Tennessee is a wonderful place to live, full of friendly folks, amazing attractions, and natural scenery galore. We welcome everyone with open arms, but there are a few things you have to know about people from Tennessee. There are some Tennessee values we hold near and dear that are important to know if you want to be a part of what makes our state great. Without further ado, here are six hills every Tennessean is willing to die on:
- We will be polite
Iain Farrell/ Flickr We will say “please” and “thank you” when it’s appropriate. It is not uncommon to hear kind words like “sir” and “ma’am,” either. We value being kind, and we all grew up with a mother telling us to be polite… and we actually do it here in Tennessee! We will hold open the door, honor our elderly, and treat others with respect; it’s not an option, it’s a way of life. There is a reason they call it Southern charm!
- The Tennessee Volunteers
Chris/ Flickr College football is a big deal in the South, so we love our local teams and will cheer for them no matter what. We love them so much that it’s rumored that Tennesseans have orange and white blood cells – the extra color is just for team pride!
- Volunteering
USFWS Pacific Southwest Region/ Flickr We have the nickname of being the Volunteer State, and you might ask yourself why. It’s a very good question, and it came from the willingness of Tennesseans to volunteer during the War of 1812. Their contribution helped play a key role in the victory. Fast-forward to today and you will still see that volunteer spirit alive and well. It won’t take long to see that the good people in our state are always willing to lend help when needed. If your car breaks down, in a matter of minutes you will have someone stopping and helping in whatever way they can.
- Southern Hospitality
Susan/ Flickr We are a welcoming group of people and you won’t be a stranger for very long. The term “Southern hospitality” is a real thing and we take pride in that. It may be a restaurant that will treat you well or your new neighbors welcoming you to town, but one way or another you will see people reaching out and making sure you are noticed.
- BBQ
The Bar-B-Q Shop Here in Tennessee, barbecue is life. We love our smokey BBQ and there is nothing quite like Tennessee barbecue, something for which we take great pride! You’ll find some of the best BBQ in the country in Tennessee, and if you disagree we challenge you to go to Memphis and sample the BBQ, and then we can talk about who does it best.
- Elvis is a Tennessean
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc./ Wikipedia We know the King wasn’t born here, but he choose us which makes it better. This beloved musician started the rock movement and will always hold a special place in our hearts.
These are just some of the Tennessee values we hold tight to our chest. What would you add to the list?
Iain Farrell/ Flickr
We will say “please” and “thank you” when it’s appropriate. It is not uncommon to hear kind words like “sir” and “ma’am,” either. We value being kind, and we all grew up with a mother telling us to be polite… and we actually do it here in Tennessee! We will hold open the door, honor our elderly, and treat others with respect; it’s not an option, it’s a way of life. There is a reason they call it Southern charm!
Chris/ Flickr
College football is a big deal in the South, so we love our local teams and will cheer for them no matter what. We love them so much that it’s rumored that Tennesseans have orange and white blood cells – the extra color is just for team pride!
USFWS Pacific Southwest Region/ Flickr
We have the nickname of being the Volunteer State, and you might ask yourself why. It’s a very good question, and it came from the willingness of Tennesseans to volunteer during the War of 1812. Their contribution helped play a key role in the victory. Fast-forward to today and you will still see that volunteer spirit alive and well. It won’t take long to see that the good people in our state are always willing to lend help when needed. If your car breaks down, in a matter of minutes you will have someone stopping and helping in whatever way they can.
Susan/ Flickr
We are a welcoming group of people and you won’t be a stranger for very long. The term “Southern hospitality” is a real thing and we take pride in that. It may be a restaurant that will treat you well or your new neighbors welcoming you to town, but one way or another you will see people reaching out and making sure you are noticed.
The Bar-B-Q Shop
Here in Tennessee, barbecue is life. We love our smokey BBQ and there is nothing quite like Tennessee barbecue, something for which we take great pride! You’ll find some of the best BBQ in the country in Tennessee, and if you disagree we challenge you to go to Memphis and sample the BBQ, and then we can talk about who does it best.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc./ Wikipedia
We know the King wasn’t born here, but he choose us which makes it better. This beloved musician started the rock movement and will always hold a special place in our hearts.
And with regard to #5, if you want to taste the most mouth-watering BBQ in the world, then start in a little place called Rendezvous in Memphis, Tennessee, and make sure to order the ribs!
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