when i stay in nashville, i either stay downtown
Hilton Nashville Downtown
121 Fourth Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee, 37201, USA
or just outside the downtown area
DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Nashville Airport
2424 Atrium Way, Nashville, Tennessee, 37214-5103, USA
if you want a nice hotel, family friendly, go with the 2nd option and take your family here for dinner McNamara's Irish Pub 2740 Old Lebanon Rd, Nashville, TN 37214 (check their website to make sure they will have the live music). This hotel is quiet and in a quiet neighborhood. Alt restaurant Papa Turney's Old Fashion BBQ 3979 Bell Rd, Hermitage, TN 37076
if you want to walk around all the bars and touristy stuff downtown, you can still take a shuttle, or stay in the first option and walk. be advised regardless of time of day 70% of people downtown will be drunk bridesmaids doing bachellorette parties. the other 30% will be regular drunks.