Just a few months after a fan-favorite country star opened his Nashville bar, it's getting hit with a huge lawsuit sure to put a few tears in some beers.
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Kane Brown's on Broadway opened its honky tonk doors five months ago, taking over the spot occupied by The Valentine since 2016. Now, a lawsuit centered on the sale of the Nashville property is taking the stage.
Cusaboo Jr. Operating Company and Benjamin L. Shirah filed the jaw-dropping $2.4 million lawsuit against various companies behind the bar, including hospitality entrepreneur Zaid Elia, in Nashville's Davidson County Chancery Court. The Valentine was sold to The Elia Group back in 2023, according to the Nashville Business Journal. The deal came with a $2 million payment obligation. It also allegedly came with a consulting fee for Shirah.
In the lawsuit, the bar's former owners claim the current owners not only fell behind in payments, but also neglected later deals to settle the dispute.
Last December, both sides reportedly agreed on a payment plan, forking over compensation to Shirah over the course of 18 months. In February and August 2026, both parties reportedly agreed upon additional payment plans. However, the former owners claim the current Honky Tonk's owners have failed across the board.
How the Former Owners of Kane Brown's Nashville Bar Came Up with the $2.4 Million Total in Their Lawsuit
The lawsuit's $2.4 million total stacks up to something like this. The former owners are seeking the fee for the original bar sale of a little over $2 million. Then, they're asking for about $366,000 with the aforementioned consulting and settlement agreements.
However, the lawsuit doesn't stop there.
The former Nashville Bar owners are also asking the court to allow them to look at the current owner's financial records so they can properly figure out how they'll get their cash going forward.
Meanwhile, none of the former owners' claims have been proven in a court of law. Furthermore, the court documents don't allege that Kane Brown himself had anything to do with the financial shenanigans at play.
Regardless, it's a rocky start for a Nashville bar that's only been kicking up its boots for less than a year. Here's hoping the country star and company can straighten things out soon and raise a celebratory glass.
