Co-founder of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band moves to Middle Tennessee after 50 years of visiting

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — The co-founder of the Nitty Gritty Dirt is making Middle Tennessee his new home.

John McEuen has moved to Franklin to continue his music career spanning over six decades.

McEuen says he's been coming to Nashville for more than 50 years and is ready to plant some roots in the Music City area.

"The final quarter is usually the best part of the game... I came here to play it out! Been coming to Nashville for 50 years with the NGDB (he left in 2018), and now in Nashville I don't have to go to a hotel. I even have late check-out."

McEuen helped found the Nitty Gritty Dirt band in 1966, which saw many successes over the years, like the smash hit, "Fishin' in the Dark," which can still be heard regularly on Lower Broadway today.

He left the band a few years back and is ready to embark on new adventures in Nashville, including recording a Johnny Cash album.

He is excited about recording for John Carter Cash (producer) on "Johnny Cash - Forever Words" (Sony Legacy), on which he performed "The Dogs Are In The Woods", a song he "co-wrote" with Mr. Cash. McEuen sang, with his frailing banjo backing (and several other musicians), making it, as he says "... a good dog song."

McEuen has worked with iconic singers over the years, including Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, the Allman Brothers, Vince Gill, Bill Wyman, Marshall Tucker and Steve Martin.