Tennessee refers to itself as "the soundtrack of America," which is pretty accurate. It gave birth to so many genres of music, the state is actually segmented that way. Called Grand Divisions, these segments of the state each bred a totally different genre of music - and each has a totally different vibe. To get a true taste of Tennessee, you'll need to visit all three.
Western Tennessee's most famous city is Memphis, and Memphis's most famous past resident is none other than Elvis Presley. This city has some of the best barbecue in the world. Many of its inhabitants live directly downtown, creating an eclectic, vibrant city filled with good music and friendly faces. Then there's Middle Tennessee: the home of Nashville. We probably don't have to tell you that this is a major hub of country music (it's known as Music City, after all), but it's certainly a city to see if you're driving around your Tennessee rental car. Countless country music halls are interspersed with famous landmarks like the Grand Ole Opry house and the Country Music Hall of Fame, while the region is also home to Vanderbilt University and the Tennessee Titans. Add in the Jack Daniels Distillery as well as historic antebellum homes, and you've got a trip you'll never forget.
Furthest West, Knoxville, Johnson City and Chattanooga, though the majority of the area is filled with smaller towns. It's the home of Dolly Parton, who attributed a great many of her songs to the beauty of the Smoky Mountain region. Covered in a soft blue haze, the Appalachians are the oldest mountains in the world and have some of the tallest peaks in the eastern U.S. It's home to Great Smoky Mountain National Park, one of the only free national parks in the country and one of the most beautiful places for hiking.