Garth Brooks Featured on ‘Tennessee Vacation Guide’ Cover

Tennessee Ambassador of Goodwill Garth Brooks is featured on the cover of 2017’s Official Tennessee Vacation Guide, which is available to travelers and guests, offering them ideas and ways to experience the Volunteer State. On the cover, Brooks is shown on the stage of the Ryman Auditorium on the guide in celebration of the Ryman’s 125th Anniversary this year.

Brooks was named an official Tennessee Ambassador of Goodwill by Governor Bill Haslam in October 2016, in honor of his becoming the first artist in music history to earn seven Diamond Awards, recognizing seven albums selling 10 million or more copies each from the Recording Industry Association of America. October was also the first time in Brooks’ career that he had ever performed at the Ryman. 

“Two icons. That is what we have here,” said Commissioner Kevin Triplett, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. “On one hand, Garth Brooks, a seven-Diamond artist and without question one of the greatest ambassadors the state of Tennessee could have. On the other, The Ryman, one of the world’s most famous music destinations. It is an honor to have both grace the cover of this year’s Tennessee Vacation Guide. It is a banner year for Tennessee in 2017 in which we celebrate no fewer than a dozen notable music anniversaries. That includes the 60^th anniversaries of STAX Records in Memphis and RCA’s famed Studio B in Nashville, the 75^th anniversary of the song ‘Chattanooga Choo Choo,’ and the 50^th anniversary of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. All further evidence the soundtrack of America is made in Tennessee.”

More than 550,000 guides are available to inspire potential guests to book a trip to Tennessee. The guide is available free of charge at any of Tennessee’s 14 Welcome Centers or by calling 1-800-GO2-TENN (462-8366), and can also be ordered or downloaded online at www.tnvacation.com/guide.

• Author
• Recent Posts

Lorie Hollabaugh

Hollabaugh, a staff writer at MusicRow magazine, has over 20 years of music business experience and has written for publications including American Profile, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts And Entertainment, The Boot and Country Weekly. She has a Broadcast Journalism and Speech Communication degree from Texas Christian University, (go Horned Frogs), and welcomes your feedback or story ideas at lhollabaugh@musicrow.com.

Latest posts by Lorie Hollabaugh (see all)

• Industry Ink: Mac McAnally, Joe Nichols, Bobby Bones, The Listening Room, More - September 15, 2026
• Sam Bush & Sierra Hull To Co-Host IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards In October - September 15, 2026
• Priscilla Block Kicks Off New Career Chapter As An Indie Artist - September 15, 2026