and connects with fans, journalist Emily Yahr tells Axios.

The big picture: Yahr interviewed more than 100 people for her new book, "Taylor Swift: The Debut Years."

State of play: We asked Yahr what Swift's Nashville beginnings reveal about the superstar she became. (Responses were edited for length and clarity.)

• Yahr also helped us curate this week's Tay takeover of the Axios Nashville playlist.

What hinted at her future stardom?

"One of my favorite interviews was with Arturo Buenahora, who signed Taylor to a publishing deal at Sony/ATV when she was 14. He told me an anecdote about hearing 'Teardrops on My Guitar,' which is about Taylor's crush on a guy named Drew.

"He asked why she didn't change it to 'you' or something more universal; her response was basically, 'Because it's about Drew.' She already knew that listeners would relate to that kind of specificity."

How did her country years shape her success?

"Collaborating with the incredibly hardworking Nashville songwriters and producers helped shape her already relentless work ethic.

"But the key element is how much country music encourages stars to treat their fans as friends, something that Taylor intuitively grasped as a young artist."

Why does her debut still matter?

"The 'Taylor Swift' album is an essential part of her legacy because it foreshadowed themes that would remain so prevalent in her music: lasting love, bitter breakups, fiery revenge, and just trying to figure out life."

Read more from the Q&A ... Listen to our playlist packed with Swift's early essentials

Our picks:

🏊 Nate cheered his son Maddux on at a weekend swim meet.

😴 Adam is already looking forward to an extra hour of sleep this weekend.

This newsletter was edited by Jen Burkett.