Jelly Roll kicked off the grand opening of Jelly Roll’s Goodnight Nashville with a star-studded celebration that featured several live performances, special guests, an interview and more. The 40-year-old genre-bending superstar welcomed fans and industry professionals to the more than 27,000 square-foot establishment with an unforgettable evening of music, food and drinks.
The evening began with a special event hosted by Nashville Lifestyles to celebrate Jelly Roll as their February cover star with an interview and short performance on the second floor of the bar.
“Welcome to Goodnight Nashville. I am proud that we have more locals at this bar then any other bar on Broadway every night. I’m proud to be a local and I’m honored to be from Nashville, Tennessee, and for those of y’all that are not from Nashville that came here. You are coming to an authentic Nashville place baby!” Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, said from the stage at the newly-opened venue.
“We’re thrilled to official open the doors to Jelly Roll’s Goodnight Nashville,” Les Corieri, co-owner of Evening Entertainment Group, shared in a statement. “This isn’t just another venue—it’s a celebration of the raw, authentic energy that defines both Jelly Roll and this city. From the unforgettable music to the one-of-a-kind experiences on every floor, we’re proud to add something new to Nashville’s iconic landscape and invite everyone to experience it for themselves.
Later that evening, Jelly Roll surprised patrons with an impromptu performance on the first floor of Goodnight Nashville, teaming up with the local band to cover “Wagon Wheel” and other songs. He also delivered performances of his own hit songs such as “Need a Favor” and “Save Me,” along with covers of “Colt 45” and “Old Time Rock and Roll.” Jelly Roll also took a moment to give a shoutout to his friends, golfer John Daly and comedian Bert Kreischer, who were watching from the mezzanine near the stage.
Jelly Roll then made his way back to the second floor for a third performance, which included several special guests such as Bailey Zimmerman, Brandon Lake and Zach Myers of Shinedown. At approximately 11:30 PM CT, Jelly Roll and his full touring band stormed the stage for an energy-filled set in front of an invite-only crowd of his friends, family, musicians and industry guests. Dasha, Flava Flav, Noah Kahan, Priscilla Block and more were seen having the time of their lives during this portion of the evening.
“Since this is the official grand opening of Goodnight Nashville on Broadway, I figured it’s about a good time to turn this thing into a honky tonk,” he told the capacity crowd before kicking off the show with a rowdy performance of “Halfway To Hell.”
His 14-song set featured performances of tracks like “Get By,” “Son of a Sinner,” “Wild Ones,” “I Am Not Okay,” “Liar,” “Need a Favor,” “Save Me,” and “Hard Fought Hallelujah” with his duet partner Brandon Lake. Zimmerman joined Jelly Roll for “Liar,” while Myers played guitar during a powerful cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man.” Jelly Roll also treated the crowd to a mix of covers, including Toby Keith’s “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” and Green Day’s “Good Riddance,” along with his signature Hip Hop medley.
Jelly Roll’s Goodnight Nashville
Jelly Roll’s Goodnight Nashville, located at 209 Broadway in Downtown Nashville between Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk Rock N’ Roll Steakhouse and Bootleggers, is a four-story venue created in partnership with Evening Entertainment Group (EEG). Housed in the former Trail West Boot Store, it marks the first celebrity-backed concept in Music City from a Nashville native.
Goodnight Nashville is Lower Broadway’s newest addition and features burgers, spirits and tattoos. The tattoo-themed establishment will be open seven days a week with hours varying by floor.
The first floor of the venue boasts a bar that runs the entire length of the space, with additional seating around the perimeter. A mezzanine area overlooks the main floor and features a designated stage for live performances, highlighted by a striking spinning skull chandelier, drum-head lights, and a “Save Me/I’m Fine” art installation. The mezzanine area also includes a tattoo parlor for flash-style tattoos, marking the first bar on Broadway to have a tattoo shop on site.
The second floor is dedicated to Jelly Roll’s wife, Bunnie XO, with a bar dubbed Bunnie XO’s. The floor features a larger-than-life image of Bunnie XO posed in her lingerie above the bar, as well as her signature Bunnie XO logo and an “In Hoes We Trust” sign. Bunnie XO’s bar delivers a nightlife atmosphere similar to a Las Vegas club, honoring The Dumb Blonde Podcast host’s Sin City roots while blending in the vibe of a Music City honky-tonk. The Bunnie XO floor also includes a stage for live DJs, a massive bar and vibrant nightclub style lighting as well as plush booths and VIP table reservations.
As you make your way to the third floor, there is an area that honors Jelly Roll’s late father, Horace “Buddy” DeFord, who passed away on March 20, 2019, after battling leukemia. The third floor bar, dubbed “Buddy’s Backroom,” is only open to the public sometimes, but is primarily reserved for private events and Jelly Roll’s personal use. Buddy’s Backroom features an upscale, speakeasy-style venue that serves craft cocktails and a limited handselected food menu in a more intimate setting.
The fourth floor is an indoor/outdoor rooftop, offering sweeping views of the Downtown skyline, the Cumberland River and Nissan Stadium. According to the bar’s official website, Goodnight Nashville boasts of the highest rooftop bar on Lower Broadway.
Take a look inside Goodnight Nashville in the video below.
Click here for more information about Jelly Roll’s Goodnight Nashville.
