NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Bluebird Cafe, in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, hits the road February 2019 for a string of open mic nights in Memphis, Chattanooga, Knoxville and Johnson City during Tennessee Songwriters Week. in February 2019. The events emphasize a state statute honoring songwriters passed earlier this year, and give four winners the chance to perform their original material at the historic Bluebird Cafe.

STANTON, Tenn. - The new Interstate 40 Solar Farm Information and Welcome Center is officially open in Haywood County. State and local leaders gathered today to celebrate the modern 14,000-square-foot building, which will greet visitors traveling the I-40 corridor annually. On display and at the heart of the center is an interactive exhibit designed by the University of Tennessee, SPECTRUM, which highlights the state’s advancements in renewable energy.

NASHVILLE, TENN. – The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development today announced the launch of Tennessee Music Pathways, a statewide program designed to guide visitors to their musical points of interest through an online travel-planning experience featuring hundreds of landmarks and attractions promoting the seven musical genres—blues, bluegrass, country, gospel, soul, rockabilly and rock ‘n’ roll—that call Tennessee home.

NASHVILLE – Governor Bill Haslam and First Lady Crissy Haslam today honored 23 state employees who are helping Tennessee lead by providing outstanding state services every day. The employees, who were nominated by their departments’ leadership for the Governor’s Excellence in Service Awards, were invited to attend a luncheon at the Tennessee Residence for providing efficient and effective service to the state and their fellow Tennesseans. “The employees honored today are on the forefront of improving how Tennessee state government delivers services,” Haslam said. “By exceeding leadership and customer expectations, creating innovative solutions or improving processes and services, these state employees are helping provide taxpayers with the highest quality service at the lowest possible cost.”

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today at the historic Bluebird Cafe, the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development celebrated the state statute passed, annually designating the last full week of February as “Tennessee Songwriters Week.”

LONDON -- Nashville singer-songwriter Gill Landry serenaded Londoners passing through Waterloo Station Monday afternoon, stopping busy commuters in their tracks and helping kick off a month-long marketing campaign, “Sights & Sounds of Tennessee.”

Tennessee has seen the highest growth rate for international arrivals in the U.S., according to Tourism Economics, a leader in providing credible tourism analysis for hundreds of destinations. The findings were shared at IPW May 19-23 in Denver, Colorado.

Memphis, Tenn. – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander and Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Kevin Triplett, today officially dedicated 10 sites in Tennessee as part of the newly-launched U.S. Civil Rights Trail. The announcement was made during a press conference at the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis.

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee's value for the investment made in promoting the state's "The Soundtrack of America. Made in Tennessee" tourism brand increased in the latest study commissioned by the Department of Tourist Development.

NASHVILLE – Governor Bill Haslam and First Lady Crissy Haslam today recognized 22 state employees for providing outstanding service to the state and their fellow Tennesseans at a luncheon at the Tennessee Residence. The Governor’s Excellence in Service Awards was launched in 2016 to honor outstanding state employees who are helping Tennessee lead by providing efficient and effective state services every day.

Nashville, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development today released its 2018 Official Tennessee Vacation Guide.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Millions of travelers flock to Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains each autumn to catch a glimpse of the leaves changing from deep green to brilliant red, orange and gold. But not everyone is able to fully enjoy the effect of nature’s beautiful transition due to color blindness.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam will hold budget hearings for Fiscal Year 2018-2019 on Monday, November 6 through Thursday, November 9. The hearings will be held in the Executive Conference Room on the ground floor of the State Capitol. Haslam, Finance and Administration Commissioner Larry Martin, Chief Operating Officer Greg Adams and David Thurman, state budget director, will preside over the hearings.

Nashville, Tenn. – Tennessee Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Kevin Triplett teamed up with Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant to launch the department’s “The Soundtrack of America. Made in Tennessee” merchandise, including t-shirts, women’s V-neck tees, men’s polos, tank tops, coffee mugs, hats, water bottles and even onesies for babies who were actually made in Tennessee.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development teams up with Third Man Records for a one-of-a-kind concert experience Friday, Sept. 29 as an extension of the state’s Snapchat Concert Series, which launched last year, and their ongoing “The Soundtrack of America. Made in Tennessee” brand campaign.