1. On February 9, 1861, the Tennessee General Assembly voted against seceding from the Union, with a vote of 68-48. However, the state eventually did secede on June 8, 1861, following the outbreak of the Civil War.

2. On February 9, 1936, Nashville became the first city in the United States to have an FM radio station when W47NV began broadcasting. The station eventually became WSM-FM, which is still on the air today.

3. On February 9, 1960, the first recording session for the legendary country singer Patsy Cline took place at the Bradley Studio in Nashville. Cline would go on to become one of the most well-known female country musicians of all time.

4. On February 9, 1971, the Tennessee Supreme Court struck down the state's death penalty statute, ruling that it was unconstitutional. The decision was later overturned, and the death penalty was reinstated in Tennessee in 1974.

5. On February 9, 1983, the Tennessee House of Representatives voted to make the tomato the official state fruit. Despite the fact that tomatoes are technically a fruit, many people consider them to be a vegetable.