Six years ago tonight: I saw “Nashville” in Nashville thanks to Seth Rogen and Kim Jong-un

On June 11, 2015, I saw Nashville in Nashville on the exact 40^th anniversary of the classic film’s release. But wait, there’s more: I saw it at the Belcourt Theatre, Music City’s premier art-house, which fleetingly was home of the Grand Ole Opry.

And I owed it all to Seth Rogen. And Kim Jong-un.

And thereby hangs a tale.

I span three centuries

Today, I interviewed 9-year-old actress-singer Maisy Stella (above left) -- along with her sister and co-star, 13-year-old Lennon Stella (right) -- of ABC's Nashville. (The interview, appropriately enough, actually was in Nashville, during this week's CMA Festival.) Back in 1980, I interviewed Gloria Swanson -- then 81 -- while she was on tour to promote her autobiography. All of which means I now can say, truthfully, that I have interviewed celebrities born in three different centuries. Cowabunga. No wonder students occasionally ask me: "Professor Leydon, did you ever interview D.W. Griffith?"