Democratic candidate Aftyn Behn, running for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District, has responded to a resurfaced audio clip in which she said she "hates" Nashville and several hallmarks of its tourism scene. In a recent appearance on the Breaking Points podcast, she was pressed on the remarks and attempted to clarify, particularly her view of country music, with a personal anecdote.
Aftyn Behn, a Democrat vying for a U.S. House seat in Tennessee's 7th Congressional District, has faced political backlash after an old podcast recording resurfaced in which she sharply criticized Nashville and its tourism culture.
In the 2020 episode of the "GRITS" podcast, Behn said, "I hate the city, I hate the bachelorettes, I hate the pedal taverns, I hate country music, I hate all of the things that make Nashville apparently an 'it city' to the rest of the country. But I hate it," according to multiple outlets that have circulated the clip.
The comments went viral this month as Republicans highlighted them in social media posts and campaign messaging. The Republican National Committee and other GOP-aligned accounts promoted the clip as evidence that Behn is out of step with the city and district she is seeking to represent.
Behn was asked about the remarks during a recent appearance on the "Breaking Points" podcast. As recounted by The Daily Wire, one of the hosts read back the quote for context: "Apparently you said, 'I hate the city, I hate the Tennessee bachelorettes, I hate pedal taverns, I hate country music, I hate all the things that make Nashville … I hate it.'" Another host joked that the criticism of bachelorette parties was "a little bit fair," prompting light-hearted agreement from others.
Pressed on whether she truly dislikes country music, Behn responded that she does not. "So, I'm going to say something I haven't said," she said, according to the outlet. "And I think it's funny, I hope my parents don't kill me, but I do not hate country music. I was conceived after a George Strait concert, so … I feel personally attacked." She framed the story as a humorous aside while pushing back on the idea that she hates the genre.
The clip of Behn's exchange on "Breaking Points" was amplified in a post by the RNC Research account on November 24, 2025, which characterized her comments as an unusual attempt to walk back her earlier remarks about Nashville and country music.
Behn has also drawn attention for a separate audio clip in which she described a recurring dream she had discussed with her therapist. In that recording, reported by The Daily Wire, she said: "My therapist always asks me to transcribe my dreams when they happen, and the recurring dream I've had is standing up in a cafeteria full of women — I don't know why I was there or whatever — and saying, 'I don't want children. I want power!' And just screaming it at the top of my lungs."
The controversy over Behn's comments comes in the final stretch of a closely watched special election in Tennessee's 7th Congressional District, which includes parts of Nashville along with other areas of central and western Tennessee. The district, long held by Republicans, will be decided in a December 2 election to fill the U.S. House seat left vacant by former Representative Mark Green's resignation.
Behn has argued in other interviews that her "I hate" remarks were aimed at frustrations with Nashville's tourist-driven downtown scene rather than the city as a whole, as political opponents seek to portray them as disqualifying.
