1. In 1836, Tennessee was the first state in the United States to enshrine in its constitution that the right to vote was vested in every white man of voting age, regardless of property ownership or taxpaying status.
2. On April 21, 1930, the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled that the teaching of evolution in public schools is a violation of state law. This decision, known as the Scopes Trial, put Tennessee at the center of the national debate over the teaching of evolution.
3. The Memphis Belle, a legendary World War II bomber, made its final flight on April 21, 1945. The plane became famous for completing 25 missions over Europe, the first American bomber to do so, and was the subject of a documentary film directed by William Wyler.
4. On April 21, 1960, Country Music legend Johnny Cash played a concert at the State Penitentiary in Nashville, Tennessee. The concert was recorded and later released as the album "Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison", which is considered one of the greatest live albums of all time.
5. April 21, 2016, marked the 5th anniversary of the tornado outbreak that struck Tennessee on April 27, 2011. The storm system produced 39 tornadoes across the state, causing 33 fatalities, hundreds of injuries, and billions of dollars in property damage. The outbreak remains one of the deadliest and costliest in Tennessee history.