Nashville’s Broadway strip has long been the crown jewel of country music nightlife. Every night, neon lights glow over honky-tonks packed with boot-stomping tourists hoping for a brush with stardom with Celebrity-owned bars like Blake Shelton’s “Old Red” or Morgan Wallen’s “This Bar” drawing in country fans like moths to flame.
But lately, an unsettling reality has emerged—Broadway isn’t just a hotspot for music lovers anymore. It’s becoming a breeding ground for criminal activity, with disturbing reports of drugged drinks, human trafficking risks, and suspicious rideshare encounters.
When a Night Out In Nashville Turns Into a Nightmare
If you’ve scrolled through social media lately, you’ve probably seen the flood of horror stories from people, mostly women, who went out on Broadway, only to have their drinks spiked or find themselves in terrifying situations with rideshare drivers. These aren’t isolated incidents; they’re part of a growing pattern that has even prompted local musicians to speak out.
Nashville guitar player Brad Henderson recently posted a viral video detailing the dangers that both locals and tourists face on Broadway. He compiled a collection of first-hand accounts from multiple women who have woken up with no memory of the night before, only to piece together that they had been drugged. Some barely escaped dangerous situations, while others were cared for by their friends or found by good Samaritans before things took a darker turn.
And it’s not just the musicians raising the red flag. News stations have highlighted the problem covering the difficulty victims have in laying blame and the laws Tennessee is trying to enact to curb the problem, but it all feels like too little against such a big issue.
The problem made national headlines last summer when Missouri’s Riley Strain went missing on a night out with friends and was later found deceased in the Cumberland River. Surveillance footage and firsthand accounts described him as being heavily intoxicated. While his official autopsy report indicated his cause of death was drowning while heavily intoxicated, Catherine Barkley with The Sexual Assault Center says many date rape drugs leave your body within hours which is one of the biggest challenges in gathering statistics or holding perpetrators accountable. The testing for these substances is very expensive and often emergency rooms don’t run those tests unless a sexual assault has been committed, taking away a key opportunity for evidence in these cases.
Nashville Rideshare Risks: When Your Driver Isn’t Who You Think They Are
The danger doesn’t stop when you leave the bar. Several women have come forward with chilling accounts of rideshare drivers acting suspiciously—taking detours, refusing to end rides, and even locking the doors mid-route.
One woman narrowly escaped when she noticed her driver changing the destination repeatedly. She jumped out at a red light, realizing too late that something was very wrong. Another Nashville resident recently shared where a driver released some sort of gas during her ride and she had to escape the vehicle. Unfortunately, not everyone is as lucky. In each of these cases the women turned to law enforcement to file a report, but it is unclear whether any action was taken.
Predators in cities like Las Vegas and Miami have already been caught using rideshare apps as a cover for trafficking and assault, and these first-hand accounts show that Broadway appears to be following that same dangerous trend.
So, What’s Being Done About It?
Nashville law enforcement has increased their presence on Broadway, and some bar owners are implementing better security measures. There’s talk of requiring bars to take extra steps to protect patrons, like training staff to recognize signs of drugging and enhancing surveillance systems.
Some venues have introduced “angel shots,” a discreet way for customers to signal bartenders when they feel unsafe. But is it enough? This implies that the victim KNOWS they are in a dangerous situation and has time to take action before the substance kicks in. This is a great plan for getting away from a harasser, but no defense when it comes to covert drink spiking.
How You Can Protect Yourself on Broadway: Safety Tips From WhiskeyChick
As a woman in the live music business (even as a lowly music blogger), I’m always on alert while on the job when covering a live concert or festival or fan event. Hell, when you go by the pen-name “WhiskeyChick” like I do, there’s sure to be shots flowing freely wherever I go, which means I have to take my personal safety VERY seriously both on and off the clock. If you’re planning a night out on Broadway, these are some safety tips I practice that could help keep you out of danger.
- Leave a Trail: Always tell someone where you are going and when you get home. Even better, use Snapchat or Life360 to share your location in real-time. As my mom always said, “Let us know what ditch to check if you come up missing.”
- Protect Your Drink at All Costs: Never accept drinks from strangers or leave your drink unattended.
- Watch the bartender make your drink. If you didn’t see it poured or opened, don’t drink it.
- Use a drink cover. NightCap (not sponsored, just smart!) makes an ingenious and discreet drink cover to prevent anything from being slipped into your cup. They even have a spring break giveaway on Instagram right now. It’s a subtle, simple solution that could save you from a dangerous situation, and honestly it’s so inexpensive it just makes sense to add it to your arsenal. I honestly think bar owners should be buying their drink topping stickers in bulk and providing them by request at every bar in Nashville and beyond!
- Pace Yourself—Don’t Get Too Drunk, Too Fast: The more you drink, the less aware you become, and predators target those who appear disoriented.
- Eat before you drink. A full stomach can help slow alcohol absorption, making it harder for someone to take advantage of you.
- Stay hydrated. Alcohol dehydrates you, and dehydration can intensify intoxication.
- Always Have an Exit Plan: Stick with your friends. Go out together, leave together.
- Never leave a friend behind. If they’re too drunk or feeling unwell, make sure they get home safely before continuing your night.
- Have cash or a card on you. Keep enough money on your body to get home in case your purse or wallet goes missing.
- Plan your ride home in advance. If using rideshare services like Uber or Lyft set it up earlier in the day so there’s no fumbling at 2 AM. If you have a designated driver, hold them accountable and make sure they really aren’t drinking.
- Set Up Emergency Contacts: Make sure your lock screen emergency contact is set to someone who actually answers their phone. I get it… nobody actually TALKS on the phone anymore… that’s what texting is for, but if you’re blacking out after one drink it’s obvious you’re going to need some help and it should be from someone you trust.
- Trust Your Gut: If something feels off, it probably is. Get out of the situation in any way that you can—even if it means making a scene. Your safety is more important than anyone else’s opinion.
Broadway Is at a Crossroads
Broadway has always been the place where country music dreams come to life. But behind the glitz and glamour, an undercurrent of danger threatens to tarnish its reputation. If something doesn’t change soon, Music City might find itself with an even bigger problem—fewer visitors willing to take the risk.
The city, bar owners, and country music industry insiders need to step up and take action before Broadway’s reputation as a fun, safe destination is permanently damaged. We’ve seen situations like this happen during New York City’s sleazy Time Square era or the mob days that basically built Las Vegas, but unlike those places, Nashville relies 99% on a primarily-wholesome tourism economy. It’s all food, beverages, music and nightlife there. If the town expects to keep the fans and their money coming in they HAVE to find a way to keep the bad actors out. Until then, stay vigilant, trust your instincts, and always prioritize safety over a good time.
It’s clear that more needs to be done to make patrons, especially women, feel safe going out in Nashville these days. From local law enforcement to in-house security at bars and venues, what do YOU think should be done better to protect the public?
*Disclaimer: I write about this industry from my 500-mile-view in the foothills of the Ozarks on a website I own free and clear from industry pressure. If you know of a bar, artist, or organization that is taking steps to help curb this crisis, reach out to me and let’s tell that story together because it’s one people are literally dying to hear. Cheers! – WC