Musicians From Tennessee

Multifaceted personality, Dolly Parton is a singer, songwriter, record producer, actress, author and businesswoman and is known mainly for her work in country music. She has received various accolades and awards in her very successful singing career spanning several decades and has composed over 3,000 songs. She has also worked in several movies and is a prolific songwriter.

Widely regarded as the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin was a singer-songwriter, actress, and civil rights activist. Recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Aretha was ranked number one on Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Greatest Singers of All Time list in 2010. Having sold over 75 million records, she is also one of the best-selling musicians ever.

Justin Randall Timberlake is an American actor, singer-songwriter, and record producer. Regarded as a pop icon, Timberlake has sold more than 56 million singles worldwide, which makes him one of the best-selling music artists. In 2007 and 2013, he was named in Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world list. Timberlake is also known for his philanthropic activities.

The only child of the legendary singer and musician, Elvis Presley, Lisa Marie Presley fought her addiction with drugs during her teens and later launched herself as singer-songwriter with her debut album To Whom It May Concern. It was followed by two more commercially and critically successful albums. Lisa Marie Presley has also earned appreciation for her numerous philanthropic work.

Gregg Allman was an American musician and singer-songwriter. He is credited with co-founding the rock band The Allman Brothers Band along with his brother Duane Allman. Dubbed the Southern rock pioneer, Allman was recognized for his distinctive, soulful voice; Rolling Stone magazine named him in its 100 Greatest Singers of All Time list.

Kelsea Ballerini is an American singer and songwriter. Ballerini became the first female artist since Carrie Underwood in 2006 to have her debut single top the Country Airplay chart. Kelsea Ballerini is the recipient of several prestigious awards, such as CMT Music Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards, and Teen Choice Awards.

Bessie Smith was an American singer who gained popularity during the Jazz Age. Dubbed the Empress of the Blues, Smith was one of the most famous blues singers of the 1920s and 1930s. Counted among the greatest singers of her generation, Bessie Smith was a major influence on several other singers. Her life and work inspired the TV film Bessie.

Rosanne Cash is an American singer-songwriter. The daughter of musician Johnny Cash, Rosanne Cash followed in the footsteps of her father. Also a humanitarian, Cash supports many charitable organizations like Children, Incorporated, which supports young adults and children. She has also been a board member of an organization called Center To Prevent Youth Violence, which works towards preventing gun violence.

Rapper Juicy J, younger brother of rapper Project Pat, established the hip-hop Three 6 Mafia, which delivered the Academy Award-winning track It's Hard out Here for a Pimp. Juicy J was also nominated for a Grammy for his and Katy Perry’s chartbusting track Dark Horse. He went solo later.

Shooter Jennings is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer. In addition to releasing his songs and albums, Jennings also produces tracks and albums for several other bands like Jason Boland & the Stragglers, Fifth on the Floor, and Hellbound Glory. Shooter Jennings is also credited with forming a multi-format recording company and a label named Black Country Rock.

The youngest of the popular Cyrus siblings, Noah Cyrus is a singer-songwriter and actress. She went on to achieve so much during her teens that Time magazine named her in the 30 Most Influential Teens list in 2017. Also a well-known philanthropist, Cyrus raised funds to ban horse-drawn carriages when she was just 13! She also supports The Jed Foundation.

Known as the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll, Tina Turner is one of the best-selling recording artists of all time and has had a very long and successful career. Let's Stay Together, What's Love Got to Do with It, Private Dancer and Golden Eye are some of her chartbuster songs. She is also a songwriter and has acted in films too.

Chris Young is an American singer and songwriter who achieved popularity after winning the fourth season of the popular reality TV singing competition show Nashville Star. In 2017, he became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Chris Young is also known for his philanthropic efforts; he has supported several non-profit organizations like Little Kids Rock and Stars For Stripes.

Hillary Scott is a singer and songwriter. She is credited with co-founding the popular American country music group Lady A for which she currently serves as the co-lead singer. Over the years, Scott has played a major role in the success of the group, which has won many awards like the Academy of Country Music Awards and American Country Awards. 

Brent Smith is a singer best known as the founder and frontman of the rock band Shinedown. He was just a small child when he started showing a keen interest in music. As a teenager, he launched his own band and enjoyed moderate success. He later founded Shinedown. The band has sold more than 10 million records.  

Popularly known as The King of Country Music, Roy Acuff was also a talented fiddler. Initially a budding baseball player, he ditched his sports career due to repeated injuries and focused on music instead. He was part of the radio broadcast Grand Ole Opry and later won a Grammy Lifetime Award.

A country music legend, Eddy Arnold had 28 number one singles in his kitty. His father’s death forced him to quit school and work on his family farm at age 11. A Grand Ole Opry member, he soared to fame with tracks such as Make the World Go Away.