Sunday, June 14, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1952, Pat Summitt, the legendary University of Tennessee Lady Vols basketball coach, was born in nearby Clarksville.

Alan Jackson will perform his farewell concert in Nashville later this month. If you missed out on buying tickets, you can still catch his performance at a livestream event at the CMA Theater. For more details, see Top Stories.

In case you missed it, this week on The Flyover Podcast, Ayla Brown broke down the clearest guidance yet on alcohol consumption and health. Scientists have debated for years whether a daily drink helps or harms you, and a major new study offered fresh answers. Ayla explained what the latest research found and what it could mean for your long-term health. Listen here.

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Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog, your Flyover fix, anywhere.

Nashville Residents Fight Data Center Boom

Nashville’s Metro Planning Commission saw its largest-ever public turnout Thursday night as more than 150 residents demanded a moratorium on data center construction in Davidson County.

The flashpoint is a proposed AI data campus by Georgia-based DC BLOX on land adjacent to the Nashville Zoo. Zoo supporters, Fisk University community members, and neighbors packed the chambers; a DC BLOX representative was booed as he left after six hours of public comment.

Metro Planning Commission deferred action on legislation proposed by Councilmember Rollin Horton that would set new zoning rules for data centers. Commissioners called the turnout unprecedented and said it would accelerate new regulations for the industry.

The Metro Council is expected to take up the proposal on July 7, as Nashville weighs its booming tech economy against neighborhood concerns about noise, water use, and wildlife impacts near the zoo.

Tennessee Bets on Quantum Valley

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville has launched the K-Quantum initiative, a major push to establish what state leaders are calling an “American Quantum Valley” in the Volunteer State.

K-Quantum will fund new faculty positions, research facilities, and industry partnerships anchored by two of East Tennessee’s biggest advantages: Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Tennessee Valley Authority’s affordable electricity grid.

Chattanooga is also in the quantum picture: EPB, in partnership with UTC and Vanderbilt University, is building the EPB Quantum Center, billed as the nation’s first facility to offer commercial quantum computing access.

State officials announced the effort, framing East Tennessee’s combination of UT research capacity, Oak Ridge infrastructure, and TVA-backed power as a credible answer to Silicon Valley’s tech dominance.

Alan Jackson’s Farewell Concert Livestream

Country music legend Alan Jackson will perform his sold-out farewell concert, Last Call: One More for the Road – The Finale, on June 27 at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium, capping a touring career spanning decades.

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum announced it will livestream Jackson’s portion of the show free at its CMA Theater. Guests reportedly include Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and Eric Church.

For fans without tickets, NBC will broadcast a primetime special, Alan Jackson: The Last Show, later this year, streaming the following day on Peacock.

Jackson, 67, is retiring from the road because of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a degenerative nerve condition he disclosed publicly in 2021. He said he wanted to end his career in Nashville.

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➤ Memphis: Tom Lee Park’s Memphis Flyway opened Friday—a 218-foot elevated wooden boardwalk with panoramic views of the Mississippi River, downtown, and the Arkansas shore. It’s the only free, ADA-accessible observation deck on the entire Mississippi. (Watch Video)

➤ Knoxville: A black bear crossed I-40 early Friday morning and was struck by a vehicle near Knoxville. Knoxville Police Department confirmed that the bear died; the driver was unhurt. (More)

➤ Nashville: Construction crews are making visible progress on the new Nissan Stadium along the riverfront, with interior structural details now taking shape on the $2.1 billion project. (More Details)

➤ East Tennessee: Communities across East Tennessee have released their Fourth of July celebration schedules, from Knoxville’s riverfront fireworks to smaller-town events. (See Events)

➤ Chattanooga: Paw Palooza brought hundreds of pets and their people to Coolidge Park yesterday, joined by World Cup watch parties across the city and a new Lakeside Live concert series at Chester Frost Park. (More)

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➤ Vanderbilt saw eight track & field athletes earn All-American honors after a strong performance at the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships over the weekend. (More)

➤ Tennessee softball starting infielder Ella Dodge entered the NCAA transfer portal yesterday despite reaching the Women’s College World Series in consecutive seasons with the Vols. (More)

➤ Tennessee landed a commitment from four-star linebacker recruit Kenneth Simon II yesterday. Simon, the son of former Vols linebacker Kevin Simon, was originally committed to Alabama, but flipped his decision yesterday after a trip to Knoxville with his family. (More)

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➤ Tennessee claimed the top spot in a new national ranking of best states for family road trips in 2026, lifted by the Great Smoky Mountains, historic sites, and small-town culture. (See Rankings)

➤ Make Music Day brings over 100 free outdoor concerts to 18 Tennessee communities on June 21, from Nashville and Knoxville to Maryville and Jackson. (More)

➤ The CMA Fest TV special airs June 25 on ABC (8/7c) with Riley Green hosting and performances from Ella Langley, Zach Top, Lainey Wilson, and Tim McGraw. It streams on Hulu the next day. (More)

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