Tennessee Music Tour - 16 sites across the state from Bristol to Memphis

Tennessee Music Tour - 16 sites across the state from Bristol to Memphis

From Old Time Music and Appalachian Blue Grass in Bristol, to Gospel and Country in Nashville, and Mississippi River Blues in Memphis, Tennessee is rich with musical culture and history! Plan your road trip to each of these 16 locations across the state. If you enjoy this guide, please save it, share it, leave a tip, or write a review! Follow me and be the first to know when I create new guides. Thanks!
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East Tennessee

Birthplace of Country Music Museum
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Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame and Museum
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Middle Tennessee

Songbirds Guitar & Pop Culture Museum
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Grand Ole Opry
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Country music's biggest stage, the world famous Grand Ole Opry features weekly shows with an ever changing lineup of multiple artists ranging from the up-and-coming songwriters to award winning country music superstars. It's never the same show twice, so you're guaranteed a once a lifetime concert experience any time you go! Check the links below to find the best experience for you and your group. Options include show admission, backstage tours, and a VIP option to meet the artists pre-show!
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Ryman Auditorium
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Visit one of Nashville's premier music venues, the Mother Church, Ryman Auditorium. From local up-and-coming artists to global headliners, anybody who is anybody in the world of music aims to perform on the Ryman's Stage. Check their website for tickets to upcoming concerts, and click the link below to schedule a tour of the Ryman for yourself or your group.
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Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
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Discover the roots of country music, its evolution through the mid-1900's, and the development of the genre by current artists at the comprehensive Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. You can purchase tickets at the door, or opt to skip the line by pre-booking through one of the links below.
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National Museum of African American Music
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If you only visit one museum in Nashville, this is the one I recommend. Highly immersive, educational, and interactive, your experience will stay with you long after you leave the museum. NMAAM is "the only museum dedicated to educating, preserving and celebrating more than 50 music genres and styles that were created, influenced, and/or inspired by African Americans, including spirituals, blues, jazz, gospel, R&B, and hip hop." Things to know: For an extra $5, get a RDIF bracelet to scan at various points throughout the museum, allowing you to learn more about the exhibit and create a souvenir playlist to take with you. The museum is open daily until 5pm. Last entry is 4pm. Allow at least 90 minutes to fully explore the museum. Every Saturday from 11:30am-2:30pm the museum hosts a dance party with live DJ. To continue learning about African American history and the Civil Rights Movement in Nashville, click the link below.
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Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum
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Discover the musical instruments and memorabilia of famous musicians like Elvis Prseley, Frank Sinatra, Jimi Hendrix, and Barbara Mandrell at "the one and only museum in the world that honors the talented musicians who actually played on the greatest recordings of all time." Located within the MHoF and included in your ticket price is admission is the GRAMMY Museum Gallery. The immersive space allows you to sing backup, play instruments, and experience the full recording process. The museum is open Monday-Saturday, 10am-5pm. Plan to spend 1-2 hours enjoying the museum and gallery. Book tickets via the link below.
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Jefferson Street Sound
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West Tennessee

Blues Hall of Fame Museum
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Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum
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Located on the corner of Beale Street and the historic Blues Highway, the Smithsonian affiliated Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum pays tribute to the music that sprang up from sharecropped farms and backwood hollers, breaking socio-economic barriers as it rose to popularity in the 1970's and influenced the sound of music globally. The museum is open daily from 10am-5pm. Pro-Tip: Available only in person, the Backstage Pass provides admission to four of Memphis' key musical sites at a 20% discounted rate. Don't have time to see them all at once? No problem! The Backstage Pass is valid one year from date of purchase. Sites included are the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum, Graceland, Sun Studio, and Stax Museum. Only interested in seeing this museum? Click the link below to book your ticket now.
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Stax Museum of American Soul Music
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Memphis Music Hall of Fame
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Memphis famed musicians like Elvis Presley and B.B. King are only a few of the chart-toppers you'll discover at the Memphis Music Hall of Fame. Learn about stars' rise to fame and see costumes from stage performances. Typically open 7 days a week, affordable ticket pricing makes this musical destination an ideal addition to your time in Memphis whether on your own, with a group, or spending time in the city as a family. Click the link below to book your experience today!
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The Tennessee Legends of Music Museum at the Carnegie
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James D Vaughan Museum
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Want more?

