UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                             -----------------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


      Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): September 30, 2005
                                                       -------------------------


                        PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS, INC.

 Tennessee                            000-31225                    62-1812853
(State or Other                (Commission File Number)        (I.R.S. Employer
Jurisdiction of Incorporation)                               Identification No.)

           211 Commerce Street, Suite 300, Nashville, Tennessee 37201

                                 (615) 744-3700


Check the appropriate  box if the Form 8-K filing is intended to  simultaneously
satisfy  the filing  obligation  of the  registrant  under any of the  following
provisions:

[X] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)

[X] Soliciting  material  pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR.13e-4(c))


<PAGE>


Item 1.01         Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement.

     On  September  30, 2005,  Pinnacle  Financial  Partners,  Inc., a Tennessee
corporation  ("Pinnacle"),  and Cavalry Bancorp,  Inc., a Tennessee  corporation
("Cavalry"),   entered  into  a  definitive   merger   agreement   (the  "Merger
Agreement").  The Merger Agreement  provides that, upon the terms and subject to
the  conditions set forth in the Merger  Agreement,  Cavalry will merge with and
into  Pinnacle,  with  Pinnacle  continuing as the  surviving  corporation  (the
"Merger").

The Merger Agreement

     At the effective time and as a result of the Merger,  each share of Cavalry
common stock issued and  outstanding at the effective time of the Merger will be
automatically converted into the right to receive 0.95 shares of Pinnacle common
stock.

     The completion of the Merger is subject to approval by the  shareholders of
both companies, receipt of required regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of
normal and customary closing conditions.  The Merger is expected to close in the
first quarter 2006.

     Under the terms of the  Merger  Agreement,  Pinnacle  has agreed to appoint
three Cavalry representatives to its board of directors.

     The above  description  of the Merger  Agreement  does not  purport to be a
complete  statement  of the  parties'  rights and  obligations  under the Merger
Agreement and the transactions  contemplated  thereby.  The above description is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the Merger Agreement,  a copy of which
is attached to this Current  Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 2.1 and  incorporated
herein by reference.

Item 2.02.  Results of Operation and Financial Condition.

     On October 3, 2005,  Pinnacle  and Cavalry  issued the joint press  release
announcing the execution of the Merger Agreement.  The press release is attached
as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by
this  reference.  A portion of the Press Release  confirmed  Pinnacle's  earlier
guidance for its now completed third quarter.

Item 8.01.  Other Events.

     On October 3, 2005,  Pinnacle  and Cavalry  issued the joint press  release
announcing the execution of the Merger Agreement.  The press release is attached
as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by
this reference.

Additional information

     The proposed  transaction  will be submitted to  Pinnacle's  and  Cavalry's
shareholders  for  their  consideration.   Pinnacle  and  Cavalry  will  file  a
registration statement, a joint proxy  statement/prospectus,  and other relevant
documents  concerning the proposed  transaction with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. SHAREHOLDERS OF PINNACLE AND CAVALRY ARE NOT BEING ASKED TO TAKE ANY
ACTION  AT THIS TIME BUT ARE URGED TO READ THE  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT  AND THE
JOINT  PROXY  STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS  WHEN IT  BECOMES  AVAILABLE  AND  ANY  OTHER
RELEVANT  DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS
TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. You will be
able to obtain a free copy of the joint proxy  statement/prospectus,  as well as
other filings  containing  information about Pinnacle and Cavalry,  at the SEC's
Web site  (http://www.sec.gov).  Copies of the joint proxy  statement/prospectus
and the SEC filings  that will be  incorporated  by reference in the joint proxy
statement/prospectus can be obtained,  without charge, by directing a request to
Pinnacle Financial  Partners,  Inc., 211 Commerce Street,  Suite 300, Nashville,
Tennessee 37201, Attention: Investor Relations (615) 744-3710 or Cavalry Banking
Corp.,  114 West College  Street,  P.O. Box 188,  Murfreesboro,  Tennessee 37133
Attention: Investor Relations (615) 849-2272.

