[ Guitar music playing ] ♪♪ ♪ I went running to redemption in an old song ♪ ♪ Like an old train rolling down the tracks ♪ ♪ I'll never change the strings on this old guitar ♪ ♪ They still ring out hope redemption will be back ♪ ♪ Redemption ♪ ♪ Wash over me ♪ ♪ Lead me from darkness to light ♪ ♪ Redemption ♪ ♪ I'm weary and weak ♪ ♪ I've been running to redemption all my life ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Edgar: My name is Jacob Edgar.

I'm an explorer, but I don't search for lost cities or ancient ruins.

I'm on the quest for a different kind of treasure -- music.

Man: [ Singing in foreign language ] Edgar: As an ethnomusicologist and world music record producer, I travel the globe hunting for the best songs the world has to offer, and I suffer through some of the worst, so you don't have to.

Man: [ Singing in foreign language ] Edgar: I've got a backstage pass to the world's music, and I won't stop until I've heard it all.

Man: ♪ For the people, and we're talking about God ♪ [ Singing indistinctly ] ♪♪ Edgar: When most people think of Nashville, the first thing that comes to mind is country music, and this city is famous as the capital of this quintessentially American genre.

It might seem ironic that a major metropolitan area with over a million people would be the capital of country music.

I mean, there's not a lot of country to be found amidst Nashville's office buildings, wide boulevards, and shopping centers.

And even though country music is what Nashville became famous for, it's the diversity of the music found there today that has earned it the nickname "The Music City".

Indeed, it wasn't in Nashville that country music was born.

That would be in the rural communities of the Appalachian Mountains.

But as country music's popularity grew beyond front porches and barn dances, it was only natural that musicians seeking to make a living from their music would head for the big city.

And what better place than Nashville, home to the Grand Ole Opry since 1925?

A live radio and stage show, the Opry is Nashville's most famous musical icon, and every Saturday night, for almost a century, country music's greatest names have graced the Opry stage.

Add to that Nashville's legendary Honky Tonk Row, with blocks of famous clubs such as Tootsie's, featuring live music practically 24 hours a day, the majestic Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and many other must-see destinations for music fans, it's no wonder Nashville is known first and foremost for country music.

Man: It is the 4,467th performance of the world famous Grand Ole Opry.

Welcome center stage, your guest of honor this evening.

20 years, he celebrates membership at the Grand Ole Opry.

Tonight, he's a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.

His name is Vince Gill.

[ Cheers and applause ] Edgar: Vince Gill is one of country's biggest commercial and critical success stories.

He's won 20 Grammy awards and has sold more than 22 million albums.

Hi, everybody.

Nice to see you here.

Thank you for coming out.

Edgar: Gill is now a living legend, and to top it all off, he's an incredibly nice, humble, and down-to-earth guy.

You're one of the best known names in country music, yet people don't feel like there's a barrier between you and them.

Gill: That barrier -- that's going to come from the artist, to me.

I don't fancy myself any better than anybody else because I play a guitar.

You know, it's just what I do.

There's a guy that can repair cars that I'm envious of because I can't do anything with a wrench, or -- You know, it's just a job.

It's just something I love to do.

It just so happens that Gill is celebrating his 20th year as a Grand Ole Opry member that night, and most of the show is a tribute to him and his music.

Sharing the stage with Gill that evening are his wife, singer Amy Grant, Emmylou Harris, Martina McBride, and many others who have worked with Gill over the years.

And what does it mean to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry?

Well, you get 10% off at Cracker Barrel.

[ Laughs ] How do I sign up?

Magical thing that happens here is that it is timeless.

A weekend here and a night at the Opry -- Tonight, we're here celebrating me being here for 20 years, and there's people that'll be in here tonight that have been here for 60.

It's a very reverent place to me, and I don't take it for granted.

♪ In the morning when I rise ♪ ♪ In the morning when I rise ♪ ♪ In the morning when I rise ♪ ♪ Give me Jesus ♪ ♪ Give me Jesus ♪ ♪ Give me Jesus ♪ ♪ You can have all this world ♪ ♪ Give me Jesus ♪ ♪ And when I am alone ♪ ♪ And when I am alone ♪ ♪ And when I am alone ♪ ♪ Give me Jesus ♪ ♪ Give me Jesus ♪ ♪ Give me Jesus ♪ ♪ You can have all this world ♪ ♪ Give me Jesus ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Edgar: The next day, I head to East Nashville, a neighborhood whose diversity, affordable houses, and artsy vibe is home to many of the city's musicians.

One of those is Elizabeth Cook, a singer and songwriter originally from Florida, who lives in a little white house with her husband and musical collaborator, Tim Carroll.

