Mom's' was the original name of Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, Tootsie Bess bought Mom's in 1960. She credits a painter with naming Tootsie's. She came in one day to find that he had painted her place orchid … thus the name Tootsie's Orchid Lounge.
Famous early customers were Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson, Faron Young, Willie Nelson, Tom T. Hall, Hank Cochran, Mel Tillis, Roger Miller, Webb Pierce, Waylon Jennings, Patsy Cline and many more. Performers at the Opry would sometimes sneak out the side door and grab a drink at Tootsie’s between sets.
In 1992, local businessman Steve Smith reinvested in Tootsie’s and is credited for part of the revitalization of downtown Nashville. Today, Tootsie’s is an international destination visited by locals and tourists alike. Tootsie’s is known for having the best local musicians and as a haven for some of the world’s most popular acts. You truly never know who you may see on one of Tootsie’s three stages or hanging out on the rooftop patio.
Celebrity visitors such as Cher, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Brad Paisley, Chris Pratt, Post Malone, Steven Tyler, Kid Rock, John Fogerty, PINK, Jimmy Falon, Mylie Cyrus, Randy Houser, Jamey Johnson, Riley Green, Jake Owen, Jon Pardi and more!
FUN FACTS ABOUT TOOTSIE’S
• A segment of the Dean Martin summer show was filmed at Tootsie’s.
• TNN (The Nashville Network) did a 30-minute show about Tootsie’s, produced by Gus Barba.
• Esquire and Penthouse magazines did articles about Tootsie’s.
• Willie Nelson got his first songwriting job after singing at Tootsie’s.
• The photo and memorabilia lined walls are called the “Wall of Fame.”
• Tootsie was known to slip $5s and $10s into the pockets of luckless writers and pickers.
• It was said that she had a cigar box behind the counter full of IOU’s from where she had given drinks and food to hungry pickers and writers. Supposedly, at each years end, a bunch of Opry Performers would take all the IOUs and pay Tootsie so she wouldn’t lose the money.
• At her funeral were Tom T. Hall, Roy Acuff and Faron Young. She was buried in an orchid gown, with an orchid placed in the orchid-colored casket, so she could take her favorite flower with her to heaven. Connie Smith sang some of Tootsie’s favorite hymns at the funeral.
