Every day the city on the Cumberland River is inundated by busloads of tourists mad country in plaid shirts, jeans and cowboy boots. Dressed in style, it then goes into the Grand Ol 'Opry, where sung by Tanya Tucker to Dolly Parton and LeAnn Rimes has everything, what in the folk music of white America rank and name. The Grand Ol 'Opry, a popular radio show broadcast for the first time in 1927, and the performers had to send the appointments ready at the weekend - talents soon circled the city like moths to a light.

Nashville's traditionally liberal atmosphere helped: Students form the picture. Founded in 1779 as Fort Nashborough, an active trade on the river left the town grow rapidly. During the Civil War saw the city bloody battles before the gates, after which it recovered quickly thanks to its strategic location.

Today, it's easy to forget that Nashville is the capital of Tennessee. With 16 colleges and universities, the top play football and hockey teams and good restaurants is one of Nashville's cultural centers in North America.