You Had No Idea These 20 Musicians Were From Tennessee
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Meghan Kraft
Author
We all know that Music City, USA is tucked deep in the heart of Tennessee. With a reputation to uphold and music scene to keep you, this southern state keeps churning out lyrical geniuses and fantastic entertainers like you would hardly believe. We’ve found twenty of them and we promise – you’ll be shocked.
This Knoxville native has gone on to make her mark in the country music arena. She is not only a singer herself, but a songwriter that has collaborated with the likes of Train and Brooks & Dunn.
At the ripe old age of fifteen, this country cutie burst onto the Billboard charts with, "I Will Be There For You." She hails from Huntington, Tennessee and has since taken time from music to focus on personal pursuits.
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"The Queen of Soul" was born in Memphis, and she grew up to make her home city proud. You probably know all the words to, "RESPECT" - most likely. Try it.
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John Irving / Flickr
Born in Luttrell in 1924, Chet was one of the masterminds behind the, 'Nashville Sound,' a sleeker sound to country music that has since come to leap genres and make the guitar twang more appealing to the masses.
The Overstreet fam is pretty solidly based in Tennessee, and their musical children have gone on to have highly successful media based careers. Chord is a professional musician, but he is best known for his role as Sam on the television show, "Glee."
East Tennessee hails as the home for this country music giant, and Kingston Springs couldn't be prouder. Interesting fact? Morgan was an EMT before his successful music stint.
Shock of shocks, the Queen of Country is from East Tennessee. Everything about this bubbly country crooner is reminiscent of classic folk and the down home comfort of her favorite state.
West was good friends with country legends Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, and she did her share of groundbreaking as a female country artist as well. The McMinnville native began with a Grammy Award and continued for decades.
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A newer face on the country music scene, Lynch is from Tullahoma and is signed to Broken Bow Records. You may have heard his single, 'Cowboys and Angels" that crashed onto the scene in early 2012.
The aptly named, "Tennessee Nightingale" was a highly lauded opera singer born in Del Rio. She studied for a quick bit at Ward-Belmont in Music City and eventually made her way to New York City to begin a career as a metropolitan opera singer.
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Timberlake may have brought sexy back, but his star-studded career began in the city of blues, Memphis.
Another Knoxville native, Kenny Chesney has sold more than 30 million albums and has received scads of country music awards, including Entertainer of the Year four times.
Daughter of the king, child of the country. Presley was born and raised in Memphis, TN.
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Before becoming a country recording artist and television star, this young starlet began her life in Memphis.
Myers was born in Nashville but spent the early part of her childhood in East Tennessee before moving up to Ohio.
You know her from her father, but Miley has made a name for herself all her own. She was born in Franklin.
Atkins calls Cumberland Gap home, and he has made himself quite at hold on top of the country music charts since the mid-2000's.
As the oldest daughter of the famed Johnny Cash and has made her name in country music with her solid singing chops and family legacy. She was born in Memphis.
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Acuff was influential in the evolution of mid-century country music and the Maynardville native is often called the, "King of Country Music."
Turner has gone on to enjoy a long and fruitful career, a long way from the little girl that grew up in Nutbush.
There were a couple of shockers for us in here, but what do you think? Tennessee has been helping keep songs in our heads for years, and we’d love for you to share your comments below!
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