From Stage to Fryer: Carrie Underwood Officially Opens Fried Chicken Joint “American Fry-dol” — Menu Item #7 Has All of Nashville Talking

Nashville, TN — When country superstar Carrie Underwood traded the bright lights of the concert stage for the warm glow of a deep fryer, no one could have predicted that her latest performance would be a culinary one. Yet here we are: the official grand opening of American Fry-dol, a fried chicken restaurant in the heart of downtown Nashville, has already set tongues wagging—and taste buds buzzing. And while the entire menu has been crafted with Southern comfort in mind, it’s the mysterious “Menu Item #7” that’s got the city in a tizzy.

A Star’s New Stage

Underwood’s shift from chart-topping anthems to crispy-golden drumsticks might seem like a left turn, but for the Oklahoma-born singer, this venture has been simmering in her mind for years.

“I’ve been cooking fried chicken with my mom and sisters since I was a little girl,” Underwood said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “Music feeds the soul, but fried chicken feeds… well, everything else.”

Dressed in a rhinestone-studded apron—emblazoned with the restaurant’s logo, a cartoon chicken wearing a cowboy hat—Underwood greeted the crowd with the same charm she brings to her concerts. Local fans, food bloggers, and a surprising number of curious tourists gathered along Broadway, waiting hours for their first taste.

The Look and Feel of American Fry-dol

The restaurant is pure Carrie: warm, stylish, and unapologetically country. Inside, reclaimed barn wood lines the walls, while vintage concert posters—including some from Underwood’s Blown Away and Cry Pretty tours—serve as décor. A small performance corner sits near the back, where live musicians will serenade diners every weekend.

The menu blends down-home cooking with a few unexpected twists:

“Before He Fries” – classic Southern fried chicken with a buttermilk brine.
“Cry Pretty Wings” – spicy buffalo chicken wings that bring a tear to your eye.
“The Denim & Diner Special” – chicken tenders served with jalapeño cornbread and a mason jar sweet tea.

But the spotlight belongs to Menu Item #7, listed simply as “Seven Notes”, with no description beyond: Ask your server.

The Mystery of Menu Item #7

By midday, “Seven Notes” had already become the talk of Nashville. Social media was ablaze with speculation. Is it a secret family recipe? Is it fried chicken infused with Tennessee whiskey? Is it even chicken at all?

When asked, Underwood was coy.

“All I’ll say is: every bite is a different note, and together they make a chord,” she teased, leaving reporters—and half the city—guessing.

Those lucky enough to order it on opening day signed a small waiver agreeing not to reveal its contents until September 1st. This marketing move only deepened the intrigue, and by evening, a queue snaked around the block.

From Studio to Kitchen

According to her business partner, Nashville restaurateur Hank Morrison, Underwood didn’t just slap her name on the brand—she was in the kitchen testing recipes for months.

“Carrie has an insane work ethic,” Morrison said. “If she wasn’t on tour, she was here in an apron, trying out spice blends or tweaking the batter. She even insisted on learning the fryer’s quirks—like knowing exactly when the oil is ‘singing’ just right.”

Underwood herself admitted that balancing her music career with launching a restaurant wasn’t easy. “There were days I went from soundcheck to the kitchen in the same boots,” she laughed.

Fan Frenzy Meets Foodie Culture

Outside the restaurant, fans clutched souvenir menus like autographs. Some compared the opening to the energy of an album release day. Local food critic Melinda Rhodes called the fried chicken “pure Nashville—crunchy on the outside, gospel-level tender on the inside.”

Across town, other restaurateurs are already bracing for what some call the “Underwood Effect”—a potential uptick in foot traffic for Nashville’s fried chicken scene.

“It’s good for everybody,” said Chef Darren Cole of Music City Drumsticks. “When someone with Carrie’s star power brings national attention to fried chicken, the whole city wins.”

A Side of Philanthropy

In true Carrie fashion, the restaurant has a charitable side. For every order of Seven Notes sold, $2 will be donated to local music education programs in Nashville public schools.

“I owe my start to teachers who believed in me,” Underwood said. “If a plate of fried chicken can help another kid pick up a guitar or a microphone, then I’m all in.”

The Economic Ripple

Local business groups are thrilled about the boost American Fry-dol might bring to downtown Nashville. Tourism officials predict an influx of visitors, especially during Underwood’s concert weekends.

“Imagine seeing Carrie live at Bridgestone Arena and then walking two blocks to eat her fried chicken—that’s a package deal,” said Amanda Flynn of the Nashville Chamber of Commerce.

Hotel owners have also taken note, with at least three nearby boutique hotels planning to offer American Fry-dol discounts to their guests.

Looking Ahead

While Underwood is quick to remind everyone that music remains her first love, she isn’t ruling out future restaurant expansions.

“If folks love it, we’ll see what happens,” she said with a wink. “Maybe ‘American Fry-dol’ will hit the road before I do.”

For now, the focus is on keeping the Broadway location running smoothly, and on maintaining the buzz around Menu Item #7—something Nashville residents seem more than happy to help with.

A Closing Performance

At the end of opening day, Underwood surprised diners by stepping onto the small in-house stage with just an acoustic guitar. She performed an impromptu set of three songs, closing with “Before He Cheats”—but this time, swapping the lyric “dug my key into the side” for “dipped my drumstick into the brine,” to the delight of a crowd that sang along between bites.

As the final chords rang out, she waved to the cheering audience, then disappeared into the kitchen to check on a fresh batch of “Seven Notes.”

Nashville’s Newest Obsession

In a city where food and music are equally sacred, American Fry-dol feels like the perfect hybrid—part honky-tonk, part comfort-food haven. Whether Menu Item #7 turns out to be a revolutionary recipe or just the world’s most creative marketing stunt, one thing is certain: Carrie Underwood knows how to keep her fans guessing, whether she’s on stage or behind the fryer.

And judging by the lines outside, Nashville’s not just ready for another encore—it’s hungry for it.

Music News 365