CasaSugar

Taylor Swift Scoops Up a Historic Nashville Home

Julia Walsh — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:00:00 PDT

Country starlet Taylor Swift has scooped up a historic, 5,601-square-foot four bedroom and four-and-one-half bath in Nashville for $2.5 million. A bargain compared to most celebrity homes in LA! Known as the Northumberland Estate, the house was built in the 1930s by Guilford Dudley, Jr., a former US ambassador to Denmark and is a prime example of 20th-century Southern architecture. Dudley originally purchased hundreds of rolling acres for the estate, turning the property into a classic equestrian farm, but it has since been subdivided.

Taylor's new home was Dudley's personal residence and was most recently owned by Universal Music Group chairman Luke Lewis. Lewis and his wife, Lauren, hired renowned architect Manuel Zeitlin to update the house with the latest amenities while maintaining its historic integrity. The couple's design aesthetic is also supremely sophisticated, making it easy to see what a beautiful home it is. It will be interesting what interior design Swift and her family bring to this wonderful piece of American history.

Come take the full tour!

Gwyneth Paltrow Falls Off the Health Wagon

FitSugar — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 03:00:00 PDT

Remember when Gwyneth Paltrow told us she was loving everything Nashville - including its fried chicken, collard greens, and sweet potato pie? It looks like that diet of Southern goodness wasn't necessarily by choice, but encouraged by Shana Feste, the director of Love Don't Let Me Down, which Gwyneth was filming in Nashville. In the May issue of Harper's Bazaar, Gwyneth shares that Feste, "didn't want me to have any definition whatsoever, so I had to stop working out." Feste wanted Gwyneth to look more believable for her role as an alcoholic country singer, which meant no exercise and lots of fried food and booze.

"I was so bad with the food and alcohol in Nashville. If you saw me naked [now] compared to what I looked like when I did Iron Man 2, when I was exercising every day - I'll get it back together, but I've never eaten so much fried food and white flour in my life, ever."

While I've never had a job require me to gain weight, when I visit my mom, I'm usually eating what she cooks. Not only do I want to eat all the favorites I grew up with, I know she'd be really hurt if I didn't spend time cooking and eating with her. I still maintain an active lifestyle, but I'm not going to snub my mother's homemade curries or egg rolls that she spends hours preparing.

Tell me, have you ever abandoned your healthy lifestyle for something?

Do You Indulge When You're on Vacation?

FitSugar — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 03:30:04 PDT

For the last few months, Gwyneth Paltrow has been in Nashville while filming her role in Love Don't Let Me Down. And as she shares in her lastest GOOP newsletter, she's fallen in love with everything about the city: its people, music venues, and even its fried chicken! Most of what I've heard about Gwyneth's lifestyle strikes me as being uber-healthy - she's gone raw before, meditates, and always seems to be detoxing or on a cleanse. It was actually kind of refreshing to hear that while in Nashville she sampled Southern classics like fried chicken, collard greens, and sweet potato fries - foods she called "a traditional Southern attack."

Since I eat healthy while at home, I do give myself freedom to try new foods when on vacation - especially if it's a local dish that can't be missed. How about you . . .

Kings of Leon's Jared Followill Swoops Up a Nashville Castle

CasaSugar — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 09:00:23 PST

Kings of Leon bassist Jared Followill has swooped himself up a proper castle in his home state of Tennessee for $1.8 million. The 7,411-square-foot, five-bedroom, five-and-two-half-bath home is brand spankin' new, located just south of downtown Nashville. Propped up on a hill, it should offer lots of privacy for the shaggy-haired pretty boy, not to mention those five bedrooms. It's got sort of a Craftsman-meets-Tudor-meets-Frank Lloyd Wright thing going on, which I don't quite adore from the exterior. But the inside does have beautiful bones, like rich hardwood floors, fancy stainless steel appliances, lots of stone, slate, marble - the works. It also has a massive wooden wine cellar, which I totally covet.

In April, Rolling Stone took a video tour of each of the Followills' homes, and back then Jared was living in a small fixer-upper '50s home. So this is definitely a step up in size and fanciness, but I wouldn't necessarily say newer is better. In full bachelor pad style, he had zebra-print sheets and some faux taxidermy in his bedroom, and a big flatscreen for his Playstation 3 habit. I'm sure he'll outfit his new digs with all those must-have rockstar elements, too. I've got 50 (!) photos of Jared's new digs for you to see, so

Here's #2! Who's Watching the Nashville Debate With Us?

CitizenSugar — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:45:43 PDT

Get ready, 9 p.m. EDT, it's the second verse, same as the first? Decidedly not my friends, (no drinking yet!). But given that it's a town-hall-style debate, a format McCain is quite comfortable with, I expect the "my friends" to come flying, so prepare yourselves.

So the scoop: of the six million questions submitted online (!!!) only 15-20 will be answered. The candidates will answer questions from uncommitted voters and while the candidates have agreed not to include follow-up questions, though moderator Tom Brokaw hasn't himself agreed to cut them out. Most of the stories today have underscored McCain's need for a "game changer" given his favored status in the format, and his need to reverse Obama's gain in the polls.

