There is no shortage of country songs about Tennessee. After all, the Great State is the home of the Music City, Nashville, where all the classic, iconic, and legendary country music is birthed. And so, here’s 20 country songs that celebrate their home state and everything in between.
1. “Tennessee Homesick Blues” by Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton’s music has undeniably been influenced and inspired by Tennessee, and “Tennessee Homesick Blues” is one of them. This was featured in the 1984 movie Rhinestone and reached number one on both country charts in the US and Canada. This also earned Parton her 10th nomination for the Best Female Country Vocal Performance in the Grammys.
2. “Tennessee River” by Alabama
Singing about going home again to the back to a life that is simple, where peace and love can still be found, this song titled “Tennessee River” marked the band’s first single with RCA Nashville and the beginning of their hot streak. And of course, this is just one of the songs that run the theme of embracing their Southern roots in their whole discography.
3. “Tennessee Stud” by Johnny Cash
Everybody knows Johnny Cash, and everybody knows that this guy knows his tunes well. In 1994, Cash re-recorded Jimmy Driftwood’s timeless hit “Tennessee Stud.” This song is all about a man and his horse who took on adventures but ended up being homesick, so they return back to their Tennessee roots. And then they settled down and started a family.
4. “That’s How I Got To Memphis” by Tom T. Hall
Known as country music’s poet, Tom T. Hall wrote this country music standard about a man looking for his former lover in Memphis, but it seemed like she never wanted to be found. This heartbreaking love song has been widely covered by many artists.
5. “Back to Tennessee” by Billy Ray Cyrus
If you watched Hannah Montana The Movie, then you have probably heard of this track. In the movie, Billy Ray Cyrus’ character Robby Ray Stewart performed the song as he told the story of a man who realized that he needed to find his way back to his home where his roots are planted. And this also spoke personally to Cyrus himself, who frequently talked about his longing to go home after they moved to LA to film the show.
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6. “Tennessee Whiskey” by Chris Stapleton
In country music, there is nothing better than drinking whiskey – or just drinking for that matter. And in this song, the writers Linda Hargrove and Dean Dillon compared love to being smooth as “Tennessee Whiskey,” which is just so good as well. David Allan Coe first recorded this in 1981, but Chris Stapleton’s performance of the song at the CMA Awards with Justin Timberlake launched the song to soaring heights.
7. “This Ain’t Tennessee” by Garth Brooks
This Tennessee anthem was recorded on Garth Brooks’ 1998 The Limited Series. Here Brooks sings about a new love that isn’t his woman and a new place that couldn’t even compare to the Great State.
8. “Tennessee Rose” by Emmylou Harris
A sweet love likened to a “Tennessee Rose,” this song was written by Karen Brooks and Hank DeVito and recorded by Emmylou Harris as the second single from her album Cimarron. The short yet sweet lyrics of the song led it to reach number 9 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
9. “Tennessee River Run” by Daryl Worley
Probably not one of the most popular titles with Tennessee, but it did reach number 31 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. In this song, Worley sang about a long workday and wanting to just enjoy the Southern outdoors through fishing by the river.
10. “Southern Comfort Zone” by Brad Paisley
“Southern Comfort Zone” takes its listeners to iconic locations across the globe, but at the end of the day, the South is still home. In the track, you would hear snippets of Southern staples like the Brentwood Baptist Church Choir, Jeff Foxworthy, NASCAR race, and The Andy Griffith Show.
Explore More Country Songs About Tennessee
Here are 10 more country songs that pay tribute to the Great State of Tennessee.
- “My Tennessee Mountain Home” by Dolly Parton
- “Tennessee” by Marty Stuart & The Fabulous Superlatives
- “Tennessee Waltz” by Patsy Cline
- “Dixieland Delight” by Alabama
- “Crazy Town” by Jason Aldean
- “Nashville” by Noah Gundersen
- “Me and Tennessee” by Tim McGraw and Gwyneth Paltrow
- “Tennessee” by The Wreckers
- “Maybe It Was Memphis” by Pam Tillis
- “Down in Tennessee” by John Anderson
