Written by Redd Stewart and Pee Wee King in 1947, popularized by Patti Page and by Les Paul and Mary Ford in 1950. Country legend Roy Accuff recorded the song before either of these artists, however. In more recent years, a number of country artists have recorded the song, among them Emmylou Harris in 1981. The Page recording was issued by Mercury Records as catalogue number 5534, and first reached the Billboard pop music chart on November 10, 1950, lasting 30 weeks and peaking at #1. It also reached #2 on the Billboard country music chart. The song became Patti Page's biggest hit and has received many awards.

It is inconceivable that Elvis didn't hear Patti Page's Tennessee Waltz. No one alive in 1951 could have missed it. When Patti's husband, Charlie O'Curran, choreographed some of Elvis' movies, Elvis got to meet her. He told her, as he told many established artists, that she was his favourite. We've often heard that Elvis knew thousands of songs, but, as is the case here, only bits of thousands of songs.