Re Acuff's political career:

After twice declining the invitation, in 1944 and 1946, Acuff was finally persuaded to run for state governor in 1948. He stood as a Republican and although he failed to be elected, he polled more votes than any previous Republican candidate in Tennessee. He later said, "I could have won, if I had run as a Democrat, been a puppet and made campaign promises." He took defeat with no regrets, saying, "As a Governor I would have been just another politician. As a singer I can be Roy Acuff"

Murray