More Tennessee!

Inspired to nurture your own inner artist? Whether you're ready to cut your first vinyl or learn to make pasta from scratch, this guide has it all! You'll be led by expert artisans, dine at unique local restaurants, and stay at one of a kind boutique hotels - including a 5-star castle. 

NOTE: This is typically a paid guide ($25.95). I'm currently offering it for free as a way to assist our neighbors affected by Hurricane Helene, which caused severe devastation to the Southern Appalachian region on September 27, 2024. Please support the local businesses and artists listed in this guide by visiting, booking a class, buying their products, or purchasing gift cards. Consider gifting a class to people on your holiday shopping list - it will be a gift they'll never forget! Lastly, if you want to compensate me for creating this guide, you may do so by leaving a tip (button at the bottom of the page). Help more people discover this guide by saving it and sharing it. Thank you for helping Southern Appalachia recover and rebuild. We appreciate you! * * * It's time to indulge your creative side! Learn from master potters, chefs, painters, and folk artisans in the beautiful Appalachian Highlands of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina. Note: Many of these experiences require early registration, as classes fill up quickly. I encourage you to plan well in advance. If you enjoy this guide, please save it, share it, leave a tip, or write a review! Follow me and be the first to know when I create new guides. Thanks!
50+ • Couples • Groups • Family • Female Solo • Digital Nomads • Gluten-free / Celiac • Plus Size • LGBTQ+ • Vegan • Vegetarian • Accessibility • Business • Art • Boutique • Luxury • Foodie • People & Culture • Photography • Slow Travel • Coffee • Mountain • Relaxation • Road Trip • Design • History • Wellness
Free

Hotel chains have their place, but sometimes you need a place to stay that's as quirky and wonderful as you are. Here are 9 of Tennessee's finest, many of which are in areas of the above music attractions. Enjoy your stay!

Help!

Planning a trip can feel overwhelming. I'd love to help!

If you're not sure where to start, schedule a Consultation Call with me. We'll go over questions you have and tips I can share to make your next adventure your best one yet!

If you have a general idea of where you'd like to go and when, but planning what to do day by day seems like A LOT of work, let me handle that for you with Custom Trip Itineraries.

And if you're more of a figure-it-out-as-you-go kind of traveler, I can provide you with Curated Recommendations suited to your interests and travel style.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
US native. Former resident of Romania. Current solo female globe trotter. I've ventured to more than a dozen countries across four continents as part of group tours, volunteer work, solo travel, studying abroad, and teaching internationally. I lived for over a year in Romania, many years in Tennessee, and several months in England. My travel style is slow, spontaneous, and - shall we say - richly flavorful. I prefer to stay longer lengths in places instead of having a whirlwind sightseeing venture. I'll skip the chain restaurants for a hole-in-the-wall café any day of the week. I prefer a loose itinerary and remain open to what each day brings. My favorite things to do and see as I travel are... - EAT - Try whatever is local. Order the special of the day. Talk with the restaurant staff. - WALK - It encourages me to slow down, notice, and get a feel for community. - HIKE - I'm a lazy hiker. By "hike," I mean a few hours at a slow pace. - MUSEUMS - Spend an afternoon. Read the descriptions on exhibits. Talk with the docents. Buy something in the giftshop. - CHURCHES - I'm fascinated by the various ways people have worshipped the God of the Bible over centuries and across borders. Many older churches are also museums or tourist-friendly spaces. Some additionally hold regular liturgical services. - CASTLES - Castles, fortresses, palaces, big ol' houses: these places transport me back in time. I imagine the people who built, lived in, and defended them. What would they think of how we now live? If this kind of travel sounds ideal to you, hit the Contact Me button! I'd love to help you experience slower, more meaningful travel. We'll discuss tips for how to make the most of your trip, with low stress, reasonable safety, affordability, and lots of fun. Book one of my custom services, and we'll work together to get you wheels up on your next adventure! Follow me to easily access all the resources I create.
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