Introduction:
Inside the Country Retreat Built for Community: How One Music Power Couple Designed a Home That Welcomes Everyone
Set deep within the rolling hills of northern Tennessee, a long winding driveway disappears into a secluded property that seems designed for quiet, uninterrupted living. But step inside this sprawling modern-country estate, and a different story unfolds. Despite the privacy, despite the acres of dense woodland surrounding it, this home was built for gathering—for music, for family, for friends who never need an invitation.
“Our goal wasn’t to build a fortress,” the homeowner, a well-known country star, explains. “It was to build a place people always wanted to come back to.”
The couple purchased the property shortly after their wedding, seeking an escape from the glare of city life. What began as a modest three-bedroom farmhouse slowly transformed into a living, breathing retreat as their family expanded. With three young children now filling the halls, and a constant flow of visiting relatives, fellow musicians, and close friends, the couple decided early on that their home needed to evolve with their life.
And evolve it did.
Across the yard sits an 11,000-square-foot multipurpose structure affectionately known as “the lodge.” Equipped with a full basketball court, a professional rehearsal studio, a gym with a sauna, and a garage large enough to house a growing car collection, the building has become the gravitational center of the property. It hosts everything—birthday parties, late-night jam sessions, tour rehearsals, and the occasional spontaneous celebration after a career milestone.
Visitors often joke that the property feels more like a boutique resort than a private residence. There’s the pool house for overnight guests, the bunk room designed to sleep an entire youth group, and a fully furnished outdoor playhouse for the kids—complete with a miniature storefront and a tiny performance stage.
“It’s funny,” the wife says with a smile. “We built all this to give our kids a magical place to grow up, and somehow we ended up creating a getaway for everyone we know.”
To execute their vision, they partnered with a local design team who helped overhaul the previously rustic interiors. Heavy stone, dark wood, and dim lighting were replaced with bright plaster-style walls, white oak flooring, and soft earth tones that echo the surrounding forest without overwhelming it. The effect is warm, airy, and intentionally low-maintenance—a space meant to be lived in, not tiptoed through.
Despite the home’s expansive features, the couple insists they’re not done dreaming. A two-story treehouse connected by a bridge is already in early planning stages, along with a cluster of small guest cottages tucked deeper into the woods.
“We just want a place where memories never stop,” the husband says. “If that means adding one more crazy idea to the property, then why not?”
For this family, home isn’t just where they live—it’s a world they’re building, one memory at a time.