Where to find famous graves in Nashville

George Jones Gravesite - photo by Jessica Bray

When you think of Nashville, you think of the sights and sounds of tourist attractions.  However, what lies beneath the city are those country music legends that are no longer with us today.  There are several cemeteries throughout Nashville that welcome fans and even have information available to help locate famous graves.

Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton contains a funeral home, mausoleum, and cemetery off Thompson Lane.  One of the neat features is a replica of the Christ Tomb within the great Cross Mausoleum.  Visitors are encouraged to view the special memorial between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm every day.  Tours can be conducted on an individual or group basis.

Something interesting to note is that Tammy Wynette's grave in the mausoleum originally had her stage name, Tammy Wynette, on it.  Then it was changed by her husband to Virginia Richardson.  In 2015, Georgette Jones, the daughter of George Jones & Tammy Wynette, was able to restore it back to Tammy Wynette.

Virginia W. Richardson, better known as Tammy Wynette Gravesite in 2014 - photo by Jessica Bray

Tammy Wynette Grave in 2016 with name restored back to her stage name - photo by Jessica Bray

Buried in Woodlawn Cemetery are the following:

Garden of the Grand Tour: George Jones, Johnny Paycheck, Rob Bironas, Billy Sherrill, Jerry Chesnut

Sunset Garden A: Dan Seals

Sermon on the Mount: Roy Orbison, Claudette Orbison, Anthony Orbison

Garden of the Good Shepherd: Red Stovine, Brock Speer

Chapel Garden F: William Owen Bradley

Chapel Garden H: Eddy and Sally Arnold

Companion Garden A: Thomas Lee Jackson

Garden of Gethsemane: Marty Robbins, Webb Pierce, Larrie Londin, Willard Mack Vickery

Garden of Time: Mel Street

Garden of Prayer: Hattie L. Bess aka "Tootsie"

Garden of Everlasting Life: Porter Waggoner, Dale Cooper (Stoney Cooper), Doobie Gray

Graceland Garden: Clyde Foley aka "Red Foley"

Lakeside Garden: Groover Lavender aka "Shorty Lavender"

Cross Mausoleum

1st Floor: Replica of Christ Tomb

2nd Floor - Right Hall: Jack Strap

3rd Floor - Left Hall: Boudleaux & Felice Bryant, Jerry "Reed" Hubbard, Dottie Rambo, Van Stephenson, Tammy Wynette, Little Jimmy Dickens, Jim Ed Brown, Lynn Anderson, Liz Anderson

3rd Floor - Right Hall: JD Sumner, Gordon Stroker, Otis Blackwell, Ernie Ashworth

4th Floor - Left Hall: Paul Glaser

Lynn Anderson Grave - photo by Jessica Bray

Little Jimmy Dickens' Grave - photo by Jessica Bray

Since 1785, Spring Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery has been a Nashville landmark. Located at 5110 Gallatin Road at Briley Parkway, the cemetery is home to many notable grave sites. Among those buried include Roy Acuff, Hank Snow, George Morgan, Keith Whitley, Gilbert “Speck” Rhodes, Floyd Cramer, Jimmy Martin, John Hartford, Dean Manuel, Clifton Beverly Briley, Bunny Biggs, Billy Walker, Pete Drake, Louise Scruggs, Johnny Wright, and more.

Jimmy Martin gravesite - photo by Jessica Bray

Keith Whitley's gravesite - photo by Jessica Bray

Roy Acuff - photo by Jessica Bray

On up the road in Hendersonville, you can visit the resting place of Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, Mother Maybelle Carter, Merle Kilgore, Johnny Russell, Luther Perkins, and more at the Hendersonville Memorial Gardens.

Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash Graves - photo by Jessica Bray

In Gallatin, you can visit Conway Twitty in the Sumner Memorial Gardens. Be sure to look for Harold Jenkins in the outside mausoleum.

