What Happened to Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean E3 Chophouse Lawsuit?
Country music stars Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean, along with former MLB player Adam LaRoche, are facing a lawsuit filed by GBT Realty Corp, the landlord of their now-closed Nashville restaurant, E3 Chophouse. The lawsuit alleges breach of lease and seeks over $1.4 million in damages for unpaid rent and future lease obligations through August 2029. The restaurant ceased operations in February 2026, leading to a series of legal actions that culminated in Bryan and Aldean being personally named as defendants in an amended complaint in June 2026.
Quick Answer
Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean are currently involved in a lawsuit filed by GBT Realty Corp, the landlord of their former Nashville restaurant, E3 Chophouse. The lawsuit, which also names former MLB player Adam LaRoche, alleges that the restaurant failed to pay rent in early 2026 before its closure and breached its lease agreement, which extends until August 2029. An initial court ruling awarded the realty company over $1.4 million in damages, which the restaurant's legal team has appealed, and an amended complaint filed in June 2026 now personally names Bryan and Aldean as defendants, seeking past and future rent payments.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline12 events
E3 Chophouse Nashville Opens
Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, and Adam LaRoche open their E3 Chophouse steakhouse in Nashville's Hillsboro Village.
Tax Lien Issued Against E3 Chophouse
A tax lien is issued against the E3 Chophouse business for unpaid taxes, indicating early financial difficulties.
Missed Rent Payment
E3 Chophouse allegedly fails to pay its monthly rent to GBT Realty Corp.
Restaurant Closes and Misses Second Rent Payment
E3 Chophouse ceases operations, initially announcing a 'temporary pause,' and allegedly misses its February rent payment.
GBT Realty Sends Default Notice
GBT Realty Corp sends the first of several default notices to E3 Chophouse regarding the missed rent payments.
Second Default Notice Sent
GBT Realty Corp sends another default notice to the restaurant.
Lease Termination Notice Issued
GBT Realty Corp sends a formal notice of termination of the lease agreement to E3 Chophouse.
Unlawful Detainer Lawsuit Filed
The landlord files a lawsuit for unlawful detainer after the restaurant fails to vacate the property by the specified deadline.
Court Rules in Favor of GBT Realty Corp
A court issues a default judgment against Outlaws LLC, ruling in favor of GBT Realty Corp and awarding $1.427 million in damages.
Restaurant Vacates Property and Files Appeal
E3 Chophouse vacates the premises and returns the keys, while its legal team files an appeal against the $1.427 million judgment.
Amended Complaint Names Bryan and Aldean Personally
GBT Realty Corp files an amended complaint, adding Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean, along with Adam LaRoche, as personal defendants, alleging they guaranteed the lease.
News of Amended Lawsuit Breaks
Multiple entertainment and business news outlets report on the amended lawsuit, bringing the legal action against Bryan and Aldean to public attention.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The legal dispute involving country music superstars Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean centers on the closure of their Nashville steakhouse, E3 Chophouse, and alleged breaches of its lease agreement. The restaurant, co-owned by Bryan, Aldean, and former MLB player Adam LaRoche, opened in Nashville's Hillsboro Village in November 2019.
According to court documents, the troubles for E3 Chophouse began to escalate in late 2025, with a tax lien issued against the business on November 3, 2025, for unpaid taxes. The lawsuit, filed by landlord GBT Realty Corp (also identified as Village 21 Investment Partners), alleges that the restaurant failed to make rent payments for January and February 2026. In February 2026, E3 Chophouse announced it was 'pausing operations,' a move that was initially presented as temporary but now appears permanent given the legal developments.
Following the missed payments, GBT Realty Corp sent default notices in February and March 2026, culminating in a notice of lease termination on March 19, 2026. The landlord claimed the restaurant failed to vacate the property by the March 25 deadline, leading to an unlawful detainer lawsuit filed in March. A court subsequently ruled in favor of GBT Realty Corp, awarding the company approximately $1.427 million in damages. The restaurant's legal team, representing Outlaws LLC (the tenant named in the lease), filed an appeal against this decision in May 2026.
The most significant recent development occurred with an amended complaint filed on June 12, 2026, which directly named Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean, along with Adam LaRoche, as defendants. The lawsuit asserts that the country stars and LaRoche were guarantors on the 10-year lease, which was signed in 2018 and set to run through August 31, 2029. GBT Realty Corp is now seeking not only the previously awarded damages but also future rent payments through the end of the lease term, as well as costs associated with the business's failure to vacate the property promptly. A spokesperson for the E3 Chophouse owners stated that the partners had no prior knowledge of this amended complaint and are working towards a resolution. As of June 23, 2026, the legal proceedings are ongoing, with the appeal and the amended lawsuit moving forward, leaving the future financial liability of the celebrity owners uncertain.
What If...?
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