Elizabeth has appeared on the Grand Ole Opry stage over 300 times.

She's also the host of a popular radio show on SiriusXM.

♪ I'm crazy about you, baby ♪ ♪ It don't do no good ♪ ♪ I could tell it to the movie out in the Hollywood ♪ ♪ I tell when I'm sober and I tell it on the wine ♪ ♪ I tell it to the judge, I love you all the time ♪ ♪ I'll chase you down the mountain ♪ And I'll chase you up the creek ♪ ♪ I'll chase you startin' Sunday 'til the end of the week ♪ ♪ Now, go ask your mama and see if she don't mind ♪ ♪ You got to know by now, I love you all the time ♪ ♪ You got to know by now, I love you all the time ♪ This is the Family Wash, and this used to be a laundromat.

Now, we just come here and we air all the rumors about our families.

So, it's a great little neighborhood bar.

A lot of musicians hang out here, especially when we come in off the road.

We can come here and catch up with other musicians who have just come in off the road.

♪ I don't like suspicion in my bed ♪ ♪ Do you wanna wander or do you wanna wed?

♪ ♪ Soon as I start thinkin' everything is fine ♪ ♪ You come up here askin', "Baby, what's my sign?"

♪ ♪ I'll chase you down the mountain ♪ And I'll chase you up the creek ♪ ♪ I'll chase you startin' Sunday 'til the end of the week ♪ Your husband is a pretty accomplished musician as well.

Yeah, a great songwriter.

A lot of cuts.

Very acclaimed.

And Bones Hillman from Midnight Oil -- he's playing upright bass.

I thought I detected an Australian accent.

Yes, he's one of those from the penal colony, but we have a lot of fun.

We tour together most of the year, and as a little trio, it's great.

♪ You got to know by now, I love you all the time ♪ ♪ You got to know by now, I love you all the time ♪ ♪♪ Edgar: Another famous stomping ground where both Vince Gill and Elizabeth Cook have performed over the years is Nashville's legendary Bluebird Cafe.

The Bluebird is a world famous performance space where budding stars can test their work on an attentive, respectful audience.

Taylor Swift and Garth Brooks are just a couple of the famous names that got their start playing in front of 100 people at the Bluebird.

How does someone get to play at the Bluebird Cafe?

What's the process?

Well, we have an open mic on Monday nights.

Anybody can play.

But the night that you're visiting tonight is our songwriters night.

People are auditioned.

We auditioned people four times a year.

People will come in.

They play a minute of a song for a panel of judges from the music industry.

Ooh, pressure.

It is pressure.

♪ One song at a time ♪ ♪ I'm gonna love you ♪ Edgar: So you get three songs.

That's how it works here, right?

Three songs at a time.

And these are all original compositions.

All of them, man?

Alright.

And you're waiting for your big break?

I mean, is that what you hope for?

It might happen tonight.

Who knows?

♪ One song at a time ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -Good job, buddy.

-You too, bud.

I'm in Music Row, which is the epicenter of Nashville's entertainment industry, and most of the buildings around here are home to music publishers, recording studios, and record labels, including the label I'm going to visit now, Compass Records.

Two of my long-time music industry friends, musician Alison Brown and her husband, Gary West, run a Music Row record label and recording studio called Compass.

Alison.

Jacob, so good to see you.

Great to see you.

Welcome to Nashville.

Thank you.

Apparently, this place has a lot of history to it.

Gary, what's what's the story behind the studio?

This is our little shrine to what's happened here before.

"Wanted!

The Outlaws", which originated in this studio with Tompall Glaser, Waylon Jennings, and Jessi Colter.

That's amazing.

That's a classic.

The first million-selling album in country music.

The real outlaws were here.

That's cool.

Yeah.

I mean, these guys really turned Music Row on its ear, if you think about what country music was like in the '50s and early part of the 60s to what it became, largely because of these guys.

So, where are we going?

We're going to Gruhn Guitar Shop, which is the home of the coolest guitars and banjos.

Alright, I've heard a lot about this place, actually.

It's a legendary place.

♪♪ So, we're up on the second floor, which is sort of an invitation-only floor.

This is where they keep the really high-end instruments.

This floor is not for bargain hunters, so you'd better bring your Gold Card if you want to walk out the door with one of these babies.

Alison is one of the leading figures in a genre that has been called Newgrass, because of its contemporary and boundary-breaking approach to bluegrass traditions.

[ Banjo playing ] American roots music has a deep historical connection to Irish and Scottish folk music, and you can hear that musical connection when Alison and Irish musician John Doyle start an informal jam session.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ After saying goodbye to Alison and Gary, I head to the outskirts of Nashville to visit another musical couple, Jamey Johnson and his wife Suzanne, who goes by the stage name Iodine.

