The Story Behind “Tennessee Whiskey”: When Was It Written and How It Became a Legend

When people hear the opening notes of “Tennessee Whiskey,” they usually picture Chris Stapleton’s gritty, soul-drenched vocals or George Jones delivering a heartbreaking country classic. However, the song’s journey stretches back decades before Stapleton turned it into a modern cultural phenomenon.

So, when exactly was “Tennessee Whiskey” written, and how did it evolve into one of the most beloved anthems in American music history?

Late Night Inspiration: When Was It Written?

“Tennessee Whiskey” was written in the early 1980s by legendary songwriters Dean Dillon and Linda Hargrove.

At the time, Dean Dillon was an aspiring young songwriter in Nashville (around 25 or 26 years old) who would go on to pen massive hits for George Strait. Linda Hargrove was already an established writer and artist (known for penning Olivia Newton-John’s hit “Let It Shine”).

According to Dillon, the song came to life after a chance encounter and a very late night:

“She was playing in some little dive in Nashville and I’d heard that she was going to be there, so I went to see her show… After the show, we wound up going to her place. I think it was about 4 o’clock in the morning—and I had good luck at 4 o’clock in the morning—we wrote ‘Tennessee Whiskey.’”

Fueled by creativity (and, as Dillon later joked, as much alcohol as they could manage during the session), the pair crafted a brilliant metaphor comparing the intoxicating, life-altering power of a good woman to hard liquor:

• “Used to spend my nights in a barroom liquor / Pouring a-shots to forget her picture…”
• “He’s as smooth as Tennessee whiskey / Sweet as strawberry wine / Warm as a glass of brandy / Honey, I stay stoned on your love all the time.”

The Rejections and the First Recording (1981)

Before the song found a home, Dillon initially pitched it to the “King of Country” himself, George Strait. However, Strait passed on the opportunity, leaving the song looking for a voice.

That voice soon belonged to outlaw country icon David Allan Coe. Coe recorded a traditional, honky-tonk version of the track, making it the title track of his 1981 album Tennessee Whiskey. Coe’s version had a respectable run, peaking at No. 77 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, but it remained a relatively underground favorite rather than a mainstream smash.

George Jones Turns It Into a Hit (1983)

Just two years later, “Tennessee Whiskey” was given a second lease on life by country music legend George Jones. Released in August 1983 as part of his album Shine On, Jones injected a heavy dose of heartbroken soul into the track.

Jones’ version struck a massive chord with audiences, skyrocketing all the way to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. It became a permanent fixture of Jones’ live performances, where he would playfully substitute the name of whatever town he was touring in for “Tennessee” during the chorus.

Chris Stapleton and the Modern Renaissance (2015)

For over thirty years, the song sat comfortably as a revered deep cut in country music history. That changed overnight in 2015 when an unheralded singer-songwriter named Chris Stapleton recorded a blues-infused, soulful cover for his breakthrough debut solo album, Traveller.

Stapleton and his band had stumbled upon the groove during soundcheck while waiting to set up microphones in Virginia. Deciding to play it that night, they realized they had captured lightning in a bottle.