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A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Nashville. Written by Nate Rau and Adam Tamburin.

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Lawyers: Pike getting "life-saving care" after failed execution

State and federal elected officials are pressing for public accountability.

News

Tennessee death row inmate Christa Pike&#x27;s attorneys said she was &quot;in critical condition&quot; and &quot;receiving life-saving care&quot; Thursday, a day after <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="she survived an execution attempt" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/10/01/chaos-questions-christa-pike-execution-attempt" data-vars-content-id="5846c647-a88b-4072-aeb2-def79cf89669" data-vars-headline="Lawyers: Pike getting &quot;life-saving care&quot; after failed execution" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/10/01/chaos-questions-christa-pike-execution-attempt" target="_self">she survived an execution attempt</a> during which the state administered two doses of the lethal injection drug.<ul><li>A death penalty expert <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="told the Associated Press" data-vars-click-url="https://apnews.com/article/christa-pike-failed-botched-execution-5638e4f7d25d5490b402ae53cfa2626d" data-vars-content-id="5846c647-a88b-4072-aeb2-def79cf89669" data-vars-headline="Lawyers: Pike getting &quot;life-saving care&quot; after failed execution" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://apnews.com/article/christa-pike-failed-botched-execution-5638e4f7d25d5490b402ae53cfa2626d" target="_blank">told the Associated Press</a> that Pike&#x27;s survival after receiving the execution drug was unprecedented.</li></ul>The latest: State and federal elected officials are pressing for public accountability after the second failed execution this year. Gov. Bill Lee halted further executions for the rest of the year and ordered a independent review of the Pike execution attempt.<ul><li>On Thursday morning, he told reporters there were &quot;very few answers&quot; about what had gone wrong.</li></ul>

Predators offer gravy boats, bobbleheads and romance for theme nights this season

Nashville Predators' promotions for 2026 season include bobbleheads of Billy Strings and Ryan O'Reilly.

Sports

If your Thanksgiving arrangement fell short in terms of expressing your hockey fandom, well, the Nashville Predators have you covered.<ul><li>The Preds partnered with Cracker Barrel on a catfish gravy boat giveaway for the team&#x27;s Nov. 7 home game against the St. Louis Blues.</li></ul>The big picture: Predators fans really want a playoff hockey team this season. <ul><li>That remains to be seen, but attending games is sure to be fun either way, as the team&#x27;s marketing department once again packed their home schedule full of creative promotions and theme nights.</li></ul>Here are some of our favorites:

Tennessee contributes to national uptick in executions

Forty-seven people were executed last year, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Three of them were in Tennessee.

Tennessee is contributing to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="national surge in executions" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/09/02/death-penalty-executions-surging-florida" data-vars-content-id="9fe7d76c-9b59-462f-9ac2-1d1737260f86" data-vars-headline="Tennessee contributes to national uptick in executions" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/09/02/death-penalty-executions-surging-florida" target="_self">national surge in executions</a>, and the Republican candidate for governor wants the state to go further in the coming years.The big picture: Forty-seven people were executed in the United States last year, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.<ul><li>Three of them were in Tennessee.</li></ul>

Christa Pike hospitalized after failed execution attempt

Christa Pike hospitalized after failed TN execution attempt

"We have a lot of questions about what we saw and what we did not see."

Death row inmate <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Christa Pike" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/09/30/christa-pike-execution-stayed-appeals-court" data-vars-content-id="061853ae-993b-49c7-96fb-c56817325e58" data-vars-headline="Christa Pike hospitalized after failed execution attempt" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/09/30/christa-pike-execution-stayed-appeals-court" target="_self">Christa Pike</a> was still alive after getting two rounds of lethal injection drugs at a Nashville prison Wednesday night, her attorneys said in court filings.<ul><li>Media witnesses who watched the lethal injection process said Pike was still breathing when the warden told them to leave at 8:53pm.</li><li>An ambulance left the prison grounds while they were describing their experience at a press conference outside. Sirens wailed while they talked.</li></ul>

October concert preview: The Truth venue arrives

October marks the arrival of The Truth, the highly anticipated 4,400-seat Live Nation venue.

