Today we’d like to introduce you to Celine Lee Watson.
Hi Celine, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Me, Celine Lee Watson and my husband, Dale Watson, have always carried a deep love for Memphis in our hearts. On a trip to Nashville, we decided to look for a place to stay and ended up buying an Airbnb we nicknamed Lil Graceland—the seed of their move to Memphis and a spark that would grow into something much bigger.
A lifelong fascination for Memphis music history, we knew Hernando’s Hideaway was more than a building; it was a beacon. Down the street from our Airbnb and Graceland, the venue’s legacy—home to legends who shaped a sound and a city—felt like fate. On a whim, we bought the old space with the aim of restoring it, drawing on Dale’s track record of saving beloved bars, much like Ginny’s Little Longhorn in Austin, Texas.
They opened with a dream: to honor Memphis’s musical roots while giving local, independent musicians a thriving home. But just as the venue neared a hopeful completion at the end of 2019, the world shifted. Covid challenged every plan, threatening to erase the hard work they’d poured into resurrecting a piece of Memphis history.
Five years later, through ups and downs, resilience, and a shared passion for culture and community, we kept the dream alive. Today, Hernando’s Hideaway is more than a venue; it’s a living museum in the making. We host weddings, private parties, field trips, and a steady stream of live music, all while running a barbecue smokehouse that serves as a gathering place for music lovers and locals alike.
Celine and Dale envision Hernando’s Hideaway as a hub for storytelling—preserving the stories of Memphis music and supporting the artists who write new chapters in its history. Located just off Interstate 55, down the street from Graceland and near Stax, it sits at the heart of Memphis’s musical landscape. It’s a place where history and future collide, where every performance, meal, and memory adds to the ongoing saga of a city that never stops singing.
If you’re visiting Memphis, come by Hernando’s Hideaway to experience a slice of the city’s past and a promising, vibrant future built by two dreamers who love Memphis as much as its music.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Owning Hernando’s Hideaway has been a labor of love and resilience. In a historic venue off a struggling corner of town, we’ve faced tight budgets, supplier and staffing challenges, and the pressure of competing with larger corporate powers. The Covid era deepened the test, pushing us to diversify—live music, weddings, field trips, and a barbecue smokehouse—while honoring Memphis’s musical legacy. We’re always seeking support from the community, because it isn’t easy, but we’re not giving up. With partnerships, careful budgeting, and a steadfast commitment to local stories, we’re turning a difficult landscape into a living museum that champions independent musicians and invites visitors to experience Memphis music firsthand.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m Celine Lee Watson, co-owner of Hernando’s Hideaway in South Memphis, a historic music venue we’re transforming into a living museum dedicated to Memphis music history.
We specialize in preserving authentic Memphis sound and storytelling while hosting a diverse slate of events: live music with local, independent artists; weddings and private parties; educational field trips; and a barbecue smokehouse that brings people together around great food and culture.
We also support a nonprofit, the Ameripolitan Awards, which champions genres often overlooked by mainstream music and radio—outlaw country, rockabilly, western swing, and honky-tonk. The Awards recognize deserving musicians, broaden their audiences, and foster a strong, inclusive community.
What I’m known for:
A deep love for Memphis music culture and a hands-on approach to revitalizing a beloved historic venue.
Building community partnerships with musicians, restaurateurs, schools, and local organizations to create meaningful, mutually beneficial experiences.
Resilience and adaptability—navigating a historic restoration in a non-prime area, pandemic disruptions, and competition from larger corporate venues.
Founding and nurturing the Ameripolitan Awards as a national platform that shines a light on roots genres and nurtures a dedicated artist community.
What I’m most proud of
Keeping Hernando’s Hideaway alive as a living testament to Memphis music history, from Elvis and Johnny Cash to today’s independent artists.
Creating a multi-faceted destination that supports local musicians, educates visitors about Memphis’ musical legacy, and brings people together through live performance, events, and food.
Building a thriving nonprofit arm with the Ameripolitan Awards, elevating genres underserved by mainstream media, and fostering a national community that culminates in a prominent, year-end celebration—now thriving in Memphis, with 2027 shaping a beautiful, ongoing immersive experience.
What sets me apart
A place-based storytelling focus that leverages the Hernando’s Hideaway legacy and Memphis context to offer a uniquely local experience.
A diversified, mission-driven model: beyond a venue, we operate as a living museum, event space, barbecue hub, and a nonprofit-supported awards platform that amplifies niche genres.
Grassroots leadership paired with practical business discipline: heartfelt cultural aims merged with careful budgeting, strategic partnerships, and adaptability to pivot when needed.
A proven commitment to community-building: convening musicians, educators, and fans around shared history and shared future—now anchored by Ameripolitan’s nationwide reach and Memphis-hosted celebrations.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Over the next 5–10 years, the live music and cultural venue landscape will likely continue shifting toward place-based storytelling, experiential programming, and community-driven sustainability. We expect stronger collaborations between small independent venues, nonprofits, schools, and local artists to build resilient ecosystems that support touring musicians, local talent, and heritage preservation. Demand for authentic, immersive experiences—where music, food, history, and education intersect—will grow, as audiences seek meaningful connections beyond generic entertainment. Tech will play a supporting role for marketing, ticketing, and remote learning, but the heart will remain human—live performances, intimate venues, and neighborhood hubs that tell a city’s unique story. For Hernando’s Hideaway, this means deepened partnerships, diversified revenue streams (live music, events, education, and nonprofit initiatives like Ameripolitan), and a continued commitment to preserving Memphis’s rich musical legacy while welcoming new generations of artists and audiences.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.worldfamousHernandoshideaway.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hernandoshideawaymemphis
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17UydUUy7f/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/live/6-p7wLePiPY
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/nbpyroZtI7
