American Pickers' Mike Wolfe Believes The Show Wouldn't Exist If It Weren't For Nashville

To kick off the 2010s, History added a brand new series to its already sizeable programming lineup. Titled "American Pickers," the show promised to take audiences across much of the United States and teach them about how the country has evolved in terms of travel, entertainment, advertising, and more. To do so, the program's hosts seek out rusty, worn out, often unusable items from decades ago located all over, from sheds to personal collections. They then explain the objects' historical significance before making an effort to purchase them from their longtime owners.

Considering that "American Pickers" is still on the air after over a decade, this premise has caught on with television viewers the world over. At the time of this writing, it has accumulated over 20 seasons and 300-plus episodes, and it stands to reason it won't disappear from the small screen anytime soon. After all, people still tune in week after week to see what the series has to offer, making audiences its true backbone. Then again, if you ask tenured "American Pickers" host Mike Wolfe, there's another element most don't know about that has led the show to become a cornerstone of History.

In the eyes of Wolfe, Nashville, Tennessee, is largely to thank for the creation of "American Pickers" way back when. Here's why.

A native of Bettendorf, Iowa, Mike Wolfe took a liking to Nashville, Tennessee, in the early 2000s. He would frequent antique shops in the area and make a point to explore the local culture via the Tennessee State Fairgrounds, where he became a vendor at the flea market. During this time, he slowly began to develop the concept of "American Pickers," but he couldn't do it alone. Thankfully, he had friends from Nashville that could help him write a pitch outline, produce visual material, and provide him with valuable feedback on the whole thing. Without them and the city's influence on him, "American Pickers" may not have come to fruition (via Antique Archaeology).

Of course, in his line of work, Wolfe doesn't stay within one small community or city like Nashville for long, despite taking up residency there. He's constantly on the move, eager to find out what other goodies are hiding throughout the US. At the same time, he's made it his mission to spotlight rural America, breathing new life into communities that are glossed over by most other people. "You know what? I do have emotional affairs with a lot of these communities! This is our time to make a difference. If I can do that in any way, I want to be a part of that," he told CBS News during a 2020 interview.

Mike Wolfe has a clear love for small towns that runs just as deep as his love for antiques. At the same time, Nashville, Tennessee, will forever hold a very special place in his heart.