     Each of Pinnacle and Cavalry and its  respective  directors  and  executive
officers may be deemed to be  participants  in the  solicitation of proxies from
the shareholders of Pinnacle and Cavalry, as the case may be, in connection with
the Merger.  Information about the directors and executive  officers of Pinnacle
and  their  ownership  of  Pinnacle  common  stock  is set  forth  in the  proxy
statement,  dated  March  14,  2005,  for  Pinnacle's  2005  annual  meeting  of
shareholders  held on April 19, 2005,  as filed with the SEC on a Schedule  14A.
Information  about the  directors  and  executive  officers of Cavalry and their
ownership  of Cavalry  common stock is set forth in the proxy  statement,  dated
March 18, 2005, for Cavalry's 2005 annual meeting of shareholders  held on April
28,  2005,  as filed  with the SEC on a  Schedule  14A.  Additional  information
regarding  the  interests  of such  participants  may be obtained by reading the
joint proxy statement/prospectus when it becomes available.

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

     (a) Financial Statements. None

     (b) Pro Forma Financial Information. None

     (c) Exhibits. The following exhibits accompany this Report:

          Exhibit 2.1 - Merger  Agreement,  dated  September  30,  2005,  by and
          between Pinnacle Financial  Partners,  Inc. and Cavalry Bancorp,  Inc.
          (schedules  and exhibits to which have been  omitted  pursuant to Item
          601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K)

          Exhibit 99.1 Joint Press Release of Pinnacle  Financial  Partners,Inc.
          and Cavalry Bancorp,  Inc. dated October 3, 2005


<PAGE>


                                    SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated:  October 3, 2005               PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS, INC.


                                      By: /s/ Harold Carpenter
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                      Name: Harold Carpenter
                                      Title: Chief Financial Officer




<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



     2.1  Merger  Agreement, dated  September 30, 2005, by and between  Pinnacle
Financial  Partners,  Inc. and Cavalry Bancorp,  Inc. (schedules and exhibits to
which have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K)

     99.1  Joint Press Release of Pinnacle Financial  Partners, Inc. and Cavalry
Bancorp, Inc. dated October 3, 2005
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS INC", "cik": "0001115055", "assigned-sic": "6021", "irs-number": "621812853", "state-of-incorporation": "TN", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-31225", "film-number": "051118614"}, "business-address": {"street1": "211 COMMERCE STREET", "street2": "SUITE 300", "city": "NASHVILLE", "state": "TN", "zip": "37201", "phone": "6157443742"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "211 COMMERCE STREET", "street2": "SUITE 300", "city": "NASHVILLE", "state": "TN", "zip": "37201"}}
UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                             -----------------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

      Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): September 30, 2005
                                                       -------------------------

                        PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS, INC.

 Tennessee                            000-31225                    62-1812853
(State or Other                (Commission File Number)        (I.R.S. Employer
Jurisdiction of Incorporation)                               Identification No.)

           211 Commerce Street, Suite 300, Nashville, Tennessee 37201

                                 (615) 744-3700

Check the appropriate  box if the Form 8-K filing is intended to  simultaneously
satisfy  the filing  obligation  of the  registrant  under any of the  following
provisions:

[X] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)

[X] Soliciting  material  pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR.13e-4(c))
Item 1.01         Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement.

     On  September  30, 2005,  Pinnacle  Financial  Partners,  Inc., a Tennessee
corporation  ("Pinnacle"),  and Cavalry Bancorp,  Inc., a Tennessee  corporation
("Cavalry"),   entered  into  a  definitive   merger   agreement   (the  "Merger
Agreement").  The Merger Agreement  provides that, upon the terms and subject to
the  conditions set forth in the Merger  Agreement,  Cavalry will merge with and
into  Pinnacle,  with  Pinnacle  continuing as the  surviving  corporation  (the
"Merger").

The Merger Agreement

     At the effective time and as a result of the Merger,  each share of Cavalry
common stock issued and  outstanding at the effective time of the Merger will be
automatically converted into the right to receive 0.95 shares of Pinnacle common
stock.

     The completion of the Merger is subject to approval by the  shareholders of
both companies, receipt of required regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of
normal and customary closing conditions.  The Merger is expected to close in the
first quarter 2006.

     Under the terms of the  Merger  Agreement,  Pinnacle  has agreed to appoint
three Cavalry representatives to its board of directors.

