The Beatles in Nashville: How Music City Quietly Shaped the Biggest Band in the World
- Paul Whitten
- Dec 9, 2025
- 5 min read
People do not always associate The Beatles with Nashville. Liverpool, sure. Hamburg, absolutely. London, of course. But tucked into the long story of the greatest band on earth is a surprisingly deep Nashville connection. And the story did not stop when they broke up. In many ways, Nashville became the quiet second home for the solo Beatles who came looking for a fresh sound, world class musicians, or sometimes just peace.
Truth be told, I love the Beatles, and musicians fall into two different camps: ones that admit they love the Beatles and ones who say they don't... but really do. This is the part of Nashville history that most folks never hear on our Nashville Walking Tour (unless asked, than we are more than happy to talk about), yet it sits right alongside the stories of Cash, Dylan, and the Nashville Cats. So grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and let’s walk through the surprising moments when The Beatles touched down in Music City.
George Harrison Brings The Beatles to Nashville
Of the four Beatles, the first to fall for Nashville was George Harrison. In 1963, right before the band exploded in the United States, Harrison came to visit his sister Louise in Illinois. During that trip he listened to American country stations, including Nashville radio, and developed a love for Chet Atkins, Floyd Cramer, and the Nashville A Team.
That early exposure shaped his guitar style. You can hear it in the clean picking on “All My Loving” and the country flavored solos he slipped into the band’s early records. He later said that Chet Atkins was one of his biggest influences, and Atkins helped build the Nashville sound.
The Beatles never recorded here as a group, but the seeds were planted early, and the next wave came after the breakup.
Nashville’s Role in the Beatles Solo Years
When the band split in 1970, each member went searching for a new musical identity. A few of them found it right here in Tennessee.
Ringo Starr Records in Nashville
Ringo embraced Nashville with both arms. In 1970 and again in 1971, he traveled to Music City to
his full country album “Beaucoups of Blues.” He worked with the Nashville Cats and legends like Pete Drake, Charlie Daniels, Jerry Reed, and more.
Ringo said recording in Nashville was the easiest session experience of his life. You walked in, shared a few jokes, played the song, and these musicians knocked out perfect takes like it was nothing. That is still the Nashville way.
These sessions took place at Music City Recorders on Division Street. The outside of that old brick building still stands. Most folks walk right by it without knowing a Beatle recorded inside.
Ringo later returned to Nashville for concerts throughout his solo career. His All Starr Band has played multiple shows at the Ryman Auditorium and Ascend Amphitheater.
Paul McCartney’s Nashville Summer and the Story Behind “Sally G”
Paul spent the summer of 1974 living outside Lebanon, Tennessee, with Wings. He rented a farm, rode horses, relaxed with his family, and jammed with local musicians. That stay shaped two songs deeply connected to Nashville.
“Junior’s Farm” was written on that very property in Wilson County. And “Sally G” was written after Paul visited Printer’s Alley, where he got inspired by the musicians, characters, and late night life that defined that part of Nashville. It is one of the most Nashville flavored songs any Beatle ever wrote.
Paul has performed in Nashville many times since, including sold out arena shows that still get talked about. His most recent visit brought tens of thousands of fans to Bridgestone Arena.
Nashville Musicians and George Harrison
George Harrison kept close ties with Nashville musicians, especially pedal steel legend Pete Drake. Drake played on George’s “All Things Must Pass,” one of the greatest solo Beatles albums ever created.
Several Nashville artists also contributed to projects connected to the Concert for Bangladesh. They later said George treated every musician like an equal, which lined up with the humble energy Nashville session players are known for.
John Lennon’s Quiet Nashville Connection
John Lennon did not officially record here, but he came close. During the mid 1970s he explored American roots music and had real interest in cutting a project in Nashville. His team even made early inquiries about studios and session players.
There is a long held story in local music circles that both John Lennon and Paul McCartney visited Skull’s Rainbow Room in Printer’s Alley at different times. The dates and details vary depending on who you ask, but enough musicians and bartenders from that era have repeated the story that it has become part of Nashville lore. Skull’s was one of those places where anyone could walk in, famous or not, and blend in with the crowd. It fits their personalities, and it fits the time period, so while the story is not officially confirmed, it is very much part of Nashville’s musical memory.
Beatles Influence on Modern Nashville
Walk down Broadway any night of the week and you will hear Beatles covers within minutes. Nashville bands love playing “Get Back,” “Come Together,” “I Saw Her Standing There,” and a dozen others.
Today’s Nashville artists, from Keith Urban to Paramore, point to The Beatles as core influences. Their harmonies, their bold experimentation, and their blending of genres mirrored Nashville’s own evolution from a pure country town to a global music center.
Even the Nashville Symphony has performed full Beatles tribute concerts. They always sell out.
Where Beatles Fans Can Visit in Nashville Today
Here are a few stops for Beatles fans exploring Music City.
Music City Recorders
Where Ringo recorded his country album with the Nashville Cats.
Music Row
The heart of the Nashville sound, admired deeply by George Harrison.
Printer’s Alley
Home of Skull’s Rainbow Room, the setting that inspired Paul’s “Sally G” and part of Nashville folklore involving visits from both John and Paul.
Lebanon and Wilson County
Where Paul lived and wrote “Junior’s Farm.” The property is private, but the local lore runs deep.
And if you want to experience the deeper layers of Nashville music history, our Nashville Adventures tours walk you right through the places where these stories happened.
Closing Thoughts
The Beatles never recorded in Nashville as a group, but their solo years tied them to this city in surprising and powerful ways. Ringo embraced our musicians. Paul wrote Nashville inspired songs and lived the quiet Tennessee life for a season. George worked with our legends and brought them into some of his most meaningful projects. John flirted with the idea of a Nashville roots album and left behind stories that still echo through Printer’s Alley.
Their music shaped Nashville, and Nashville shaped them right back.
