Fossil ceilings, limestone walls, The music starts when evening falls, Ancient rock echoes modern sounds, In the cool, dark underground. Written about The Caverns in Pelham, Tennessee.

Tennessee Music History Destinations

In Tennessee, nearly every city, town and hamlet has a musical connection and a story to tell.

Travel Inspiration From Tennessee Vacation

Here, nearly every city and town has a musical connection with a story to tell. Learn about the famous people from Tennessee who made extraordinary contributions to American music. From Bristol to Nashville to Memphis and small towns in between, these destinations highlight the people, places and stories that shaped Tennessee’s musical legacy.

Famous People and Sites in and Near Memphis

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Stax Museum of American Soul Music - Memphis

Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Memphis, Tennessee
See the most hallowed venue in soul music.
Photo Credit: Ronnie Booze
  • Often considered one of the most important historic music venues in the country
  • Stax Museum of American Soul Music was the home of Stax Records – the record company and studio where Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Isaac Hayes and many others recorded
  • The building was rebuilt in 2003 precisely to scale on the same site
  • Includes more than 2,000 exhibits from soul music’s golden era
  • Interactive exhibits, films and galleries explore the roots of Memphis Tennessee music
  • Plus, dancing is encouraged!
  • Ticket information
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Graceland - Memphis

Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee
Graceland is the most visited residence in the U.S.
Photo Credit: Josh Ness
  • Second only to the White House as the most-visited residence in the United States
  • Purchased by Elvis Presley in 1957 and served as his home until his death
  • More than 20 million visitors have toured the estate
  • Elvis Presley’s Memphis features a 200,000-square-foot museum, exhibition space and automobile collection
  • Explores the life and legacy of one of the most influential music artists from Tennessee
  • Essential for understanding the global impact of Tennessee music
  • Ticket information
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Patsy Cline Memorial - Camden

White rocks around simple wooden cross, Reminder of a solemn day off loss, A voice that left its mark on history, Hushed too soon in 1963. Written about Patsy Cline Plane Crash Memorial in Camden, Tennessee.
Patsy Cline Memorial
Photo Credit: Journal Communications Inc./Michael D. Tedesco
  • An engraved boulder marks the site where a small plane carrying Patsy Cline, two of her co-stars and her manager crashed on March 5, 1963
  • The site includes an interactive kiosk and a gazebo with seating
  • The site’s simplicity underscores the lasting influence of one of the most beloved famous singers from Tennessee
  • For a deeper look at her career and influence on the history of country music, visit The Patsy Cline Museum in Nashville.
  • Ticket information
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West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center - Brownsville

West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center, Brownsville TN
Browse the life and career of Tina Turner.
Photo Credit: Raphael Tenschert
  • The West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center in Brownsville celebrates influential Tennessee music artists, including Carl Perkins and others artists from the western part of the state
  • The one-room schoolhouse that Tina Turner once attended now houses some of her memorabilia and allows you to explore what learning was like for African-American students in the 1940s
  • Visitors will also want to pop in the John Adam Estes Home, the small house where blues pioneer and legend “Sleepy” John Estes spent his last years
  • Estes grew up in Brownsville and was known for his distinctive vocal style. It was often said he "cried the blues"
  • His songs have been adapted and recorded by music greats like Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan and Led Zepplin among others
  • You can also see the West Tennessee Cotton Museum, the Hatchie River Museum and a gift shop selling regionally made items
  • Offers insight into the region’s role in Tennessee music history
  • Self-guided tours are free

Famous People and Sites in and near Nashville

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Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum - Nashville

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Nashville TN
See millions of music-related artifacts at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
Photo Credit: Courtesy Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
  • The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum in downtown Nashville is the world’s largest music museum and a cornerstone of Nashville music history
  • More than 350,000 square feet of galleries, archival storage, theaters, education centers and retail space
  • Explores the evolution and history of country music through immersive exhibits
  • The Hall of Fame also gives guided tours of RCA’s Historic Studio B on Music Row and Hatch Show Print
  • There are special events almost daily and ever-changing exhibits
  • Ticket information
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The Bluebird Cafe - Nashville

