March 22, 2022
By: Dwayne Page
“I’ll Leave My Heart in Tennessee” by Grand Ole Opry stars Dailey & Vincent and written by Karen Staley is now an official state song of Tennessee after legislation sponsored by Sen. Paul Bailey (R-Sparta) and Rep. John Windle (D-Livingston) was signed into law by Gov. Bill Lee earlier this month.
“This song is a beautiful love letter to Tennessee and reminds me how lucky I am to live here,” said Sen. Bailey. “I can’t think of a more fitting song to represent our state.”
Group members Jamie Dailey, Darrin Vincent and Ben James were joined by Karen Staley and their producer, Paul Worley, to perform the song in both the Senate and House chambers last month.
“When they performed the song before the House, all of the members were visibly moved,” said Rep. Windle. “It’s a beautiful tune and I’m proud we have added it to the list of songs representing this great state.”
Darren Vincent said: “We’ve played ‘I’ll Leave My Heart in Tennessee’ on the road for quite some time, and every time it’s gotten an overwhelming reaction. We recently recorded it, and we’re honored the recording has made history and become an official state song.”
“We’d especially like to thank Senator Paul Bailey and Brandy Foust, Representative John Mark Windle, Representative Terry Lynn Weaver, and the entire House and Senate for their interest in and support of this song,” added Jamie Dailey.
ABOUT DAILEY & VINCENT:
Grand Ole Opry Members, five-time GRAMMY® Award winners individually, three-time GRAMMY® Award nominees collectively, four-time DOVE Award winners and winners of 35 IBMA Awards altogether (including 3-time IBMA Entertainer of the Year Award winners and 3-Time Vocal Group of the Year Award winners), Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent (and their world-class band) offer a unique and modernized spin on ‘American music’ – “the best of country, bluegrass and gospel this side of heaven” (USA Today) – the duo has played across the globe, taking the stage at iconic venues including the Ryman Auditorium and Carnegie Hall. Now on Season 5 of their nationally broadcast television series, The Dailey & Vincent Show on the Circle Network, Dailey & Vincent bring their music to a national audience on a weekly basis. After a decade spent performing together and with over 1,000 airings of their PBS special Dailey & Vincent ALIVE – In Concert, their concoction of fantastically instinctive vocal blends of Dailey’s tenor and Vincent’s reedy harmonies has gained them well-deserved praise for their own distinctive style and worldwide recognition as American music gold. Their most recent live CD, “Dailey & Vincent ALIVE,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Bluegrass charts and remained at the top position for over 15 weeks. Dailey & Vincent’s first-ever Christmas album, “Dailey & Vincent: The Sounds of Christmas” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Bluegrass chart and No. 8 on the Billboard Holiday Chart, landing right behind Michael Bublé and Pentatonix as the only country, bluegrass and gospel act in the Top Ten.