Conway Twitty gravesiite - photo by Jessica Bray

Originally known as “The Voice,” Vern Gosdin is located at the Mount Olivet Cemetery in Nashville.

Vern Gosdin gravesite - photo by Jessica Bray

Even in death, many country music celebrities still make an impact in others’ lives as they pay their respects to these legends

T.G. Sheppard releases musical piece of history with duets album

Today, country music singer TG Sheppard has released one of the best duet collections that preserve country music and gospel music heritage. With “Legendary Friends & Country Duets,”country music fans receive a musical journey that has been many years in the making. TG Sheppard recently spoke with Kentucky Country Music in regards to the album, as well as those that he worked with.

With those listed on the album, you have the legends like Jerry Lee Lewis, as well as those that have passed away. This album is definitely a musical piece in history.

I think that is what I was striving for. I’m glad that you recognized that. One of the main reasons to do this project was every time I do a concert, during the autograph line a few will mention that they are glad that I’m still touring. They love the older country, the classic country, and they wish they could hear some of the ones that they really grew up listening to. I kept thinking why don’t I try to bring everyone together for one project and give back to the people that they have been wanting? That was one of the catalysts that made me want to do this.

One of the interesting duets is that with Conway Twitty on “Why Me Lord?” How did you create this duet considering that Conway passed away years ago?

Conway and I were dear friends. We were in business together as businessmen invested in things. I didn’t want to do an album without Conway being involved somehow. I’d always wanted to record with him and he and I talked about recording together so many times. Life got in the way and it never happened. So when it came time to do a legendary friends and country duets project, I said, ‘How am I going to do this without destroying anything that he’s done with his version?’ So I went to the estate and family and got the blessings of everyone. I said, ‘I want to take Conway’s vocal, but I want to build an entirely new track. I don’t want to do anything to his version because to me, that’s hollow ground. I would love to go into the studio and build a whole new track and then sing this with Conway.’

The strangest thing happened the night that I went into the studio. I had come in off the road. It was very late and I put the headphones on in the studio. I walked up to the mic and I heard his voice in my headphones and the tears started flowing. At that moment I knew I made the right moment to do this because I felt his presence so strong. I heard his voice and I felt his presence; I really did. It was a very magical moment and I don’t know if I’ll ever live that moment again. I was with him again for just an hour or so.

Conway was one of the most gentle people I have ever known. He was so consistent in his friendship with me. It never wavered; it always stayed the same from the day we met until he passed. It was very special to have him on this album.

Another legend that is on the album that is no longer with us is George Jones.

I was very lucky to catch George Jones before he passed. This album took a long time to happen. George came into the studio and met me. We recorded “It’s a Man Thing.” That was a real treat. Then George died shortly after that.

How did you match the song with each particular duet partner for the album?

That was the hardest part, matching the singers and getting the right key for everyone to sing in because everyone’s range is different. So my record producer, who is a great producer that has worked with every major act in the world, just submitted a ton of songs. Lo and behold, the songs he picked were some of the songs that my wife, Kelly Lang, had written. Some of the artists that was on the project, we had co-written prior to ever doing the album. They just kind of happened.

What was the hardest part of the project?

The hardest part of the project was scheduling and catching the artists at the proper time where they could record, or come into the studio with you. It was very difficult to try to get the key picked that everyone was comfortable in. I let each artist pick their own key and I sang with whatever key they were comfortable with. It just seemed to work. Everybody’s range seemed to fit in together. The project was just very magical.

I have to pinch myself every day to say, ‘did I really do that?’ It really fills me up on the inside of my heart because it was always something missing. I know that number one records are great and make you feel good, but I never had that feeling of completion and validation in my career and life until I was able to sit down and listen to this album. Then I realized that I was validated and it filled me up. These people thought enough of me to come and do it. I felt like I had achieved something in my career.

Country music fans should definitely pick up a copy of TG Sheppard’s latest album. For more information on TG, as well as where to see him perform live, be sure to visit www.tgsheppard.com.