Jamey is a member of The Grascals, a popular bluegrass band that leapt to fame when Dolly Parton asked them to be her backing band.

Who can say that they know Dolly Parton?

Edgar: Not me.

[ Laughs ] Edgar: While they no longer tour with Dolly, she joined them on one of their biggest recent hits, "I Am Strong", which Jamey wrote after a visit to the cancer ward of a children's hospital.

Johnson: I've never had an experience like that in my life, to walk down there and see the hallways filled with these children, and there's a hallway before you get to the lunchroom.

It starts with "I Am..." And they fill in the blanks.

The kids fill in the blanks.

"I am lonely."

"I am homesick".

There's one said "I am nauseated".

They had the whole thing, and in the middle of it, it said, "I am strong".

Edgar: Jamey invited Ansley McLaurin, one of the children he met at the hospital, to join us at his home and help him sing the song.

♪ I am tired ♪ ♪ And I am weak ♪ ♪ Sometimes I ask, "Why me?"

♪ ♪ But I have faith ♪ ♪ And I believe that I am strong ♪ ♪ I have Mom and I have Dad ♪ ♪ I am happy and sometimes sad ♪ ♪ But I have hope ♪ ♪ And I have God ♪ ♪ And I am strong ♪ And you brought a special guest today also also to help you sing that song.

Ansley McLaurin, who's also on the CD with us.

She's recorded the album with us, and her name's actually in the CD, which is incredible, and for her to come out here today -- her hair's all grown back and she looked so beautiful.

She's doing great and she's cancer-free right now.

Everything's in remission.

It's a huge honor for us to even know her.

This is a good day.

♪ I am strong ♪ ♪ I am strong ♪ ♪ Take my hand ♪ ♪ Sing my song ♪ ♪ I am strong ♪ ♪ Take my hand ♪ ♪ Sing my song ♪ ♪ I am strong ♪ I am strong.

[ Laughs ] ♪♪ Edgar: I leave the countryside and head back downtown to Honky Tonk Row to meet up with one of Nashville's up-and-coming singers.

♪ Whoa, whoa-oa-a ♪ ♪ Coffee, candy, seats are sandy in the car ♪ ♪ That we drove from the south pier ♪ ♪ Hitched a ride with the band ♪ ♪ And decided to stay for just another year ♪ ♪ We get up to go downtown ♪ ♪ Apparitions in the night ♪ ♪ Running 'round with the sound of your voice ♪ ♪ And the choice between wrong and right ♪ ♪ And I'm running on fumes ♪ ♪ Trying to make it through ♪ ♪ Trying to get back to you ♪ ♪ I know I got to make it soon ♪ ♪ Yes, I do ♪ Edgar: Even if you grow up in Nashville, it doesn't mean you're destined to play country music.

Such is the case with Gabe Dixon, a local singer-songwriter whose sound owes more to Billy Joel than Billy Ray Cyrus.

♪ Red sun sinking sets me thinking ♪ ♪ About direction, connections ♪ ♪ They come and go ♪ Edgar: Gabe got his start in the Nashville music scene playing nightly at one of the city's most iconic honky tonks, Tootsie's.

♪ Life can be a lonesome dream ♪ ♪ Oh, plug it in, crank it up ♪ ♪ Hum along like the motor in the mad machine ♪ Sunday, early afternoon, and things are already going here at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge in downtown Nashville.

Absolutely.

This room is actually the back room of Tootsie's.

The main room is back there.

Where the music is coming from?

Where the music -- Yeah.

The loud telecasters and... ♪ Running on fumes... ♪ Edgar: A gifted piano player with a unique voice, Dixon was recently hired by Paul McCartney to tour and record as a member of his band.

When I met him for the first time, you know, David was like, "This is Gabe.

You know Paul."

He's like, "Oh, Gabriel."

I love that name," you know?

And for, like, five minutes I was just -- like, I didn't know if I could do it.

It was just freaking me out so much, but he's so good at sort of putting people back down to earth, you know?

And it was a wonderful, wonderful experience.

Now, the other thing, too, is you are touring as a member of Supertramp...

Right.

...and actually singing some of the lead vocals on some of the tracks, too, during the tour.

Yeah, My mom, she started calling me the Forrest Gump of rock just because I end up -- yeah -- just end up in these crazy situations.

Yeah.

