Tennessee History and Government

Tennessee, "the Volunteer State," became the 16th state to join the Union in 1796. Tennessee is the home of the Great Smoky Mountains, part of the Appalachian Mountains and the most-visited national park in the United States. Tennessee is probably best known as the birthplace of the country, rock, and blues genres of music in the United States. Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, B.B. King, Muddy waters, and Justin Timberlake all began their musical careers in Memphis.