Word Entertainment

Nashville’s location as the “Buckle of the Bible Belt” comes from the city’s long history of religious publishing, which included religious music. This history dates back to 1824 when "The Western Harmony" songbook was published by Allen Carden and Samuel Rogers in downtown Nashville. Western Harmony was a book of hymns and instructions for congregational singing. Fast forward 150 years, when Word Entertainment moved from Waco, Texas to Nashville, Tennessee in 1992. 

The founder of Word Entertainment, Jarrell McCracken, benefited from what was called the “Jesus Movement” of the 1970s. In the 1980s, Word was looking for new talent that could carry the contemporary Christian music scene forward. They decided to take a chance after hearing the soulful sound of a young woman from Nashville. One producer asked, “What would we want with a high-schooler?” But, luckily for them, they signed her in 1982. The “her” was Grammy-winner and music icon Amy Grant. Word released her album Age to Age, which became the first platinum album for a solo Christian artist. 

The Curb-Word Entertainment building you see here was originally constructed to house Capitol Records. It was completed in 1997 but Capitol never moved in. Instead Gaylord Entertainment, who at that time owned Word Music, bought it in 1999. The building has housed several other Gaylord-owned businesses over the past two decades. Mike Curb, producer and owner of Curb Records, purchased Word Entertainment in 2016. Word Entertainment continues its success with popular Christian artists and groups such as Francesca Battistelli, For King and Country, NeedtoBreathe, the Gaithers, and Switchfoot. A subsidiary of Word Entertainment also produced Veggie Tales—the popular Christian children’s television and film series.

Continue on the left side of Music Square West to your next stop at the intersection with South Street, Starstruck Entertainment.