♪ Hitched a ride with the band and decided to stay ♪ ♪ For just another year ♪ ♪ I've been running on fumes ♪ ♪ Trying to make it through ♪ ♪ Trying to get back to you ♪ ♪ I know I got to make it soon ♪ ♪ I know I got to make it soon ♪ ♪ I've been running on fumes ♪ ♪ Trying to make it through ♪ ♪ Trying to get back to you ♪ ♪ I know I got to make it soon ♪ ♪ Yes, I do ♪ ♪ Running on fumes ♪ ♪ Running on fumes ♪ ♪ Running on fumes ♪ ♪ Whoo, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Running on fumes ♪ ♪ Whoa, whoa-oa-oa ♪ Edgar: About 20 miles south of Nashville is the city of Franklin.

Many musicians live in and around Franklin, including up-and-coming singer-songwriter Casey Wasner.

♪ Days are like stories ♪ ♪ Some you remember ♪ ♪ Some you forget ♪ Edgar: We met up with Casey at the Franklin Theatre.

Casey's been building his following while working his day job as guitar technician for Keb' Mo', a contemporary blues star who recently relocated to Nashville.

I met Casey Wasner as a guitar tech.

Lo and behold, I found out he's not really a guitar tech.

He's totally posing as a guitar tech.

[ Laughter ] He's like a genius, brilliant songwriter, golden-voiced golden boy, and when I found that out, I was really pissed off because, like, you know, I don't like people that are using their gifts working for me and compromising their talent by being a guitar tech.

So, he's basically -- he's been given notice.

Yeah, yeah.

It's time for him to become a star.

He got to go.

♪ The way your name sounds ♪ ♪ Sun shining right... ♪ Musicians like Casey being here, you know, it's going to grow and it's going to be, like, country music will always be great, but there will be another realm.

There will be, like, The Black Keys and the Jack Whites and the Kings of Leons and the Casey Wasners and possibly even the Keb' Mo's, you know, being here, and that it's a very nurturing environment for a musical artist.

♪ We've come so far ♪ ♪ The way you left, it won my heart ♪ ♪ The little things that you do ♪ ♪ I've got to say ♪ ♪ Happy to find you ♪ ♪ Looking for me and not thinking ♪ ♪ I'll never be found ♪ ♪ The way your name sounds ♪ Edgar: Another side of the Nashville music scene is its bubbling indie rock movement.

One of the rising stars is Those Darlins, which has been pegged by numerous national media outlets as a band to watch.

♪ Oh, I got on the plane 'cause I was going insane ♪ ♪ And I took a little trip uptown ♪ ♪ The plane, it started shaking and my stomach started aching ♪ ♪ And I thought that it was going down ♪ ♪ The plane had finally landed.

I could hardly stand it ♪ ♪ Just put both feet on the ground ♪ When many people think of Nashville, they think Grand Ole Opry, I don't know, Garth Brooks, honky tonks, country music, basically.

What you guys are doing is pretty different from that.

Yeah, I mean, there's a great deal of rock and roll in Nashville also, and there has been for a really long time.

It's not just, like, something that's really new and popped up, but there's just a lot of music in general in Nashville.

So, you put -- You know, a lot of people moved to Nashville because of the country music industry, but then you just have a ton of musicians in one town and it just kind of -- All kinds of music spawn out of it, so... ♪♪ ♪ Can't blame me for what I choose ♪ ♪ Whoa, screws get loose ♪ ♪ Can't change me after all the abuse ♪ ♪ Whoa, screws get loose ♪ It's become a "Music Voyager" tradition that we started in Colombia to carry a guitar around with us and have it signed by all of the artists and the crew.

Everybody from Vince Gill signed the guitar to Bobby "Blue" Bland to Scott Bomar.

Pretty much everybody we met.

It's really incredible.

Did you something a little better looking off the music highway there.

That is unbelievable.

Well, the Takamine guitar and your guitar case are going to help us remember this "Music Voyager" trip forever.

So, thank you both.

Miller: ♪ But I can't ♪ ♪ I look back now ♪ ♪ I've come too far to turn around ♪ Edgar: While the styles I usually listen to might be different than what I've heard here, I still bonded with a community that feels as passionate about music as I do.

♪ I'm only halfway home ♪ ♪ I got a journey home ♪ Edgar: I leave Nashville with a newfound appreciation for the music of America's heartland and a deeper understanding of the soul and spirit of a sound that brings much of this nation together.

♪ But still, I got miles to go ♪ ♪ I got a wide, wide river to cross ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I have stumbled, I have strayed ♪ ♪ You can trace the tracks I made ♪ ♪ All along the memories ♪ ♪ My heart recalls ♪ ♪ But I'm just a refugee ♪ ♪ Won't you say a prayer for me?

♪