Editing Bristol, Virginia (section)

==Culture==
=== "Birthplace of Country Music" ===
[[File:Rhythm ^ Roots (and FlickrFriday) - Flickr - danielgrogan.jpg|thumb|2021 Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion festival]]
Bristol was recognized as the "Birthplace of Country Music", according to a resolution passed by the US Congress in 1998;<ref>{{cite book|last1=Phillips|first1=V.N. (Bud)|title=A good place to live : Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia|date=2006|publisher=Overmountain Press|location=Johnson City, Tenn.|isbn=9781570723148|page=211|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Bi528RDRdBIC&pg=PA211|access-date=14 June 2016}}</ref> residents of the city had contributed to early [[country music]] recordings and influence, and the [[Birthplace of Country Music Museum]] is located in Bristol.

In 1927 record producer [[Ralph Peer]] of Victor Records began recording local musicians in Bristol to attempt to capture the local sound of traditional "folk" music of the region. One of these local sounds was created by the [[Carter Family]]. The Carter Family got their start on July 31, 1927, when A.P. Carter and his family journeyed from [[Maces Spring, Virginia]], to Bristol, Tennessee, to audition for Peer who was seeking new talent for the relatively embryonic recording industry. They received $50 for each song they recorded.

On the early hours of January 1, 1953, [[Hank Williams]] stopped in Bristol during some of the last moments of his life. He was being driven to a concert in [[Canton, Ohio]] by Charles Carr. Carr stopped outside a hamburger joint today named Burger Bar and asked Williams if he wanted to eat, to which Williams responded negatively.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=VICE |date=2017-02-28 |title=Inside the Burger Restaurant Where Hank Williams Uttered His Last Words |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/inside-the-burger-restaurant-where-hank-williams-uttered-his-last-words/ |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=Vice |language=en}}</ref>

Since 1994, the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance has promoted the city as a destination to learn about the history of the region and its role in the creation of an entire music genre. The Alliance is organizing the building of a new Cultural Heritage Center to help educate the public about the history of country music in the region.<ref>{{cite web|title=Birthplace of Country Music|url=http://www.birthplaceofcountrymusic.org/|access-date=16 April 2015}}</ref>

=== Professional sports ===
Bristol hosted the [[Bristol Pirates]] baseball team of the [[Appalachian League]] from 1969 to 2020. In conjunction with a contraction of [[Minor League Baseball]] beginning with the 2021 season, the Appalachian League was reorganized as a [[Collegiate summer baseball|collegiate summer baseball league]], and the Pirates were replaced by a new franchise named the [[Bristol State Liners]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Bristol State Liners announced as newest entry in Appalachian League|url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/bristol-state-liners-announced-as-newest-entry-in-appalachian-leag|website=Major League Baseball|date=February 1, 2021|access-date=February 16, 2021}}</ref> in the revamped league designed for rising college freshman and sophomores.<ref>{{cite web|title=MLB, USA Baseball Announce New Format for Appalachian League|url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-mlb-usa-baseball-announce-new-format-for-appalachian-league|website=Major League Baseball|date=September 29, 2020|access-date=September 29, 2020}}</ref>

Former [[NASCAR]] driver [[Kelly Denton]] is from the city.

On the Tennessee side, Bristol is home to [[Bristol Motor Speedway]], the "world's fastest half mile", which hosts two [[NASCAR Cup Series]] races, two races per year on the NASCAR [[Xfinity Series]] and one race per year on the [[Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series]], and various other racing events. The complex includes the [[Bristol Dragway]], nicknamed "Thunder Valley", referencing the hills that echo the engine noise back toward the crowd.