I've lived in Nashville my entire life and I only recently started hearing about how hot chicken is the ~*NUMBER ONE NASHVILLIAN FOOD*~
I had never heard of it before like 2010 and quite frankly it looks gross.
It definitely started getting a shitload of media attention in the last few years, but seeing as there are multiple places that sell it which have been open for decades (I don't live there, just have friends and family who do), well, how to put this...
Loudly letting people know that you are clueless about something that's been right under your nose your entire life and that you won't even try might not be casting you in the light you had intended.
Also, saying that spicy fried chicken looks gross instantly invalidates your opinions about food to most professional chefs, myself included.