Axios Nashville

June 26, 2026
It is Friday. You know what that means.
π§οΈ Today's weather: Mostly sunny then chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high of 93 and a low of 76. There's a small chance the storms are severe.
π Happy early birthday to our Axios Nashville member Jim Lundy!
This newsletter is 989 words β a 3.5-minute read.
1 big thing: Remembering Reba's Broadway star turn
Fans have had to wait 25 years for Reba McEntire's newest release.
The intrigue: The country queen dropped two songs from the vault that were pulled from her legendary run on Broadway in the musical "Annie Get Your Gun." She took her final bow in the show 25 years ago this week.
Why it matters: McEntire's six-month stint on the other Broadway was a dazzling financial and critical success that added to her already impressive legacy and set the stage for a new phase in her career.
Flashback: The 1998 revival of "Annie Get Your Gun" was well into its run and on life support when McEntire agreed to step into the title role. Her performance changed everything.
- Critics raved and box office hauls skyrocketed.
By the numbers: The week before McEntire joined the show, it pulled in $304,182, per the New York Times.
- A couple of months later, weekly grosses had jumped to nearly $750,000.
The latest: Now fans who couldn't make it to New York have a chance to revisit McEntire's Broadway era.
- She released the rollicking "You Can't Get a Man With a Gun" and the love ballad "I Got Lost in His Arms" on Monday, marking the anniversary of her final performance.
- The songs were recorded during her run but had become lost media in the years since.
The big picture: McEntire was already one of Nashville's biggest stars when she arrived in New York, but her overwhelming success as a leading lady on Broadway showed her full power extended far beyond country music.
- That star turn became a prelude to McEntire's second act. Months after she left Broadway, her sitcom "Reba" premiered, introducing her to an even wider audience.
The bottom line: Broadway helped McEntire raise her profile and sharpen her skills just in time for her debut as a network TV star.
- She also established a lane for country artists with their own Broadway dreams.
What we're watching: Nashville should be well represented on Broadway this year, with Dolly Parton's self-penned autobiographical musical expected to open in the coming months.
2. Nashville Pride returns after turbulent year, loss of corporate sponsors
Nashville Pride will be back this weekend after a tumultuous year that pushed organizers to launch an emergency fundraiser to stay afloat.
Why it matters: When several corporate sponsors pulled their funding in 2025, organizers were initially unsure if they'd be able to host an LGBTQ+ Pride festival this year.
- The reimagined parade and festival taking place tomorrow was largely bankrolled by individual donations to "Save Nashville Pride."
The big picture: The event has grown exponentially since launching in 1988, with support from major corporations.
Yes, but: A great deal of that support evaporated last year β in Nashville and other cities nationwide.
- Many major businesses decided to walk back their sponsorships as the Trump administration ramped up its opposition to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
By the numbers: In Nashville, funding from corporate sponsors nosedived 40% in 2025. Organizers said that amounted to a loss of $270,000.
- The local fundraiser raised about $145,000 last fall. But that was more than $100,000 short of the goal.
State of play: As a result, this year's festival will be different.
- The event will shrink to one day, and the roster of entertainers leans on local acts.
What they're saying: Organizers hope that the festival will retain its celebratory feel despite the challenges.
- "Bringing that parade and festival together into one day allows us to create that more unified, high-energy experience," Nashville Pride's Brady Ruffin told WPLN.
If you go: The Nashville Pride parade starts at 10am tomorrow at the corner of Broadway and Eighth Avenue.
- The festival follows from 11am-8pm at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. Festival tickets start at $10.
3. Waymo continues expansion of robotaxis in Nashville
Waymo is continuing its phased rollout of self-driving robotaxis in Nashville.
The latest: Nashville riders previously had to sign up on a waiting list before they could hail a robotaxi. But yesterday the company announced anyone in the city's service area could sign up for the Waymo app and ride instantly without a waiting period.
What they're saying: Waymo said "tens of thousands of people" have joined in Nashville.
Between the lines: The autonomous vehicles are available for rides within a 60-square-mile service area that covers downtown and other centrally located neighborhoods.
- That footprint is expected to grow over time.
What's next: The company said it is testing robotaxis at Nashville International Airport and may expand to provide service there "in the near future."
- Waymo rides will also be available through the Lyft app later this year.
4. The Setlist: Ryman Hospitality ponders big move
π Ryman Hospitality is exploring the sale of its entertainment division Opry Entertainment Group.
- Ryman has considered a spinoff of its successful entertainment business, which oversees legacy assets like the Grand Ole Opry and the Ryman Auditorium, for years. (Nashville Business Journal, subscription)
β The Hermitage is revising its tour about slavery, but some descendants are skeptical. (WPLN)
β π Taylor Swift and fiancΓ© Travis Kelce have a no-gifts rule for their upcoming wedding guests, according to Kelce's football bro George Kittle. (Tennessean)
5. The Friday News Quiz tests your recall of Axios Nashville
The Friday News Quiz, which curiously produced few winners last week, is back.
- Hit reply and send your answers to these questions to earn a shoutout on Monday.
Which famous local music venue will have a location inside new Nissan Stadium?
Tennessee recently revived its efforts to save what winged creature?
Name the hot chicken joint that opened a new location in East Nashville this week.
Our picks:
π€ Nate's song of the day is "Is It Real?" by Twisted Teens.
π΅βπ« Adam feels like a real homeowner after assembling a complicated closet organizer.
This newsletter was edited by Jen Burkett.
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