Tennessee, often called "The Volunteer State," is a diverse southeastern U.S. state geographically divided into East, Middle, and West Grand Divisions, ranging from the towering Blue Ridge Mountains and Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the east to fertile western plains. Its origins trace back to the 1772 Watauga Association, the first constitutional government west of the Appalachians, and it joined the Union as the 16th state on June 1, 1796, named after the Cherokee town of Tanasi. During the American Civil War, Tennessee was politically split, becoming the last state to secede and join the Confederacy, but also the first former Confederate state readmitted after the war.

The 20th century brought significant transformation, transitioning from an agrarian society due to massive federal investments like the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and the establishment of Oak Ridge for the World War II Manhattan Project. Today, its economy is robust, driven by health care, automotive, and tourism, while its profound cultural influence is evident in its role as a birthplace for iconic music genres like country, blues, and rock and roll.