Janette Smith Dishes on the 2025 Antiques & Garden Show of Nashville!
The 2025 Antiques & Garden Show of Nashville promises to be incredible, and Janette Smith has a lot to do with that. We caught up with her to find out more about the who's who and what's what of this year's event!
Celebrating 35 years, the Antiques & Garden Show of Nashville offers timeless antiques, fine art, and horticulture — and we have Janette Smith to thank for much of the event’s excitement. Beginning her career in print and broadcast media, then stepping away to raise her three children, Janette was invited to get involved in 1991. She started by assisting with lectures and book signings, later joining the logistics team for move-in and move-out efforts. In 2001, Janette co-chaired the show, orchestrating keynote speakers like Bunny Williams and Martha Stewart. She has served as the show’s chair since 2003 and has the scoop on what we can expect this year!
Where were you born and raised, and what brought you to Nashville?
I grew up in a quiet, traditional, small Southern farming town, Charleston, MO (population approximately 4,000). We had horses and lived across the street from the courthouse, one block from the public library. It was a completely storybook setting among the nicest neighbors and surrounded by aunts, uncles, cousins, and my four siblings. I graduated from Vanderbilt in 1982 and then from the graduate school at the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism, where I worked as an editor at the London Times for my thesis work.
What is the scope of your role with Nashville’s Antiques & Garden Show, and what led to your involvement?
Since the late 2000s, I have been the chairman of the antique side of the show — a job I shared with Betsy Brittain for a decade. I secure the antique dealers each year and finalize their contracts for booth rental, coordinate with the garden committee, and manage the floor plan design and dealer expectations throughout the year.
In September, I begin meeting with our logistics team to plan the move-in and move-out. Along with Betsy, I have been joined in my walkie-talkie waving and clip-board clinging by Tori Wimberly, Lee Oakley, Laura Roberts, and so many others. Our best talent is teamwork.
Tell us about this year’s event. Who are the tastemakers, and what can we anticipate in terms of vendors/exhibitors?
Because our show is the oldest and largest of its kind in the country (with around 150 dealers), we have very little turnover from year to year. But this year, we have some lovely new antique dealers to visit, namely Bernadette Truxal with Maison & Co. and Gary Sergeant Antiques.
How do you select and curate the 150 antique and garden dealers participating in the show, and what do you look for?
Along with my cohort on the garden side of the show, Horticulture Chairman Nancy Deaton, we select new dealers to replace those who retire, have a scheduling conflict, or otherwise can’t participate — we do our best to keep our merchandise offering balanced. On the antiques side, we offer “brown furniture” along with paintings and prints, antique boxes and smaller objects, garden furniture and giant urns, collectible silver, Persian rugs, and vintage jewelry.
One year, we had an antique rowboat and oars from a New England lake alongside a sweet wicker bassinet swing that likely soothed dignified infants in England. Truth be told, the internet has made the task of keeping our show balanced infinitely more fun.
What are you most anticipating at this year’s event?
This is unusual; I just realized I wrote down every single speaker and moderator this year, especially the English. I am especially thrilled we are hosting David Flint Wood and India Hicks, Veere Grenney and Shane Connolly, Willow Crossley, Rita Konig and Dara Caponigro. I also can’t imagine a more stellar lineup with Sheryl Crow and Brooke Shields!
What does the behind-the-scenes process look like?
As soon as booth rental contracts are secured in the summer, we set to work on coordinating the hundreds of trucks and vans that will deliver the goods inside Hall D at the Music City Center. Because we only have hours to build the booths with wooden walls, wallpaper them, and fill them with enticing vignettes, we start on Monday evening before the show and continue, in shifts, through Thursday morning.
By mid-day Thursday, we (actually Heritage, our design company) will complete laying the aisle carpets and placing signage, and we adjust the lighting and complete any required rigging from the ceiling trusses. There are lots of trucks, exhaustion, arm-waving, hugs, and happy greetings. After so many years, our dealers have become good friends; I keep up with them throughout the year. It’s such a treat to spend a week with them every February!
When you’re not coordinating and planning the Antiques & Garden Show, where can we find you?
On various local tennis courts or creating excuses to visit my daughters in London and San Diego. I have a patient husband who is most supportive of my Antiques & Garden Show obsession.
What is something people might be surprised to find out about you?
My last job before “retiring” to bring up three children was at PBS’s local affiliate, Channel 8. It was a fantastic place to work — smart co-workers who are also very nice people.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Don’t sweat the small stuff — and it’s almost all small stuff. Also, from a close relative, GET OVER YOURSELF.
Aside from faith, family, and friends, name three things you can’t live without.
One daily cup of coffee, seven hours of sleep, and a 10-percent glycolic acid solution for my face.
LIGHTNING ROUND
What’s at the top of your travel bucket list? Galápagos Islands
Most memorable recent meal in Nashville? Roze Pony, where the Bucatini Diavolo was amazing.
What did you dream of being when you grew up? I alternated between civil engineer, fireman, and snow cone maker.
You can attend the Antiques & Garden Show of Nashville from Friday, January 31, through Sunday, February 2, 2025. Visit the website for the weekend schedule and ticket information.
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Jenna von Oy Bratcher
Jenna von Oy Bratcher is StyleBlueprint's Associate Editor and Lead Nashville Writer. The East Coast native moved to Nashville almost two decades years ago, by way of Los Angeles. She is a lover of dogs, strong coffee, traveling, and exploring the local restaurant scene bite by bite.