We’re looking forward to introducing you to Will Elliott. Check out our conversation below.
Will, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Honestly, no two days are exactly the same, and that’s part of what I love about this life. I’m incredibly lucky to be a dad to two young kids (they’re 2 and 4), so our days usually start around 6am whether we’re ready or not. They’re in daycare a few days a week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday), and home with us the other days. My wife is a nurse practitioner, so her schedule changes week to week, and that means our lives require a good bit of flexibility. Thankfully, we live close to family, so our parents help out with the kids when they can, which makes a big difference.
During the week, a big part of my focus is on the day-to-day operations of The Music City Sound. That might mean finalizing setlists, prepping gear, arranging travel and production logistics, or making sure we’ve got the right musicians lined up for each upcoming event. I also handle payroll and spend time working on new material, whether that’s crafting medleys or arranging fresh versions of popular songs that are trending right now.
There’s also the business side, of course. We’re always working on growing the brand, so that means everything from email marketing to managing our social media presence. Thankfully, we’ve got a great team in place that helps us stay on top of all of that.
Weekends are typically show days for us. Those are long, but incredibly rewarding. We love getting to be part of people’s biggest moments, weddings, corporate events, celebrations, and we take that responsibility seriously. On a typical show day, we’re loading in by early afternoon, setting up production, soundchecking, and then playing the event before breaking everything down and packing up, usually late into the night. On busier weekends, we might have multiple shows in different cities, which adds another layer of coordination with different band lineups and crews. It’s a lot of work, but it’s also an incredible privilege.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Will Elliott, and I was born and raised right here in the Nashville area. Music has always been a central part of my life. I knew from a young age that it would play a major role in whatever path I pursued. I studied music education in college and began my career as a band director in East Tennessee. While I loved teaching, I quickly realized that I deeply missed performing. It was clear to me that I needed to find a way to balance my love for music with a lifestyle that allowed for more flexibility and creativity.
That turning point led me back to Nashville, where I pursued a master’s degree in business. At the time, I wasn’t exactly sure where it would take me, but looking back, that decision laid the foundation for everything I do today. Within a couple of years, I found myself working with an amazing network of musicians and ended up landing some high-profile studio and live performance opportunities. Eventually, I was touring full-time with a major-label country artist, playing arenas and some of the biggest stages in the country. It was a dream come true in many ways.
But as incredible as those years were, I started to feel a pull in a different direction. I wanted to build a life that allowed me to start a family and be more present at home. That’s when the idea for The Music City Sound was born. I called up some of my closest friends and fellow musicians, people I trusted and respected, and we formed the band with the idea that we could create something special right here in Nashville. A band that delivered a high-end, unforgettable experience for weddings and events, while also allowing us to be home more and live fuller lives.
Today, The Music City Sound performs 80 to 100 events a year, primarily weddings, but also fundraisers, corporate events, and destination celebrations. We’ve built a team of about 30 to 40 incredibly talented musicians and a tight-knit group of leaders who help keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes. What sets us apart is our commitment to delivering top-tier production, including live music, staging, lighting, and the whole package, while keeping the process seamless and stress-free for our clients. We take a “white glove” approach to entertainment, customizing each performance to fit the vision and vibe of the event.
At the end of the day, we’re not just a band. We’re in the business of creating moments people will never forget. And getting to do that with some of my closest friends, while also being a present husband and father, is something I’m deeply grateful for.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who taught you the most about work?
Without a doubt, my parents. Growing up, we didn’t have a lot of money, but we had a lot of love and a lot of hustle. My parents got married and moved to Nashville when they were really young. My dad had just finished college, and my mom had only completed her freshman year. I was born not long after they moved, and they had to grow up fast.
My dad got a job with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and worked long hours to provide for us. On top of that, he picked up a side job cutting lawns to help make ends meet. My mom stayed home with me and my younger sister in those early years, but she eventually went back to school and became an elementary school teacher.
They both had this incredible work ethic, quiet, consistent, and grounded in a deep sense of responsibility. But what stuck with me even more was that no matter how hard they worked, they were always there for us. They showed me that work isn’t just about putting in the hours. It’s about showing up for your people, keeping your word, and doing what needs to be done without needing applause for it. That’s a lesson I carry with me every day, both in business and at home.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
Like a lot of people, I think my biggest fear has been the fear of failing, or just not being enough. As a musician, you’re often under a spotlight, both literally and figuratively. It’s easy to feel like every note, every move is being judged. Early on, I let that get in my head. I’d overanalyze mistakes, battle nerves, and sometimes question whether I was really cut out for it. But over time, I’ve learned that most people aren’t looking for perfection. They’re rooting for you. They’re there to enjoy the moment, not pick it apart. And most of the time, the “mistakes” we obsess over aren’t even noticed by anyone else. You really are your own worst critic.
That fear of not being enough has shown up in business too, especially as The Music City Sound has grown. We’re now a financial resource for dozens of musicians and support staff, and being able to provide real income and stability for our team is one of the things I’m most proud of. But with that comes pressure. I constantly ask myself: Are we making the right decisions behind the scenes? Are we steering this in the best direction not just for the business, but for the people who count on it?
The truth is, there’s no roadmap. And fear doesn’t go away just because you have some success. But I’ve learned that you can’t lead from a place of fear. You’ll always second guess yourself to some extent, but you can only make the best decisions with the information you have at the time. The key is to keep moving forward. Learn from your missteps, but don’t let them paralyze you. Growth, whether personal or professional, requires risk. You just have to keep showing up.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I think they’d say that showing up for the people in my life is something I take seriously. Not just being a “like” on social media, but being present in a real and genuine way. Life is busy, especially once families and careers come into the mix, but I try to make it clear to the people I care about that I’m in their corner, no matter what.
Whether it’s showing up to support them at a gig, helping out with a house project, or being there in a moment when they just need someone, my friends know I’ll drop what I can to be there.
At the end of the day, connection matters. I think being a good friend means putting in the effort even when life is chaotic. That’s something I try to live out as much as possible.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I knew I had 10 years left, I’d do my best to stop sweating the small stuff and start being even more intentional about appreciating the good in my life. It’s so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day details like emails, deadlines, and logistics, but when you zoom out, those things rarely matter as much as we think they do in the moment.
I’ve been incredibly fortunate. I’ve got a loving family, an amazing support system, and a job that still feels like a dream most days. I get to make music for a living, something that would have blown my mind as a kid. That’s not lost on me.
If I had a clear limit on time, I’d focus more than ever on being present with the people I care about most. I’d say yes to more dinners with friends, more weekend adventures with my kids, more quiet moments without a screen in my hand. We live in a time when smartphones are always within reach, but I think we’d all be a little happier and more fulfilled if we put them down more often and just embraced the moment we’re in.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.themusiccitysound.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themusiccitysound
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusiccitysound
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpU7Ulululpp6VbcMZFLJ3g
