While such events as today’s have been held over the years in our state, in 1980, Nashville entrepreneur and former ambassador to France Joe M. Rodgers, led an ad hoc Citizens’ Committee that organized the Tennessee Prayer Breakfast in its present format. The breakfast became an annual event, drawing hundreds of participants annually from across the state in government, industry, education, religion, to name a few.
Past speakers have included the Honorable Bill Haslam and First Lady Crissy Haslam, Dr. Russell Moore, Gary Haugen, Franklin Graham, Richard Stearns, Michael W. Smith, Tom Landry, Charles Colson, Elizabeth Dole, Charles Swindoll, Anne Graham Lotz, Rachel Macy Stafford, Phil Vischer, Scott Hamilton and Chris Sanders.
Musical guests have included Chris Tomlin, Matthew West, Tom Douglas, Nicole C. Mullen, Michael W. Smith, Ellie Holcomb, Mandisa, Melinda Doolittle, Amy Grant, Allison Krauss, CeCe Winans, Larnelle Harris, Josh Turner, the Fisk Jubilee Singers, the Gaither Vocal Band, The Katinas, Rev. Lawrence Thomison, the Nashville Choir and Riley Clemmons.
