Dennis Quaid Explains Decision to Leave Los Angeles for Nashville
Actor Dennis Quaid, 72, spoke at CMA Fest about his 2020 move from Los Angeles to Nashville, saying LA has been "going downhill" and that residents "pay these taxes for no services." Quaid, who was forced to evacuate his Brentwood home during the January 2025 wildfires, has been an outspoken critic of Mayor Karen Bass and participated in "They Let Us Burn" protests. His comments come as LA holds a mayoral primary, with Quaid's endorsed candidate Spencer Pratt now unlikely to advance to the November runoff.
Dennis Quaid spoke to Fox News Digital at CMA Fest over the weekend, explaining that he and his wife Laura Savoie relocated from Los Angeles to Nashville in 2020 due to growing frustration with city management, saying LA had been "going downhill" since the 1990s. Quaid, who described himself as "one of thousands" who have left the city, said the January 2025 wildfires — which destroyed more than 18,000 buildings and killed 31 people — exposed longstanding failures in city governance. He was personally affected, having been forced to evacuate his Brentwood home during the disaster. Quaid has been a vocal critic of Mayor Karen Bass, criticizing her for traveling to Ghana as the fires erupted, and has called for her resignation and supported recall efforts. At CMA Fest, Quaid also expressed support for Spencer Pratt's mayoral campaign, though current vote counts project Bass and City Councilmember Nithya Raman advancing to the November runoff. Beyond politics, Quaid discussed his music career, including an upcoming gospel single "On My Way to Heaven" featuring Tanya Tucker, the late Kris Kristofferson, and Brandi Carlile, set for release on June 20.
What's missing
Neither article provides data on the broader trend of celebrity or resident departures from Los Angeles, nor do they include responses from Mayor Bass's office or other city officials to Quaid's criticisms.
How coverage differed
Both sources draw from the same Fox News Digital interview and present Quaid's comments sympathetically, with neither outlet offering critical pushback on his claims about LA's decline or scrutinizing his political endorsements.
What different sources said
- New York PostRight
Why Dennis Quaid ditched once-‘fantastic’ LA for Nashville: ‘Going downhill’
- Fox NewsRight
Dennis Quaid ditched LA for Nashville after the once 'fantastic' city went 'downhill'
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