Notable Miss Tennessee winners
The first, and perhaps most famous, Miss Tennessee was Barbara Jo Walker. Walker, who represented Memphis, went on to be crowned Miss America in 1947. As a side note, Walker — later known as Barbara Jo Walker Hummel — was the mother of musician Andy Hummel, bassist for Memphis Music Hall of Fame band Big Star.
It would be another 40 years before a Miss Tennessee would again win Miss America. In 1987, Kellye Cash, also representing Memphis, earned the 1987 Miss America title. She, too, had a Memphis music connection: She is the great-niece of Johnny Cash. Kellye Cash would go on to a musical career of her own as a gospel and country artist.