Some people have credited the popularity of the ABC show Nashville with increasing the popularity of the city of Nashville for tourists and visitors, but Charles Esten, who plays Deacon Claybourne on the show, feels like it’s an equally symbiotic relationship between the show and the city. “I think they help each other in a real way,” he says.
“Definitely the show Nashville I know it helps the city and many people that come here, not just for the city but for the whole state, are drawn by the show, the city that they didn’t know as much about and they’re here now. But I have to say though that that’s only because we’re putting up something that’s already wonderful. If the city wasn’t all it is, you can do movie magic and all that but it’s sorta hard to put too much there that’s not there. We’re just holding up a mirror and the mirror says it’s the beautiful city that it is, with all the great music and all the great people and the world gets to see that and so here they come.”
Charles and his family have moved to Nashville since he spends so much time here filming and he says, “Clearly from the word go, from the first pilot, that was written by Callie Khouri, our show is a love letter to Nashville, and what was so exciting was seeing that love returned to us by the city. The people here really seem to appreciate what we’re doing and how we’re trying to bring something true and something exciting at the same time. That’s thrilling to us ‘cause we live here and so that’s really important.”
New episodes of NASHVILLE return to ABC on Wednesday, March 16th.
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Nashville – Charles Esten impact of show on city
Charles Esten – “I love the interplay between ‘Nashville’ the show and Nashville the city, so very much. Clearly from the word go, from the first pilot, that was written by Callie Khouri, our show is a love letter to Nashville, and what was so exciting was seeing that love returned to us by the city. The people here really seem to appreciate what we’re doing and how we’re trying to bring something true and something exciting at the same time. That’s thrilling to us ‘cause we live here and so that’s really important. In term of the popularity of both, it’s exciting because I think they help each other in a real way. Definitely the show ‘Nashville’ I know it helps the city and many people that come here, not just for the city but for the whole state, are drawn by the show, the city that they didn’t know as much about and they’re here now. But I have to say though that that’s only because we’re putting up something that’s already wonderful. If the city wasn’t all it is, you can do movie magic and all that but it’s sorta hard to put too much there that’s not there. We’re just holding up a mirror and the mirror says it’s the beautiful city that it is, with all the great music and all the great people and the world gets to see that and so here they come.”
CHARLES “Chip” ESTEN – THE FACTS
BIRTH DATE: September 9, 1965 (he’s 49)
HOMETOWN: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
ABC’s NASHVILLE CHARACTER: He plays Deacon Claybourne.
ACTING CREDITS INCLUDE: TV’s Who’s Line Is It Anyway and 1997’s The Postman starring Kevin Costner.
RECENT TWEETS:
Charles Esten @CharlesEsten · Sunday, February 1
is it just me or do some of these beach balls look under-inflated?
Charles Esten @CharlesEsten · Sunday, February 1
I appreciate these @Nashville_ABC fans & the love of our show that brought them together! http://bit.ly/18Fcy8A
Charles Esten @CharlesEsten · January 31
The Bus DOES go to Canton!!
Congratulations @JeromeBettis36
Well done @ProFootballHOF #HereHeGoes #HOF2015