8 minute read
The Big Easy
Image: Shirt-style cardigan by Brunello Cucinelli at Nordstrom.
Settling into life in Music City, Dennis Quaid finds that his new hometown has all the right stuff.
STYLING & EDITORIAL BY STACIE STANDIFER PHOTOS BY JESSICA AMERSON GROOMING BY NEIL ROBISON
There’s no shortage of famous faces living around Music City – but none quite as globally recognized as Dennis Quaid’s. He’s been on the big screen for over three decades but in person, far from what you’d expect from a major star. In fact, his relaxed, welcoming stance is a bit disarming. I’ve seen more ‘celebrity handlers’ on shoots for aspiring music artists than in Dennis’ world. There’s no personal assistant, stylist, agent, or advisor to be seen on the afternoon I first knocked on his door. His lovely new (and yes, very young) wife answers the door casually, gives me a run of the place, helping by going in and out of their closet to pull things I needed. Dennis sits on a kitchen stool, at ease and cooperative, while we determine where to find spots that aren’t obviously unfinished for photos.
Like the rest of us, the Quaid’s are dealing with delayed deliveries of furniture and fixtures. We worked around electricians as he and his wife, Laura, patiently deal with the long, daily process of outfitting a new home during ‘covid times’- which combined with the real estate boom in Nashville, getting settled is a waiting game. When workers are willing to show up, you don’t put them off for a photo shoot, so we interacted with contractors as they interrupted to ask for preferences from Hillwood’s new neighbor. He’s as genuine and kind with them as he is with our photographer and me. Obviously, he’s comfortable in his own skin (and sculpted physique that defies his age). With a laid-back attitude, he’s happy to share his work and life details as well as gushing a bit over all things Nashville for the readers of The Nashville Edit, and we couldn’t be happier about it.
ON NASHVILLE
“I first came here in 1980, working on The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia, but my roots in Tennessee are actually quite deep. My grandfather moved our family from here to Texas in 1903. I still have a lot of cousins in the area. We’ve also forged so many relationships in Nashville. It’s so easy to make friends here. It’s also a short drive to Laura’s family in St. Louis. Overall, the quality of life is just easier to navigate compared to daily chaos in Los Angeles,” says Dennis. He loves where he’s ‘set up camp’ at home and the thriving scene building with the city’s growth. “This house was perfect for us. Hillwood is a solid, established neighborhood just a few steps to the golf course. I play as often as I can (every day hopefully) and joined Hillwood Country Club shortly after moving in. Nashville has become quite sophisticated with lots of cultural experience opportunities. And of course, exploring local restaurants is something we’re having fun with. Even though Covid and my out-of-state work has limited our ability to visit many places, there are a few favorites of note. We like a nice meal at Giovanni or Sperry’s near the house. And I’m really into Hugh Baby’s. I’m always into the best burgers in town. Oh, and North Italia—we really like that place.” Laura chimes in while putting items in the dishwasher that the Green Hills spot may be a chain, but they like it because it’s ‘so fresh’ – even as take out. There’s also the appeal of hitting the NFL games this season. “I was always an Oilers fan, so I’ve been a Titans fan from the start,” he says.
Denim western shirt by RRL at RRL – Nashville; watch by Omega, his own.
