A new species of darter in the genus Etheostoma (Teleostei: Percidae) and subgenus Nothonotus is described from the upper Tennessee River. The new species closely resembles Etheostoma tippecanoe and was historically regarded as a distinct population. The presence of 1-4 scales on the cheek, a light transverse bar directly anterior to the dorsal-fin origin, and fewer scales in the lateral series distinguishes the new species from E. tippecanoe.