Johnson City, Tennessee

Everything Johnson City is known for

14 songs mention this city 3 artists from here

RoadyGoat plays music like this when you drive through Johnson City. It's free on iPhone, and full songs play through Apple Music.

Johnson City, Tennessee, nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, has a notable musical heritage, particularly in old-time and bluegrass music. The city was a haven for early recording artists and hosted the Johnson City Sessions in 1928 and 1929, bringing musicians from various genres to record. Folk artist Amythyst Kiah calls Johnson City home, and the city is mentioned in songs like "Liquor To Like Her" by Hank Williams Jr. and "Here for a Good Time" by George Strait.

Music in Johnson City

Songs About Johnson City

the witches of appalachia

derek spencer

41%

Liquor To Like Her

Hank Williams, Jr.

29%

"Little brown jug upon my lips"

Fool Hearted Lover

C J Garton

26%

"Well, I sold my soul for a chunk of coal"

No Guarantees

Cody Jinks

26%

"I hear the voice of Jesus and hear the Devil talkin'"

Black & Blue

Red Shahan

26%

"The handle black, barrel blued"

L.A. Freeway

the band of heathens & todd snider

25%

All Comes Floodin’ Down

Brian Mccomas

15%

"We'll throw the sand into those bags"

I Don't Care

Justin Townes Earle

14%

"Saskatoon, Baton Rouge, Miami, Johnson City, or anywhere in between"

Here for a Good Time

George Strait

10%

"Pour me some moonshine"

Working Man’s Dream

Luke Bell

10%

"I could rattle the hands of time With a shovel and rope"

Baby Let Your Hair Roll Down

Roscoe Holcomb

10%

"I don't like a railroad boss"

I Don’t Care

Justin Townes Earle

"Saskatoon, Baton Rouge, Miami, Johnson City, or anywhere in between"

Wagon Wheel

Darius Rucker

"To Johnson City, Tennessee"

Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde

Travis Tritt

"We met at a truck stop Johnson City, Tennessee"

Artists From Johnson City

Amythyst Kiah

folk

The Dimestore Cowboys

country

Lucille Clement

folk

History of Johnson City

Born on a Riverbank, Not a Mountaintop RoadyGoat

1786

The famous song says Davy Crockett was born on a mountaintop in Tennessee, but the real spot is right here, in a quiet river valley on the banks of the Nolichucky. David Crockett was born on August 17th, 1786, the fifth of nine children of John and Rebecca Crockett, a struggling frontier family near Limestone in Greene County. There was no coonskin legend yet, just a poor farmer's cabin by the water. The mountaintop line came from a 1955 television ballad that turned a real and complicated frontiersman into a household myth. A replica log cabin at the Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park now marks the place where the story actually started. (Sources: Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park; standard Crockett biographies; True West Magazine.)

18.4 mi away

Jonesborough

1779

Founded in 1779, Jonesborough is the oldest town in Tennessee and served as the capital of the lost State of Franklin, a failed attempt to create the fourteenth state.

6.8 mi away

Everything Near Johnson City

13 stories, landmarks & places within ~20 miles — the same local lore RoadyGoat plays as you drive through.

Aquone · 1.2 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wonder where a legal legend goes to kick back? This is Aquone, the retirement home of Samuel Cole Williams, a major figure in Tennessee's legal and historical circles. Built in 1925, Aquone was designed by Johnson…
Johnson City, TN · 1.6 mi · Wikipedia
This city's story is one of transformation, marked by pivotal moments. It began with early settlers like William Bean, who built his cabin nearby in 1769. The region saw conflict in the 1780s during the State of…
Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site · 1.7 mi · Scraped Hmdb
This unassuming house witnessed a clash that shaped Tennessee's future. Colonel John Tipton built this home in 1784 and soon found himself at the center of a political storm. He fiercely opposed the State of Franklin, a…
Sabine Hill · 4.7 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Known by multiple names, this historic house offers a glimpse into the lives of early Tennessee settlers. Sabine Hill, also called Happy Valley, Watauga Point, and the General Nathaniel Taylor House, is a two-story…
Sycamore Shoals · 5.8 mi · Scraped Hmdb
This unassuming rocky riverbed holds a secret: it was once the gateway to a new frontier. In 1770, explorer James Robertson recognized the potential of the flatlands here at Sycamore Shoals, called the Watauga Old…
Jonesborough · 6.8 mi · Historical Marker
Founded in 1779, Jonesborough is the oldest town in Tennessee and served as the capital of the lost State of Franklin, a failed attempt to create the fourteenth state.
Jonesborough Historic District · 6.8 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Pull over here! This is Jonesborough, Tennessee's oldest town, and it's like stepping back in time. Many of the buildings you see are over a century old.Back in 1969, the Tennessee Historical Commission took a close…
Chester Inn · 6.8 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Imagine weary travelers in the late 1700s, dust-covered and eager for rest – this spot, the Chester Inn, was their oasis. Opened in 1797 by Dr. William P. Chester, it quickly became known as the finest hotel on the…
Elizabethton Covered Bridge · 8.2 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Drive through a piece of history on this 134-foot covered bridge, built in 1882 and still standing strong. Back in 1882, folks in Elizabethton needed a reliable way to cross the Doe River, connecting what's now 3rd…
Boone Dam · 9.9 mi · Scraped Hmdb
This massive dam not only generates power but also tames the South Fork Holston River, preventing devastating floods. Built in the early 1950s by the Tennessee Valley Authority, Boone Dam was part of a larger effort to…
Fort Patrick Henry Dam · 15.4 mi · Scraped Hmdb
This dam isn't just holding back water; it's harnessing the river's power to light up homes and fuel industry! Fort Patrick Henry Dam, completed in the early 1950s, was built by the Tennessee Valley Authority, or TVA.…
Born on a Riverbank, Not a Mountaintop · 18.4 mi
The famous song says Davy Crockett was born on a mountaintop in Tennessee, but the real spot is right here, in a quiet river valley on the banks of the Nolichucky. David Crockett was born on August 17th, 1786, the fifth…

Show all 13 nearby places

Long Island (Tennessee) · 18.9 mi · Scraped Hmdb
For centuries, Long Island was a sacred meeting place for the Cherokee and a strategic point for early settlers. This island in the Holston River was known to the Cherokee as Amoyeli Gunahita. Long Island served as a…

Explore Johnson City on the Map

All music from Tennessee → Find another town Vote on city songs