This statue of Elvis welcomes folks at the Tennessee Welcome Center in Memphis. | Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Did you know we’re in the middle of Elvis Week? The occasion is spearheaded by Graceland and honors the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll on the anniversary of his death — 2025 will mark 48 years since he died.
Much of Elvis’ Tennessee legacy is attributed to Memphis because of Graceland, but don’t think Knoxville is out of the mix. In the early 1950s, it’s believed a record producer heard Elvis playing at a shop named Bell Sales Music in Market Square and purchased copies of the song. This helped the singer get signed, and there’s a historic marker honoring that store’s role in Elvis’ career.
Elvis also had three notable performances in Knoxville, each time at Stokely Athletics Center. The first concert took place on April 8, 1972, and the second March 15, 1974.
The last local show was May 20, 1977, but once Elvis had left the building, fans didn’t know this would be his final show in Knoxville. The singer shockingly died months later on Aug. 16, 1977.
Asked
Asked
Which of these singers was not born in Knoxville?
A. Gretchen Wilson B. Rodney Atkins C. Kenny Chesney D. Kelsea Ballerini
Wednesday Night Karaoke | 6:30-9:30 p.m. | Ashe’s Bearden Beer Market | Free | Grab a pint, take the mic, and sing your heart out.
Thursday, August 14
A Tribute To ABBA | 7:30 p.m. | Tennessee Theatre | $47+ | “Gimme, Gimme, Gimme” some of ABBA’s biggest hits sung by this tribute band.
Paper Art | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Burlington Branch Library | Free | Get in the fold as instructor Susan Bernard will demonstrate crafts like quilling, jewelry-making, book folding, and baskets.
UT Soccer vs. North Carolina | 7-9 p.m. | Regal Soccer Stadium | Free | Kick off the semester as the Lady Vols take on the Tar Heels.
Friday, August 15
Knoxville Tattoo Convention | 2-7 p.m. | World’s Fair Exhibition Hall | $26 | Over 200 tattoo artists from across the country will be in town for this convention.
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Be prepared for delays this week on Alcoa Highway. The Tennessee Department of Transportation will require roadblocks for rock excavation and clearing activities between Woodson Drive + Cherokee Trail. The efforts will occur through Saturday, Aug. 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (WBIR)
Development
Muse Knoxville announced plans to discover new territory. The local science museum will expand to the historic Jacob Building, aiming to be completed by 2028. The effort is partially supported by a $25 million donation that will help the space grow from 10,000 sqft to approx. 57,000 sqft. (WBIR)
Number
$84,016. That’s the annual income you need to be able to afford a home in Knoxville, based on a recent guide by MarketWatch. This assessment used the typical home value of $361,367, which was collected using Zillow data from April 2025.
Closing
Jewelry chain Claire’s has filed for bankruptcy, and a local store will be an accessory to this decision. The location at Pinnacle at Turkey Creek is one of the 13 US stores slated to close. Sales are set to conclude by Sunday, Sept. 7. (USA TODAY)
Listen
Mayor Indya Kincannon wants to kick it and learn from Knoxvillians through her new, monthly podcast “Kickin’ It with Kincannon.” The first episode features a discussion with local students to help the mayor better understand what it’s like to head back to school in 2025.
Trending
A local Red Lobster has quite a lobster tale to tell. The restaurant discovered a pregnant lobster in its tank during a wellness check that had already self-isolated. After being found, the egg-bearing crustacean was safely returned to Maine. (WBIR)
Community
Local history enthusiast George Kemp has been leading efforts to clean up + preserve Good Citizens Cemetery. WBIR reporter Lauren Davis learned more about the ways Kemp’s efforts remember local African American history and how volunteers have helped. (WBIR)
Sports
The Titans are preparing to face the Atlanta Falcons for a preseason game on Saturday, but their performance during practice also matters. Hear from the local experts on the Tennessee Titans with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Games
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
Elvis’ love for music was greatly impacted by his first guitar, and it’s never too late to learn to play. You could check out options at a local store like Open Chord Music Shop, and there are other instruments if you’d rather march to a different beat.
