Thursday, December 11, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1944, Brenda Tarpley, better known as the famed Brenda Lee who sang hits like Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree and Sweet Nothin’s, was born in Georgia. The singer’s career kicked off in Nashville, where she made key connections and recorded her biggest hits.

University of Memphis researchers have rediscovered the greater chestnut weevil—believed extinct since 1997—thanks to citizen-submitted photos and DNA analysis. See photos of the rare beetle in the story below.

For anyone staring down a stubborn name on their list, The Flyover Christmas Guide has you covered—go shop our favorites.

If you’ve ever wished you could take back control of your online privacy without jumping through a dozen technical hoops, today’s sponsor, Incogni, offers a simpler path to a more anonymous digital life.

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.

Weekend Brings Expected Cold Snap

A sharp cooldown is set to hit Tennessee this weekend after a stretch of mild December days.

Knoxville will see gusty winds and scattered valley showers, with snow accumulating above 2,500 feet in the Smokies overnight.

Nashville and much of Middle Tennessee stay near 60°F through Friday before temps plunge into the teens and 20s by Sunday night.

While the weekend remains mostly dry, forecasters warn of frost risks and possible flurries north of I-40 next week.

Cracker Barrel Loses Millions Over Logo

Cracker Barrel posted a $25 million loss for the quarter ending Oct. 31, citing falling customer traffic and retail sales after a controversial logo change fueled a boycott.

The Lebanon–based chain reversed course and reinstated its old logo, but the damage lingered, with overall traffic down 11% year-to-date.

Executives described the decline as part of a broader consumer pullback and signaled a multi-year recovery ahead.

Vols Signee Launches Holiday Toy Drive

Five-star quarterback and Tennessee commit Faizon Brandon is spearheading a 12-day toy drive to benefit East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.

The Class of 2026 signee, who officially joined the Vols during the early signing period, is asking supporters to donate gifts via an Amazon link in his bio, pledging to hand-deliver the toys himself.

Brandon promised on social media, “to deliver every single one in person to patients in need of some holiday cheer!”

Brandon has been committed to Tennessee since August 2024 and is already building a presence off the field. See the Amazon gift list here.

Flying together with our sponsor

Tired of scam calls or scared of identity theft? Time to go anonymous.

Becoming truly anonymous online is hard—but it’s not impossible. Experts say there are several steps you can take:

– Use a VPN all the time

– Buy a burner phone instead of a smartphone

– Use a secure email service instead of Gmail or Yahoo

– Delete your social media accounts and associated data

Or use a data removal service like Incogni and stress less. Incogni helps you disappear online by erasing your personal data from brokers, search engines, and any site where it leaks. Build a private digital presence, layer by layer.

Hide what should stay hidden—start with Incogni. The Flyover readers get 55% off your subscription with code FLYOVER.

➤ Warren County: The sheriff’s office warned parents after finding eight local businesses illegally sold kratom, an unregulated and addictive herbal substance, to minors. (More)

➤ Loudon County: The Tennessee Valley Authority installed a new 375,000-pound turbine at Fort Loudoun Dam, replacing the original from 1943 to boost reliability and provide low-cost energy. (More)

➤ Monroe County: A local detention facility was chosen for a state pilot program starting in January that will provide workforce training to help inmates prepare for career success. (More)

➤ Knoxville: The Tennessee Theatre set March 20 as the public opening of its 612 Building expansion, which will add event space, a practice studio, and new amenities to improve the patron experience. (See Details)

➤ Blount County: The school board is considering a program that would allow students to leave campus for one hour each month to receive off-site Bible instruction. (More)

➤ Spring Hill: Chapman’s Retreat Elementary School closed on Wednesday after maintenance staff detected a gas odor outside the building, prompting an evacuation and emergency response. (More)

➤ Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia and tight end Eli Stowers earned first-team All-SEC honors, marking the program’s first pair of top selections since 2013. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, the Tennessee Volunteers had one player make first team All-SEC: wide receiver Chris Brazzell II. (More)

➤ Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant gave away tickets yesterday at the FedEx Forum so that 250 fans could attend tomorrow night’s game against the Jazz for free. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | Soccer

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Stiff joints? Excruciating bone-on-bone pain? You can easily get rid of it with this odd but super-efficient “peanut butter hack”. Just like more than 85,000 people already did. It’s so easy, you won’t believe it: all you need is a peanut butter jar and 10 seconds of your day. You’ll finally stop the joint pain, and enjoy the flexibility, energy, and strength you once had. Start by watching this video here: Peanut Butter Hack For Instant Joint Relief

➤ The iconic Truist building in downtown Knoxville has been listed for sale—marking a rare opportunity in the city’s commercial real estate market. (See Building)

➤ Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has filed a lawsuit against Priority Wrecker Service and its owner for unfair business practices, including threats and unauthorized vehicle seizures. (More)

➤ Whataburger will close four Middle Tennessee locations on Monday as part of a business review, while continuing expansion in other parts of the Nashville area. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Upgrade your kitchen with this ultra-durable Titanium Cutting Board from TIBO, designed to resist scratches, odors, and bacteria. Its sleek, non-porous surface protects your knives while offering unbeatable stability for everyday prep. Easy to clean and built to last, it’s the premium board serious home cooks swear by. (LEARN MORE)

Flying together with our sponsor

Remove the target on your back

Scammers don’t need to hack you — they just buy your info.

Your name, phone number, and address are currently on dozens of public websites, making you an easy target for phishing, fake calls, and financial fraud.

Incogni automatically scrubs your personal data from those sites so scammers can’t find you. Or get their Unlimited plan and send their privacy experts links to websites that aren’t covered by their automatic removals.

No data, no scam.

Protect yourself today — save 55% with code FLYOVER.

➤ Researchers rediscovered the greater chestnut weevil, believed to be extinct since 1997, thanks to citizen-submitted photo. (See Weevil)

➤ The Nashville Zoo introduced twin servals named Xander and Theo, born Oct. 26 and raised through the zoo’s first co-rearing program, which pairs young animals with their mother and other species. (See Kittens)

➤ Bob Dylan will perform at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium on April 14 during his Rough and Rowdy Ways tour, with tickets available Friday at 10 a.m. (See Ticket Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Stop Your Declining Bone Density (Without Pills). Worried about your latest DEXA scan results? While most doctors immediately reach for prescription medications, breakthrough research has uncovered a natural protein that’s changing everything we thought we knew about bone health after 50. Even more intriguing? This overlooked nutrient doesn’t just support your bones – it helps maintain the crucial matrix that keeps them strong. What thousands of adults are discovering about their bone density could change how we approach aging. (Learn more)

What sits on top of your Christmas tree?

Previous Results:

What sport did you play in school?

None: 18%
Basketball: 17%
Football: 17%
Other (reply to tell us!): 17%
Soccer: 16%
Swimming: 15%

Which Bob Dylan song is the legendary musician’s line of Tennessee whiskey named after?

Show me the answer

Unsubscribe (Step One)

The Tennessee Flyover
6688 Nolensville Rd
Ste 108 #2027
Brentwood, TN 37027

Thursday, December 11, 2025

Thursday, December 11, 2025

Weekend Brings Expected Cold Snap

Cracker Barrel Loses Millions Over Logo

Vols Signee Launches Holiday Toy Drive

One Email. All The Tennessee News.

Get Informed About The Volunteer State In 5 Minutes.

One Email. All The Tennessee News.

Get Informed About The Volunteer State In 5 Minutes.