The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Robert Plant bought a photograph while returning a pair of jeans at a Nashville mall. Columnist Michael Klein writes:

Localite Scott Segelbaum, who tours with his Rock Art Show, was set up in Nashville a few weeks ago when Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin stopped over. Plant happened to be at the mall returning a pair of jeans. Segelbaum showed Plant a photo of himself clowning with Jimmy Page in 1998, taken by Philly photographer Melanie Weiner. Plant bought a print, and Segelbaum got an autograph: a MasterCard receipt. The shot, plus others, will be sold at the WMGK Classic Rock Art Show, tomorrow through April 18 at the Plaza at King of Prussia on the lower level.

Music City TV reports that Robert Plant was spotted in Nashville on May 29, 2009 doing a little contra dancing. Brad writes:

Alison Krauss and Led Zeppelin star Robert Plant, whose folk-rock hybrid collaboration album practically swept the Grammy awards, were seen together Friday (May 29).

But they weren’t making music, at least at that moment: They were contra dancing. Are you, like I was when I first heard this, going “What in the world is contra dancing — and is it legal?”

Indeed, it is legal, and a kind of square dancing or folk dancing, where folks get in two lines, or in circles, and they listen to the call of, uh, the contra caller.

Seems the Second Presbyterian Church, on Belmont Boulevard in Green Hills, has this contra dancing every Friday. And Alison and Robert were there, participating, according to fellow participant and News 2 associate producer Maria Bealer, herself is a dancing fool.

The one thing everyone seemed to remember most: Plant’s bright-red shoes.

For Alison, it was her second straight week at the the ol’ Friday night Second Pres contra dance.

I’m told Robert flew out to Chicago this morning (Monday). We’ll see if he’s gonna contra dance himself back to town by Friday….

Nashville artist Sheryl Spencer blogs about running into Robert Plant at the Mirror:

…much to my inner-schoolgirl delight on this particular evening, I had the rare pleasure of sharing the bar with none other than Robert Plant!!! ((and I’m not even a Led Zeppelin fan, mind you)) :)

As much as I would’ve given anything to have taken a photo with Robert, and even though I did chat with his sweet self for a little bit ((about our shared appreciation of Tori Amos, oddly enough)), I had to respectfully give him his privacy. And I think that’s one of the many reasons why many a celeb loves to hang out in Nashville—we’re so used to seeing so many country music stars around here that we naturally leave celebs alone and don’t bug them.

Adam Gold, writing for Nashville Scene, reports that Robert stopped in at Nashville record store Grimey’s a couple of times last week. He writes:

Robert Plant came into the store not once but twice last week. He first came by to look around and buy some R&B compilations. Staffers showed their appreciation by giving him a Grimey’s T-shirt. The T-shirt was the wrong size so he came back to exchange it and was later spotted at Bongo Java sporting the new digs. He supposedly also made inquiries about The Basement.

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss appeared on Absolute Radio’s Wednesday Night Live on January 28, 2009. They were speaking by phone from Nashville where they are in “preproduction” for another album. During the 17 minute interview Robert talks about Raising Sand, getting awards, and his “career”.

Click the triangle to play the interview, click again to stop it.

January 28, 2009 January 28, 2009

Heather Byrd, writing for tennessean.com, reports on Nashville’s annual Grammy nominee party held at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel on January 26, 2009. She writes:

“Loews Vanderbilt Hotel is shining from all the stars who have gathered for tonight’s annual Grammy nominee party, which is being held in the hotel ballroom. Robert Plant strolled in and opted to skip the red carpet, but many first-time nominees and repeat winners gushed with excitement over their chances to take home awards.”

Daniel Tashian reported bumping into Robert Plant at Nashville’s Mirror restaurant, and now Colleen DeGregory weighs in about it. DeGregory is one of the chef/owners of the restaurant. She writes in their blog:

New restaurants…new classes…and new customers…like ROBERT PLANT!!! I’m not usually one who goes nuts when someone famous is around (unless Tom Jones walked in. Then, I might faint.) Robert Plant is just..ugh…ROCK & ROLL HISTORY!!!! Wow. He came in Friday night, had a nice quiet supper then came back again on Saturday with Allison Krauss. I’m really not easily impressed but, Yeah!

Musician Daniel Tashian (The Silver Seas) ran into Robert on January 16, 2009 at the Mirror in Nashville. He blogs:

We were at the Mirror the other night and I turned and there was Robert Plant. He was alone so I introduced myself, said I had done a record with T-Bone. “Oh yes.” he said. “T-bone.” Then I remembered he was a fan of my dad’s band, the Remains, so I mentioned that he probably knew them - “The Remains!?” he said- “I Love the Remains!….That’s your father?” and so on, and then he sang me a little of his version of “Don’t Look Back” -It was quite surreal. Then he told me it was on itunes. I invited him to come with L. and I to the Family Wash to see Kevin Gordon, but he said “Enough is enough.” So we left him alone and hit the bricks.

Blogger Amber Dawn recently arrived in Nashville and had a nice welcoming–a Robert Plant sighting at the mall on January 11, 2009. She writes:

I met up with a new friend at the Mall, and as we were talking, he spotted Robert Plant (lead singer of Led Zeppelin). I immediately called my pastor from Portland (who is a die-hard fan) to tell him the great news…and then promptly approached Mr. Plant to ask for a photo. Because of my behavior, I have now been tagged as a “tourist.” I have no shame.

CJDC’s Margy Holland reports that Robert Plant and Alison Krauss returned to the studio this week for their follow-up to Raising Sand. From the website:

Alison Krauss and Robert Plant have reunited to begin working on their second album together. A source tells us that the two started the recording process in a Nashville studio yesterday (Monday, January 12th), where they are expected to remain for the next few weeks.

Their first album, Raising Sand, was released in late 2007 and is nominated in five categories at the upcoming Grammy Awards on February 8th.