Elmer Denzel Irwin, Beloved Owner of Nashville’s Santa’s Pub, Dies
Kacey Musgraves and other shared heartfelt messages in his honor.
Elmer Denzel Irwin; Photo Courtesy Santa’s Pub
Elmer Denzel Irwin, the owner of Nashville’s beloved dive bar Santa’s Pub, has passed away.
Eight-time GRAMMY winner Kacey Musgraves, a frequent visitor to the iconic spot, was among the first to share the news early Sunday morning (Sept 14).
“This man was such a massive part of mine and my friends’ lives for years. I have so many unforgettable and hilariously legendary memories with him in it,” Musgraves wrote. “Rest in peace to the real Santa.”
Her post was shared alongside a gallery of photos posted by her friend, Natalie Osborne, well-known in the Nashville music community and the sister of Brothers Osborne’s John and TJ. Natalie’s post included a heartfelt tribute to “Santa” himself.
“Santa has flown home to the North Pole.. my how great it was to share life with him,” Natalie shared. “I will cherish every story he ever told and will cherish our own special stories forever. He brought so much magic to us in Nashville as well as people from all over the world that came to see ‘the best dive bar in America’ Santas Pub and got to meet the man himself. TJ Osborne said it best… he is the real Santa.”
Several other artists shared condolences, including Elle King, who wrote, “My heart breaks but my gratitude is full for having the chance to know and love him and to be loved by him,” and Logan Crosby, who was in disbelief, writing, “Oh my God no.”
According to a 2016 article in The Tennessean, Irwin got his well-known nickname from his grandson. A true Nashville native, he was raised in the city he would one day become an icon in.
In a 2015 article from Word of Mouth Conversations, Irwin shared that he spent 45 years as a commercial painter before becoming a Pentecostal preacher. He was also an Army veteran. As for why Santa’s Pub was so successful, Irwin put it simply: “We treat everybody like they are somebody.”
The bar, tucked inside a doublewide trailer, is best known for its karaoke nights and the long list of stars who’ve stopped by, including Kacey Musgraves, Brothers Osborne, Kid Rock, Jon Pardi, Kelsea Ballerini, Ed Sheeran, Jelly Roll, Love and Theft, Billy Ray Cyrus, and many more.
Details surrounding Irwin’s death are unknown at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family at this time.
Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
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