Songs cover these walls that have listened for years, A number have gone number one on the charts, You’ll be blown away by the stories you hear, And you’ll realize that every song comes from a heart. Written about a singer performing at Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, Tennessee.
Listen to singer songwriters in the iconic music venue, The Bluebird Cafe.
Photo Credit: Journal Communications Inc./Jeff Adkins
  • A cornerstone of Nashville, Tennessee, music and the songwriter tradition
  • Famous for its “in the round” format that puts the focus on storytelling and craft
  • Helped launch the careers of many country singers from Tennessee and beyond
  • Early shows typically begin at 6 p.m.
  • The venue regularly sells out, so advance tickets or early arrival are recommended
  • Ticket information
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Loretta Lynn's Ranch - Event Venue, Campground and Tourist Destination

Loretta Lynn’s Ranch, Hurricane Mills TN
Tour Loretta Lynn's antebellum mansion to see memorabilia and more.
Photo Credit: Jeff Adkins/ JCI
  • In the mid-1960s, Loretta Lynn bought an antebellum mansion and most of the surrounding township in Hurricane Mills
  • Find a personal life museum, the collection of dolls that fans have given her through the years, a Native American museum in homage to her Cherokee ancestry, the Grist Mill Museum and a reconstructed frontier homestead
  • There are trail rides, music events, hiking, camping, water sports – even an annual yoga retreat
  • A living tribute to one of the state’s most enduring Tennessee stars
  • Highlights the legacy of Tennessee country music
  • Ticket information

East Tennessee Music History

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Birthplace of Country Music Museum - Bristol

Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol TN/VA
Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Photo Credit: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
  • Johnny Cash called the Bristol Sessions “the single most important event in the history of country music"
  • In 1927, at the urging of “Pop” Stoneman, Ralph Peer conducted recordings in which country music foundational artists like the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers were discovered
  • These Tennessee song sessions became known as The Big Bang of Country Music
  • Explores the history of country music timeline through interactive exhibits and multimedia storytelling
  • The Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol, affiliated with the Smithsonian, tells the story through interactive exhibits, multimedia storytelling and more
  • Year-round events, including the annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, keep Americana music alive in Northeast Tennessee
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The Caverns - Pelham

Fossil ceilings, limestone walls, The music starts when evening falls, Ancient rock echoes modern sounds, In the cool, dark underground. Written about The Caverns in Pelham, Tennessee.
The Caverns in Pelham, Tennessee
Photo Credit: Journal Communications Inc / Michael Weintrob
  • Experience one of the coolest and oldest performance venues in the U.S.
  • Eighty miles from Nashville and 50 miles from Chattanooga, near the base of Monteagle Mountain in Pelham
  • Set in a cave, The Caverns hosts a year-round roster of bluegrass and roots music, rock n' roll and electric
  • Acoustics and lighting are first-rate
  • The weather is always the same (it can be a bit chilly in the cave) and, with seating limited to 750, all sight lines are good
  • Daily guided cave tours, including one of the largest underground rooms in the world, are offered
  • Cave tour tickets
  • Concert tickets
  • Live music calendar
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Museum Center of 5ive Points - Cleveland

Museum Center at 5ive Points, Cleveland TN
Learn the history behind the "Red-Back Hymnal" in Cleveland, Tennessee.
Photo Credit: Jeff Adkins/ JCI
  • Cleveland, Tennessee is in the heart of the Ocoee Region, an area rich in traditional crafts and music
  • The Museum Center at 5ive Points in Cleveland’s Five Points neighborhood hosts live music events and tells regional history
  • Permanent exhibition devoted to the “Red-Back Hymnal,” originally published by the Church of God, but now regarded as Southern worship’s foremost hymnal
  • First printed in Cleveland in 1951, it is now used worldwide
  • Regional crafts are also on exhibit
  • Admission is free

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