Dennis Quaid says LA has to ‘get a little better’ as he embraces Nashville life
Dennis Quaid Says Nashville Has Become His Home After Six Years in Tennessee
After leaving Hollywood in 2020, veteran actor Dennis Quaid has found a new rhythm in the music capital of the South. Living with his wife, Laura Savoie, on a spacious property in Nashville, the “Parent Trap” star says the city’s blend of suburban space and urban culture is the perfect backdrop for raising a family.
“It’s basically golf,” Quaid told People magazine, “I love to be around the house here. You get a lot of land and space, but you’re still in an urban environment.” He added that the friends he has made in the city give the area a sense of community he missed after leaving California.
Quaid’s move to Tennessee came in 2020, a decision he has linked to the changing landscape of the film industry. “The connection to the community I found in Nashville makes it feel like home,” he said. He recalled the days of in‑person auditions in Hollywood, describing a typical scene: “It used to be if you were auditioning for something, you’d go to an office. You’d go in and there would be five people dressed just like you, all up for the same part, waiting for time to read.” The camaraderie, he says, is missing in today’s self‑taped format: “Now everybody puts something on tape in their room and sends it in. You don’t have this feeling of community over that.”
Looking back at his early career, Quaid noted that he would not have gone to Los Angeles if he were starting out today. “If I was an actor starting out, I wouldn’t go to LA. I would go to Atlanta,” he explained, citing the growing number of production studios in the South.
While he has embraced Tennessee, Quaid has not ruled out a future return to California. “I might be open to going back to LA later on. I moved before the fires and everything, but I just think things have got to get a little better there,” he said, reflecting on the challenges Hollywood faces amid rising natural disasters and changing industry dynamics.
Beyond its famed music scene, Quaid points out that Nashville’s identity is far broader. “It’s not a one‑horse town. It’s not just music, although, like 75 percent of all music in the United States, no matter what genre it is either, not just country is done right here in Nashville,” he said. He highlighted the city’s expanding industries and the influx of residents from cities across the country, which he believes keeps Nashville vibrant while preserving its unique character.
For now, Quaid’s life in Nashville remains rooted in community, golf, and the everyday joys of family life—an experience he shares with fans who have followed his career for decades.