Tennessee · The Volunteer State · By Ismail Farooq, founder · Updated
Tennessee state song: the official anthem's story, and a new song to hear
Tennessee's official state song is “Tennessee Waltz, Rocky Top and more”, adopted between 1925 and the 2010s. Below is the story of that song, the state's symbols, and “Three Stars”: a brand-new anthem SongUp AI wrote and sang for Tennessee, with its full lyrics.
An original song for Tennessee
Nashville country with Memphis soul horns, acoustic and electric guitar, piano, a confident groove and a radio-ready chorus
“Three Stars” lyrics
Original words by SongUp AI, 2026. Female vocal · Nashville country with Memphis soul horns.
Verse 1
Neon down on Broadway, a fiddle in a bar
Beale Street blues in Memphis with the river and a star
Mockingbird in the irises on a Franklin morning street
Tennessee, you're the rhythm underneath my feet
Chorus
Three stars on a field of blue, east and middle, west
Smoky Mountain morning mist, you put my soul to rest
From Music Row to Graceland, from Chattanooga to the hills
Tennessee, you're every song that gives me chills
Verse 2
Whiskey aging in Lynchburg, hot chicken on the plate
Dolly singing in the Smokies where the fog comes in late
The Volunteers in orange on a Knoxville afternoon
Tennessee, you're the melody and I'm the tune
Chorus
Three stars on a field of blue, east and middle, west
Smoky Mountain morning mist, you put my soul to rest
From Music Row to Graceland, from Chattanooga to the hills
Tennessee, you're every song that gives me chills
Bridge
Agriculture and commerce, that's the words upon the seal
But Tennessee, you're the music, and the music's real
Chorus
Three stars on a field of blue, east and middle, west
Smoky Mountain morning mist, you put my soul to rest
From Music Row to Graceland, from Chattanooga to the hills
Tennessee, you're every song that gives me chills
About “Three Stars”
Tennessee's song is Nashville country with Memphis horns, for the state that owns both. It runs Lower Broadway, Beale Street, Graceland, Music Row, Lynchburg whiskey, Nashville hot chicken, Dollywood, Knoxville in orange and the Great Smoky Mountains, and names the three stars on the flag for the state's three grand divisions.
The mockingbird and iris are the state bird and flower. Tennessee has more official state songs than any other state, including "Tennessee Waltz" (1965) and "Rocky Top" (1982).
Places and symbols in the song
- Nashville and Music Row
- Memphis and Beale Street
- the Great Smoky Mountains
- Dollywood
- Tennessee whiskey
- Northern mockingbird
- Iris
SongUp AI composed and sang this song from the lyrics above and the style line under the title, the same way it makes songs for its users. It is not the official state song and it is not a cover.
The official state song of Tennessee
- Title
- “Tennessee Waltz, Rocky Top and more”
- Written by
- Redd Stewart and Pee Wee King (1965); Felice and Boudleaux Bryant (1982); others
- Status
- adopted between 1925 and the 2010s
Tennessee has more official state songs than any other state, with ten or more on the books, from "My Homeland, Tennessee" (1925) to "Rocky Top" and "Smoky Mountain Rain".
Many official state songs are still in copyright, so their lyrics are not printed here. The state's own website or legislature publishes the official text.
Tennessee at a glance
- Nickname
- The Volunteer State
- Capital
- Nashville
- Largest city
- Nashville
- Statehood
- June 1, 1796 (16th state)
- Motto
- Agriculture and Commerce
- State bird
- Northern mockingbird
- State flower
- Iris
- Official state song
- "Tennessee Waltz, Rocky Top and more" (between 1925 and the 2010s)
Questions about Tennessee's state song
What is the official state song of Tennessee?
The official state song of Tennessee is "Tennessee Waltz, Rocky Top and more", Redd Stewart and Pee Wee King (1965); Felice and Boudleaux Bryant (1982); others, adopted between 1925 and the 2010s. Tennessee has more official state songs than any other state, with ten or more on the books, from "My Homeland, Tennessee" (1925) to "Rocky Top" and "Smoky Mountain Rain".
Is "Three Stars" the official state song of Tennessee?
No. "Three Stars" is an original song written and sung by SongUp AI in 2026 as a new anthem for Tennessee. The official state song is "Tennessee Waltz, Rocky Top and more", adopted between 1925 and the 2010s. The official lyrics are not reproduced here; this page is about the facts of that song and about our own.
What is "Three Stars" about?
Tennessee's song is Nashville country with Memphis horns, for the state that owns both. It runs Lower Broadway, Beale Street, Graceland, Music Row, Lynchburg whiskey, Nashville hot chicken, Dollywood, Knoxville in orange and the Great Smoky Mountains, and names the three stars on the flag for the state's three grand divisions. It names Nashville and Music Row, Memphis and Beale Street, the Great Smoky Mountains, Dollywood and Tennessee whiskey, with the state bird (northern mockingbird) and state flower (iris) in the lyrics.
Who wrote "Tennessee Waltz, Rocky Top and more" and when was it adopted?
"Tennessee Waltz, Rocky Top and more" is credited to Redd Stewart and Pee Wee King (1965); Felice and Boudleaux Bryant (1982); others; it was adopted between 1925 and the 2010s. Tennessee has more official state songs than any other state, with ten or more on the books, from "My Homeland, Tennessee" (1925) to "Rocky Top" and "Smoky Mountain Rain".
What are Tennessee's state symbols?
Tennessee is nicknamed The Volunteer State. Its capital is Nashville and its largest city is Nashville. It joined the Union on June 1, 1796 (16th state). The state motto is "Agriculture and Commerce", the state bird is the northern mockingbird and the state flower is the iris.
Can I play or share "Three Stars"?
Yes. Listen here as often as you like and share the page link. For a song of your own about Tennessee, your town, your school or your family, with the names and places you choose, describe it on the Create page: a free account hears a 30-second preview of its own lyrics sung, and a full song comes with a Pro plan.
How do I make my own song about Tennessee?
Open the Create page, describe the song (for example "an upbeat country song about growing up in Nashville, TN") or paste your own lyrics, pick a voice, and SongUp AI writes, sings and mixes it in a few minutes. Every song comes with a lyric video, stems and a gift page.