Vanderbilt is VERY respected in the south. Lots of research goes on there, as well as any complicate procedure from 6 surrounding states. From my family that either teaches or are alum, however, you really have to be a certain type of person to enjoy the school; wealthy, white and male. (Sorry Commodores, I really do want to go there)
But I very much want to go to Vandy even though I'm Puerto Rican woman because Nashville is SUCH a great place to live!
Okay, all joking aside, it isn't about country music, but it is about music there. Lots of independant new rock (as well as country) and huge blues scene. It's also a HUGE recording mecca for rock as well as country. They are currently building a new performance hall that will be the most accoustically perfect building in the world (until a better one comes along 🙂) There is theater, music, museums, nightlife, lots of cool hole in the wall places. You gt 4 GORGEOUS well defined seasons. Fall in TN is the best. Beautiful. Your close enough to country that you can be there in 1/2 hour, but you're in the city. I personally don't think traffic is bad at all, especially considering the neighbor to the south, Atlanta 🙂. It's also a very family oriented city if you are looking for that kind of thing. Lots cheap, fun activities for children. Oh, and one of my personal favorites, it's the most polite city in the country. There was this thing a couple of years ago where some people went around doing a study where they went to a bunch of U.S. cities and did things like dropped their wallets, or walked on crutches and couldn't get in a door, or asked for directions, and Nashville was the city where everyone wanted to help. It's EXTREMELY friendly there. You're also within 5 hours of Chicago, St. Louis, and Atlanta for a quick weekend getaway.
I love Nashville, if that isn't already obvious, and would be happy to answer any questions you have about it 🙂