ON MUSIC
“I grew up Southern Baptist, and my wife and I both have a solid Christian faith. Elvis did gospel, and it was fantastic,” Dennis says of putting out a gospel album this season. “The music is so moving and spiritual; it’s been a natural development. I worked on the production with a member of the critically acclaimed Nashvillebased Christian group, The Isaacs, and the whole experience has been really positive.” This release is a departure from the music he’s put out with his band, The Sharks, over the years, but he feels like it will resonate with listeners. A big part of that is engaging with fans and music-lovers live. “I’m going on tour and enjoy the nervous energy that comes from getting ready to play in front of an audience. I played at The Grand Ole Opry last week, and the whole thing was great. Being a part of the local music scene is so inspiring. Now that we’re living here, I’m hoping to build more relationships within the community of songwriters and musicians.” You’ll have to watch his social media updates on where he’s playing and when, as he fits ‘gigs’ in between his filming schedule. He’s just announced a fall City Winery performance, with more likely to come as the album release date approaches. He’s also marrying his film experience with his passion for music in the upcoming creation of The Charley Pride Story, where he’s producing a period drama about the entertainer’s life. “Jack Clement is my music mentor and also served as one to Charley, so I’ve always been interested in his story,” Dennis shares. It’s a project he’s been working on for years, and he got the opportunity to meet with Charley over a Mexican lunch in Dallas just before the pandemic. Pride and his wife conceded the rights to their very special story set in a time of racial discontent, so Dennis is off and running on this project. Unfortunately, Pride passed away in late 2020 from Covid complications - but his legend will become widely known through this epic movie.
ON MOVIES
When it comes to parts played, Dennis has fond memories and experiences and a few deep connections to the characters he’s depicted over the years. It’s the number of roles he’s not exactly clear on. “I know it’s over 100 films,” he says without getting too specific. He’s one of those actors who can be transformative, which is why it’s beyond impressive to grasp all the roles he’s seamlessly taken on as a character actor (how he sees himself - not a ‘movie star’). Just a few of note that came to my attention were Traffic, Coldcreek Manor, The Rookie, A Dog’s Purpose, Far from Heaven, and the biopic Wyatt Earp. With the sheer volume of his activity just during the past few months alone, it’s easy to see why keeping count wouldn’t be easy. During our talks, he was wrapping up shooting Reagan, promoting the recently released Netflix feature Blue Miracle and simultaneously tackling projects such as Tiger Rising, two true-story projects including MGM’s On a Wing and a Prayer, and the anticipated Christmas Day drop of American Underdog. In August, he announced yet another significant role in a film slated to be timeless and comparable to The Blind Side, The Natural, and Field of Dreams in scope and appeal. His role as pastor and father in The Hill is expected to be a big one. “I couldn’t be more excited about this project. This film will no doubt validate the power of American social mobility and show that in America, you can choose to be what you want,” he states about the true story of athlete Rickey Hill’s overcoming physical disability and going on to famously play baseball.
ON BEING PRESIDENTIAL
“When I was offered the role of President Ronald Reagan, I was nervous and felt a bit uncomfortable about being able to portray the iconic figure,” says Dennis. “He was/is my favorite president of all time, so getting this part right was extremely important to me.” While there may have been nerves or doubt early on, from early clips of Reagan, it seems that Dennis not only fits the persona of the ‘actor to governor to president’ character, but looks the part as well. This isn’t his first time playing a real-life legend or even a president. In the 2010 HBO Film, A Special Relationship, the New York Times cited his portrayal of Bill Clinton as ‘a dazzling performance,’ and it was. The actor openly shared that was the scariest time in his professional life—taking on a role of such a famous person and getting it right. But he did just that. If you close your eyes and run a clip from the movie, his voice alone is so convincing as President Clinton most would swear it was the man himself.
Dennis knew Clinton, but he got into serious research for this story as much of the movie is about Reagan’s early life, centered around his relationship and marriage. Dennis tells me how he’s gotten to know so much about ‘Ronnie the individual’ through his research and study. That included trips out to the couple’s very modest California ranch, which has remained virtually untouched over the years - clothes still in the closet. “During his time running the country, he made a lot of people rich with his politics, but he wasn’t a wealthy man. His life was humble. We know he was an actor before politics, but most people today don’t realize that he wasn’t some big star. In fact, he was more well known for being a spokesperson for GE and soap products on commercials during the period before he became a governor,” says Dennis. The film was set to release this fall, but with Covid-related concessions, it’s on hold for a 2022 release. For just a taste of the film’s potential to be a box-office smash, check out some clips from the set on the official Facebook page (Reagan The Movie).