Things to Do

Nashville&#x27;s live music scene is on the verge of a new era starting Thursday.Why it matters: October marks the arrival of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Truth" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/03/16/the-truth-music-venue-announces-first-concert-lineup" data-vars-content-id="05922ab2-a054-4f34-9905-59ac76afd749" data-vars-headline="October concert preview: The Truth venue arrives" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/03/16/the-truth-music-venue-announces-first-concert-lineup" target="_self">The Truth</a>, the highly anticipated 4,400-seat Live Nation venue in Wedgewood Houston.<ul><li>The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="concert hall&#x27;s opening month" data-vars-click-url="https://www.thetruthnashville.com/shows" data-vars-content-id="05922ab2-a054-4f34-9905-59ac76afd749" data-vars-headline="October concert preview: The Truth venue arrives" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.thetruthnashville.com/shows" target="_blank">concert hall&#x27;s opening month</a> is packed with blockbuster acts like Sting and Jack White that were clearly designed to make a splash.</li></ul>

Axios Social Club brings mystery dinners to Nashville

Meet fellow locals over dinner at a restaurant we hand-picked.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Axios Social Club" data-vars-click-url="https://axiossocialclub.dnnr.io/" data-vars-content-id="65d22488-cde5-4bef-8de9-f490f85fc81d" data-vars-headline="Axios Social Club brings mystery dinners to Nashville" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://axiossocialclub.dnnr.io/" target="_blank">Axios Social Club</a> is bringing readers together for dinner in Nashville&#x27;s Germantown neighborhood on Tuesday, Oct. 6.Why it matters: Your city is full of interesting people you haven&#x27;t met yet. We&#x27;re making it easier to change that.

More than 145 events planned for Dolly Day

Fans to celebrate Parton's music, generosity and joy.

Fans everywhere are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="coming together Friday" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/09/17/nashville-dolly-day-9-25" data-vars-content-id="a2d3c505-6902-41c8-92a6-ed1a3eeae1dc" data-vars-headline="More than 145 events planned for Dolly Day" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/09/17/nashville-dolly-day-9-25" target="_self">coming together Friday</a> to celebrate Dolly Parton, with Nashville, her home base during decades of superstardom, leading the way.Why it matters: While <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="court disputes over Parton&#x27;s estate" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/09/23/dolly-parton-neephew-lawsuit-restraining-order" data-vars-content-id="a2d3c505-6902-41c8-92a6-ed1a3eeae1dc" data-vars-headline="More than 145 events planned for Dolly Day" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/09/23/dolly-parton-neephew-lawsuit-restraining-order" target="_self">court disputes over Parton&#x27;s estate</a> are prickling up, the cornerstones of her legacy — music, generosity and joy — are unshakable.<ul><li>Those tenets will be on full display in Nashville and around the world throughout the new &quot;Dolly Day&quot; holiday.</li></ul>

Nashville creates Dolly Day to be celebrated on 9/25

Nashvillians can celebrate Dolly Parton each year on Sept. 25 by giving to her charitable causes, performing random acts of kindness or simply wearing pink.

Starting this year, an annual Dolly Day in Nashville will celebrate the legendary artist&#x27;s legacy of philanthropy and giving back to the community.Why it matters: Nashvillians can celebrate <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Dolly Parton" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/08/25/dolly-parton-has-died-at-80-obit" data-vars-content-id="2dd410dc-8fb2-47e4-9cd3-bf56b7192dc6" data-vars-headline="Nashville creates Dolly Day to be celebrated on 9/25" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/08/25/dolly-parton-has-died-at-80-obit" target="_self">Dolly Parton</a> on 9/25 — chosen in honor of her hit song &quot;9 to 5&quot; — by giving to her charitable causes, performing random acts of kindness or simply wearing pink.

Visa denials lead Nashville Zoo to cancel annual festival

Zoolumination was celebrated as the nation's largest lantern festival.