     The above  description  of the Merger  Agreement  does not  purport to be a
complete  statement  of the  parties'  rights and  obligations  under the Merger
Agreement and the transactions  contemplated  thereby.  The above description is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the Merger Agreement,  a copy of which
is attached to this Current  Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 2.1 and  incorporated
herein by reference.

Item 2.02.  Results of Operation and Financial Condition.

     On October 3, 2005,  Pinnacle  and Cavalry  issued the joint press  release
announcing the execution of the Merger Agreement.  The press release is attached
as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by
this  reference.  A portion of the Press Release  confirmed  Pinnacle's  earlier
guidance for its now completed third quarter.

Item 8.01.  Other Events.

     On October 3, 2005,  Pinnacle  and Cavalry  issued the joint press  release
announcing the execution of the Merger Agreement.  The press release is attached
as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by
this reference.

Additional information

     The proposed  transaction  will be submitted to  Pinnacle's  and  Cavalry's
shareholders  for  their  consideration.   Pinnacle  and  Cavalry  will  file  a
registration statement, a joint proxy  statement/prospectus,  and other relevant
documents  concerning the proposed  transaction with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. SHAREHOLDERS OF PINNACLE AND CAVALRY ARE NOT BEING ASKED TO TAKE ANY
ACTION  AT THIS TIME BUT ARE URGED TO READ THE  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT  AND THE
JOINT  PROXY  STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS  WHEN IT  BECOMES  AVAILABLE  AND  ANY  OTHER
RELEVANT  DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS
TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. You will be
able to obtain a free copy of the joint proxy  statement/prospectus,  as well as
other filings  containing  information about Pinnacle and Cavalry,  at the SEC's
Web site  (http://www.sec.gov).  Copies of the joint proxy  statement/prospectus
and the SEC filings  that will be  incorporated  by reference in the joint proxy
statement/prospectus can be obtained,  without charge, by directing a request to
Pinnacle Financial  Partners,  Inc., 211 Commerce Street,  Suite 300, Nashville,
Tennessee 37201, Attention: Investor Relations (615) 744-3710 or Cavalry Banking
Corp.,  114 West College  Street,  P.O. Box 188,  Murfreesboro,  Tennessee 37133
Attention: Investor Relations (615) 849-2272.

     Each of Pinnacle and Cavalry and its  respective  directors  and  executive
officers may be deemed to be  participants  in the  solicitation of proxies from
the shareholders of Pinnacle and Cavalry, as the case may be, in connection with
the Merger.  Information about the directors and executive  officers of Pinnacle
and  their  ownership  of  Pinnacle  common  stock  is set  forth  in the  proxy
statement,  dated  March  14,  2005,  for  Pinnacle's  2005  annual  meeting  of
shareholders  held on April 19, 2005,  as filed with the SEC on a Schedule  14A.
Information  about the  directors  and  executive  officers of Cavalry and their
ownership  of Cavalry  common stock is set forth in the proxy  statement,  dated
March 18, 2005, for Cavalry's 2005 annual meeting of shareholders  held on April
28,  2005,  as filed  with the SEC on a  Schedule  14A.  Additional  information
regarding  the  interests  of such  participants  may be obtained by reading the
joint proxy statement/prospectus when it becomes available.

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

     (a) Financial Statements. None

     (b) Pro Forma Financial Information. None

     (c) Exhibits. The following exhibits accompany this Report:

          Exhibit 2.1 - Merger  Agreement,  dated  September  30,  2005,  by and
          between Pinnacle Financial  Partners,  Inc. and Cavalry Bancorp,  Inc.
          (schedules  and exhibits to which have been  omitted  pursuant to Item
          601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K)

          Exhibit 99.1 Joint Press Release of Pinnacle  Financial  Partners,Inc.
          and Cavalry Bancorp,  Inc. dated October 3, 2005
SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated:  October 3, 2005               PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS, INC.

                                      By: /s/ Harold Carpenter
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                      Name: Harold Carpenter
                                      Title: Chief Financial Officer
EXHIBIT INDEX

     2.1  Merger  Agreement, dated  September 30, 2005, by and between  Pinnacle
Financial  Partners,  Inc. and Cavalry Bancorp,  Inc. (schedules and exhibits to
which have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K)

     99.1  Joint Press Release of Pinnacle Financial  Partners, Inc. and Cavalry
Bancorp, Inc. dated October 3, 2005