Ashley McBryde Opens Redemption Bar In Eric Church’s Chief’s

Gammy winner Ashely McBryde cut her teeth playing country songs in biker bars. Now she’s opening one.

Redemption Bar is a new entertainment venue on the fifth floor of Chief’s, Eric Church’s six-story flagship venue in the heart of Nashville’s honky tonk district on Broadway. Set to open on Aug. 28, Redemption is inspired by McBryde’s personal path to sobriety and designed as a welcoming space that honors authenticity, connection and original songwriting.

“When the opportunity to make my mark on Broadway came, I knew I wanted to create a space that champions what’s made a difference in my life; a space that lifts up the brushed aside, and makes sure everyone feels welcome,” stats McBryde in a release.

Redemption Bar features a zero-proof cocktail menu with each drink named after the lyrics that helped define McBryde’s career climb. The drinks may be non-alcoholic, but the atmosphere is expected to be full throttle.

“As someone who is three years sober, the typical response to ‘Do you have anything non-alcoholic?’ is either ‘Why did you come to a bar if you aren’t gonna drink?’ or ‘You can have soda water and a lime I guess,’” explained McBryde in a Rolling Stone interview. “Some of my favorite places to socialize became wildly unaccommodating when the only thing that changed was what was in my cup.”

McBryde offers, “It was vital that I create a space where not drinking is the forethought – normalized. You can get alcohol drinks in Redemption too, because everyone is welcome.”

The bar leans into McBryde’s songwriting cred with a stage that will be a platform for rising artists with stories to tell.

“Songwriters are the backbone of this community and it’s important to me to create a place for all the tourists on lower Broadway to experience original music from some of the people who are keeping dreams alive in this town,” she adds.

The concept also reflects the friendship and shared creative values between McBryde and Church, who have built careers on strength, vulnerability and fierce independence.

Chief’s, which opened in April 2024, is focused on original live performance with Neon Steeple, the venues main music venue with a capacity of 350, several bars, a rooftop area and a broadcast studio, which is home to Church’s Outsiders Radio on SiriusXM.