McCain has, with a grin, signaled he's ready to shuck the gloves, and while the Obama campaign acknowledges his competence in a town hall, they're readying their gloves as well. They said, "I hope during the course of that he also has time to speak to the state of our economy, which is in deep trouble right now. But we are prepared for a very aggressive debate."

Are you prepared? Any predictions on the relative game-changeriness? Who's watching the debate with us?

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This Just In: Kelly Clarkson Buys a Country Crib

CasaSugar — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:00:34 PDT

According to Real Estalker, Kelly Clarkson has purchased a 5,470-square-foot, 5-bedroom, 5-bath home in Nashville, TN for nearly $1.5 million. The listing for the property reads:

One of a kind stone home updated with fabulous additions. 5 bedroom/5 full bath. Open kitchen to den with large breakfast room at heart of the home. You will love the screened porch with stone fireplace + stone terraces. Great level treed lot. 9-foot ceilings. 3-car garage.

I can't say I'm a huge fan of the current owners' interior design choices, so let's hope Clarkson brings in some professionals. Perhaps Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban who live nearby can give her some local decorator recommendations to spice up the modest digs. If not, she can always take a note from the slick home of her dear friend Simon Cowell's girlfriend . . .

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This Just In: Jessica Simpson May Be Leaving LA For Nashville

CasaSugar — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:00:00 PDT

According to Real Estalker, several sources are whispering that Jessica Simpson may have purchased a 10,925-square-foot, 7-bedroom, 8-bath home in Nashville, TN, known as "The Queen of Northumberland" for $3.47 million. The manse in question is in a gated community and is listed as having "magnificent stone work on cornices, window trim and entry door, a tennis court, a swimming pool, a home theater, and fabulous landscaping." While these reports have not been verified, the house was indeed purchased through a trust represented by money-manager Mary Ann McCready, who has executed the real estate goings-on of several other music-biz celebs in Nashville in the past. Considering that Simpson is known to be hard at work on her country album, if accurate, these reports wouldn't surprise me, seeing as Nashville is the capital of country music. But, no worries, Simpson won't be alone out there in Dixie; she'll join the likes of plenty of other celebs who call Nashville home, such as Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban.
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Out and About: Tennessee's Red Rover

PetSugar — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 16:00:21 PST

Along with cage-free day care and grooming services, Red Rover shines brightest in the dog training arena. With everything from ESL-K9 (aka, a six-week training class, English as a Second Language for Dogs) to a PupPoise class to help reactive dogs maintain poise and self-assured behavior around other dogs, they've got offerings for beginners and those in need of refreshment. There are more advanced options for those doggies who have mastered the basics, and trainer Heidi Dixner includes unlimited email support with her paid classes in addition to offering extra one-on-ones in your home ($60 per hour) or individual sessions in Red Rover's Nashville location ($20 per 20 minutes). And if your dog wants to learn how to dance, then he's in luck - they now offer freestyle classes to get you started off on the right paw!

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Out and About: Tennessee's Radnor Lake

PetSugar — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:00:30 PST

Nestled in the Overton Hills, the beautiful sanctuary of Radnor Lake is a great escape in urban Nashville. The 747 acres of land were preserved in 1973 as Tennessee's first natural area and protected ecosystem. The lake area often offers close-up glimpses of herons, turtles, and deer just to name a few - and is a popular spot for nature studies from local university researchers. Because of its important natural habitats, you can hike on the various trails for animal observation, but save those walks with your pup for Otter Creek Road, the only part where pooches are permitted.

Click here to share your own tips with PetSugar's Out and About travel group - and stay tuned as our week of Tennessee continues.

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Buzz News Roundup, 9/26

BuzzSugar — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 14:37:31 PDT

"Nashville" is the first new series to be yanked from the TV schedule this fall, writes Zap2it, though Fox claims it will be rescheduled down the line.
Clint Eastwood and Matt Damon are looking to finance The Human Factor, the Nelson Mandela film starring Morgan Freeman as Mandela, writes ComingSoon. Eastwood would also direct the film and Damon might star in it alongside Freeman.
Reba McEntire is enjoying the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 for the first time ever with her album Reba Duets, Billboard reports. She beat out both Kanye and 50 Cent.
Set your TiVos for Bravo's mini-marathon of six "30 Rock" episodes on Sunday afternoon! The Futon Critic has the details.
According to Variety, The Nielsen Company is looking to launch an "online social network" where TV enthusiasts can discuss what they think is working and not working - with studios and networks listening in.
Bright Eyes has been working hard to prepare for the concert this weekend in which he'll play with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, writes Billboard.
"Nip/Tuck" creator Ryan Murphy has a new show headed for Fox, Zap2it reports, while the Hollywood Reporter says the network also has two cop series in the works.
Meanwhile, over at NBC, a new reality show called "My Dad is Better Than Your Dad" will soon be in the lineup, and all the details are at the Futon Critic.
Kevin James will write, produce and star in a comedy titled Mall Cop, writes Hollywood Reporter.
Jay-Z's Rocawear brand is among the bidders for naming rights to the New Jersey Nets' arena, the Associated Press reports.
And finally: Remember that whole thing where Apple claimed it wouldn't sell new NBC shows on iTunes? Curiously, "Chuck" and "Journeyman" are available there now anyway.

Photo courtesy of Fox