Usually when out-of-towners hear that we work in Nashville real estate, the first question we get is: Where do all the celebrities live?
We get it. Nashville’s one of the more celebrity-rich cities in the U.S., from country stars to actors and actresses and celeb chefs. Celebrity culture is a fun fact of life here, even if Nashville’s way is more to let it be than to whisper about where it lives.
In that spirit, we’re not gonna go on and on about the comings and goings of Nashville’s stars. Unless we’re talking about the ones with tails and paws. Then, by all means, let’s dig in.
Doug the Pug
Plenty of famous pets have hit the social-media big time. Grumpy Cat. Lil’ Bub. Tuna. But charming as they all might be, none have quite the style or charm of Nashville’s Doug the Pug, now a full-fledged Internet superstar. He’s been on Good Morning America, he’s hung out with The Bieb and the Big Bang Theory cast, he has a New York Times best-selling book… and his 2.5 million Instagram followers, us included, can’t get enough of him. Learn more, buy merch and keep up with his tour dates at www.itsdougthepug.com.
Jack the Wallaby
While he doesn’t have quite Doug’s following, it’s not for lack of adorableness — as you can see above, Nashville’s Jack the Wallaby is a dapper guy who reps our city well. If you follow him on Instagram at @jackthewallaby, you’ll see Jack hopping all around the city, frolicking in Sylvan Park snow and chewing leaves in Edwin Warner Park, always looking like a star, generally hoping to score some tortilla chips. Get to know him better at jackthewallaby.com.
East Nashville’s Golden Pheasant
If, while wandering around Shelby Park, a majestic gold-headed bird with technicolor plumage bounces into and out of your periphery, here’s good news: No, you’re not seeing things. For several years now, a Golden Pheasant has been living — and, against all odds, apparently thriving — in the East Nashville park, occasionally popping out for a sighting and then wandering back into the brush. The exotic bird, a native of Central/Western China, was probably an escaped pet. But now, he’s one of East Nashville’s best-dressed longtime residents. The East Nashvillian has a great feature, if you’d like to get to know him better.
Edith and Emmett the Nashville Zoo sloths
In 2016, the Nashville Zoo set a new annual attendance record, with with 894,161 visitors coming through the gates. In 2016, the Nashville Zoo also welcomed the arrival of Edith and her son Emmett, two adorably slow two-toed sloths. Coincidence? Who’s to say. (They got a little more competition on the famous front in March, though, when the Zoo’s new spotted leopard cub was born.)
Snowbird
Kids and parents in particular are fans of WSMV’s penguin Snowbird, who’s been on Nashville’s screens for more than 30 years. The source of his fame, at least in part: He’s the bearer of school closings, so he’s welcomed with a zeal that’s just shy of Santa.
Snowball-throwing Edgehill Polar Bears
Every new Nashvillian over the past decade or so has, at some point, driven past the snowball-throwing polar bear statues in Edgehill, and wondered why they’re there. Few of us remember, though, to dig up why these frigid-weather friends are hanging around in the hot south. In case you’ve always wondered and never known: They apparently once guarded Polar Bear frozen custard shops around town. After the custard spots went under, the bears became a Nashville curiosity, and now a famous selfie spot, with their permanent home at 12th Avenue South and Edgehill, a.k.a. Polar Bear Plaza.
Is there a famous Nashville non-human that slipped our minds? Remind us in the comments, or on the ACRE Facebook page. And if the questions on your mind have more to do with buying or selling a home in Nashville, less with where Nashville stars live, please reach out — we’d love to help!