When Was Tennessee Whiskey Written? History & Origin

When Was “Tennessee Whiskey” Written? The Untold Story of Country Music’s Ultimate Modern Standard

If you have spent any time around country music over the last decade, you have undoubtedly heard the opening, soulful swell of “Tennessee Whiskey.” Whether you picture Chris Stapleton’s gritty, career-defining 2015 rendition at the Country Music Association Awards or David Allan Coe’s rugged 1981 outlaw classic, the song feels like it has been etched into the American songbook for a century.

Yet, the true history of when “Tennessee Whiskey” was written is a tale of Nashville persistence, two distinct songwriting legends, and a song that took nearly two decades to find its ultimate voice.

The Birth of a Classic: 1981

“Tennessee Whiskey” was officially written in 1981 by the legendary songwriting duo Dean Dillon and Linda Hargrove.

By the early 1980s, Dean Dillon was already carving out a reputation as one of Nashville’s most gifted and prolific wordsmiths (later becoming famous for penning numerous hits for George Strait). Linda Hargrove was an accomplished singer-songwriter in her own right, known for writing hits like “Just Get Up and Close the Door” for Johnny Rodriguez.

The two sat down in Nashville to write a song that captured the intoxicating, burning ache of heartbreak—using Tennessee’s most famous export as the ultimate metaphor for love and consolation. With lyrics like, “Used to spend my nights in a barroom liquor / Pouring whiskey down my memory,” the song perfectly captured the intersection of country melancholy and bluesy grit.

The First Chapter: George Jones and David Allan Coe

Once written, the song didn’t immediately go to Chris Stapleton—in fact, it passed through several hands before finding its first major home.

1. George Jones (The Original Target): The song was initially intended for country music icon George Jones. However, for reasons lost to Nashville lore, Jones passed on cutting it for his album at the time.
2. David Allan Coe (1981): Recognizing the goldmine sitting in front of them, the song was given to outlaw country star David Allan Coe. Coe recorded it for his 1981 studio album Tennessee Whiskey. Coe’s version leaned heavily into a traditional, honky-tonk shuffle style with a steady, walking rhythm. While Coe’s version became a cult favorite among outlaw country fans, it remained a deep-album cut rather than a mainstream crossover smash.

The Masterpiece Reinvention: 2015

For over thirty years, “Tennessee Whiskey” slumbered as a respected deep cut in the country canon. That all changed in April 2015, when a relatively under-the-radar Nashville songwriter and artist named Chris Stapleton released his debut solo album, Traveller.

Stapleton had been a successful songwriter for years, but his transition to artist was met with quiet skepticism from mainstream radio executives who didn’t quite know what to do with his blues-infused, bearded aesthetic.

When recording Traveller, Stapleton’s wife and backing vocalist, Morgane Stapleton, suggested digging up “Tennessee Whiskey.” Instead of copying Coe’s upbeat honky-tonk arrangement, Stapleton completely reimagined the track:

• The Groove: He slowed the tempo down to a sultry, swampy R&B groove heavily inspired by Etta James’s 1969 classic “I’d Rather Be Blind.”
• The Vocals: Stapleton injected a raw, raspy, soul-shattering vocal delivery that transformed a standard country shuffle into an undeniable masterpiece of modern soul-country.

A Cultural Phenomenon

The turning point for Stapleton’s version—and the song’s eternal legacy—occurred at the 2015 CMA Awards, where Stapleton performed “Tennessee Whiskey” alongside pop superstar Justin Timberlake.