The Nashville Zoo announced Wednesday it had been forced to cancel the popular &quot;Zoolumination Festival of Lights&quot; after the Chinese artisans who power the glowing spectacle were denied visas to travel to the U.S.Why it matters: Zoolumination was celebrated as the nation&#x27;s largest lantern festival, with more than 1,000 custom-made silk lanterns. It has drawn crowds to the zoo <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="during the winter holiday season" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2022/12/03/holiday-nashville" data-vars-content-id="0f42f7b0-e635-4ff9-80d7-8daac1352f2a" data-vars-headline="Visa denials lead Nashville Zoo to cancel annual festival" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2022/12/03/holiday-nashville" target="_self">during the winter holiday season</a> since 2019.

New River North greenway foreshadows Nashville's East Bank parks plan 

New River North greenway has wide walking paths, plenty of places to sit and a cool view of the river.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The River North" data-vars-click-url="https://www.google.com/search?q=axios+nashville+and+river+north&amp;rlz=1C5GCCM_en&amp;oq=axios+nashville+and+river+north&amp;gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRigATIHCAQQIRigATIHCAUQIRigATIHCAYQIRifBTIHCAcQIRifBTIHCAgQIRiPAjIHCAkQIRiPAtIBCDMwMzlqMGo0qAIAsAIA&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;source=chrome.ob&amp;ie=UTF-8" data-vars-content-id="befb7403-30fc-4616-a078-b8214df39fe4" data-vars-headline="New River North greenway foreshadows Nashville&#x27;s East Bank parks plan " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.google.com/search?q=axios+nashville+and+river+north&amp;rlz=1C5GCCM_en&amp;oq=axios+nashville+and+river+north&amp;gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRigATIHCAQQIRigATIHCAUQIRigATIHCAYQIRifBTIHCAcQIRifBTIHCAgQIRiPAjIHCAkQIRiPAtIBCDMwMzlqMGo0qAIAsAIA&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;source=chrome.ob&amp;ie=UTF-8" target="_blank">The River North</a> greenway opened to the public last week, offering a friendly walking path with a picturesque view on the East Bank of the Cumberland River.Why it matters: River North is the first leg of a more ambitious <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="greenway plan" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/07/20/plan-to-play-update-tests-how-much-nashville-wants-to-spend-on-parks" data-vars-content-id="befb7403-30fc-4616-a078-b8214df39fe4" data-vars-headline="New River North greenway foreshadows Nashville&#x27;s East Bank parks plan " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/07/20/plan-to-play-update-tests-how-much-nashville-wants-to-spend-on-parks" target="_self">greenway plan</a> that will connect the Oracle campus all the way to Shelby Bottoms Park.<ul><li>The project sits along the river, which has historically been sealed off to the public on the underdeveloped East Bank.</li></ul>

Nashville's packed Labor Day schedule: Fireworks, football and more

There's something for everyone looking to unwind.

Free music, fireworks and football. There&#x27;s something for everyone looking to unwind this Labor Day Weekend.Why it matters: The holiday weekend marks the unofficial end of summer, and an opportunity to commemorate the hard-fought victories of the labor movement.

Multi-species South American habitat debuts at Nashville Zoo

Capybaras, anteaters and rare South American birds will live together at new Nashville Zoo exhibit.

A new South American habitat at the Nashville Zoo will be home to multiple species of rare and cute animals.Why it matters: Visitors will be able to see capybara pups, a giant anteater and two species of birds unique to the continent.

Famed "Odyssey" translator to speak at Nashville's Parthenon

Emily Wilson will speak at The Parthenon on Sept. 1.

&quot;The Odyssey&quot; has captured the world&#x27;s attention this summer: Christopher Nolan&#x27;s adaptation of the Greek epic became the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time, spurring plenty of critical praise but also some backlash.<ul><li>Fans who want to dive deeper into the conversation need look no further than The Parthenon in Centennial Park.</li></ul>The latest: Scholar Emily Wilson, famous for her translation of &quot;The Odyssey,&quot; will be speaking at The Parthenon on Sept. 1. Tickets are still available.

Things to Do 🗓

October concert preview: The Truth venue arrives

Predators offer gravy boats, bobbleheads and romance for theme nights this season

Axios Social Club brings mystery dinners to Nashville

More than 145 events planned for Dolly Day

Nashville creates Dolly Day to be celebrated on 9/25