Rebecca Seaver, Dolly Parton’s niece and archivist, will lead the Life of Many Colors Museum in downtown Nashville. The exhibit will showcase costumes, awards and interactive galleries.

UT Libraries in Knoxville has accepted the bulk of Cormac McCarthy’s personal library — thousands of volumes and hundreds of annotated books that will be cataloged for research. The gift is already reshaping McCarthy scholarship at the university.

Belmont broke ground on a $58M Curb College building on Music Row that will add labs, studios and a Center for Mental Health in Entertainment.

Don Schlitz, the songwriter behind Kenny Rogers’ “The Gambler,” has died at 73 after a sudden illness. The Grand Ole Opry will honor him this weekend; services are pending.

Dogwood Arts fills April with trails, a downtown Chalk Walk (Apr 11), featured gardens (Apr 18 619) and a free festival (Apr 24 626) across Knoxville.

Moves & Grooves unveiled plans for a Youth Arts & Innovation Center in Antioch, tied to a $10M capital campaign and financing for a three‑acre site. The project aims to centralize arts, maker labs, and STEAM for local youth.

Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival is pausing its 2026 edition and is already promoting a 2027 return on its official channels. Fans and local businesses await details.

The 34th Tin Pan South opens March 24 in Nashville with 97 shows across 10 venues and more than 400 songwriters. Tickets start at $15.

Soundcheck Nashville has relocated into Rock Nashville's 55‑acre rehearsal and production campus on Whites Creek Pike, moving its rehearsal operations into a tour‑ready complex.

The Tennessee State Museum launches "Tennessee Voices, American Stories" to honor America's 250th anniversary, highlighting influential Tennesseans and their impact on U.S. history.

Tennessee Songwriters Week 2026 registration is now open, celebrating local talent with showcases across the state and a grand performance at Nashville's Bluebird Cafe.

"Clarksville, TN celebrates its history with the release of 'Historic Clarksville 1784-2024,' a book detailing its 240-year history, authored by Jimmy Settle and supported by Wally Burchett of Burchett Media."

Tennessee is launching a plethora of new tourist attractions in 2026, including scenic lifts in Gatlinburg, a night ride at Dollywood, and new eateries and hotels statewide.