If you’ve ever visited or played at The Station Inn, Nashville’s iconic bluegrass dive bar, you’d surely recognize the smiling face of Ann Soyars welcoming folks in to enjoy a show. Now after many years as a beacon for Music City grassers, Miss Ann is there no more. She died this past Saturday (November 15) at the age of 67, in her home in Hendersonville after a bout with cancer.
Friends from Nashville’s country and bluegrass royalty had been making a steady procession to her bedside this past few months, seeking to repay years of friendship, encouragement and general good-spiritedness from one of the most enthusiastic supporters of the music – and the people – of Nashville’s music community.
Soyars came to The Station Inn during what was to have been her retirement, and stayed as long as her health allowed. She was dedicated to the establishment and the musicians, and served as good friend and surrogate second mom to them all.
A more complete obituary was published Saturday afternoon in The Tennessean.
R.I.P., Ann Soyars, and consolations to her many beloved friends.
