This East Tennessee native will appear on the 'Jeopardy!' semi-finals: How to watch

Tennessee local for 600, please.

East Tennessee native Brian Henegar will compete during the "Jeopardy!" semifinals airing Monday. The LaFollette resident first appeared on the show in April last year and later won big during the show's Tournament of Champions quarterfinals against Stephen Webb and Josh Saak on March 1.

Henegar shared with the Tennessean that it feels amazing to have advanced this far in a program he's been watching since he was 2 years old.

He said his "pie-in-the-sky" goal was to win at least one game, that way he could call himself a "Jeopardy!" champion. Everything that followed has been a bonus in his mind, he said.

"Winning three games and making it to the semifinals of the Tournament of Champions was beyond my wildest dreams," he said. "I keep reminding myself that this is all real, and I thank God every day for this amazing opportunity. I’m riding the wave and enjoying every moment of this incredible experience."

Preparing for 'Jeopardy!'

As a child, Alex Trebek was Henegar's unofficial teacher.

Henegar's mother, Sharon, said that Henegar learned the alphabet from watching "Wheel of Fortune" and learned how to talk by mimicking Trebek. Two decades ago, Henegar began taking the online test to qualify for "Jeopardy!" and his father, David, consistently prayed that he would have a chance to compete one day.

Henegar calls himself a Jeopardy! "fanboy" and even makes a Christmas-themed "Jeopardy!" game for his family every December.

Henegar has been preparing for the show since he was a teenager; he's watched the show nearly every day since then. He said watching the show is a great way to prepare because you learn the best way to read and interpret the clues and how they are constructed, along with a general understanding of the topics the show focuses on.

"I watched every day with a pen in hand pressing the clicker to simulate buzzing in. I also played online games with friends and read trivia books," he said. "I even wrote quizzes for my friends to practice learning how “Jeopardy!” clues are constructed."

Henegar said he believes it was a combination of all his methods which allowed him to succeed on the show.

Brian Henegar shares tribute to truckers

Henegar has worked with North American truck stop company Pilot Travel Centers LLC for over six years where he is currently a guest services agent. During his final victorious game in 2023, he paid a moving tribute to truckers as “the people that keep this country moving.”

“When you work at Pilot, you realize how important truck drivers are to this country. I wanted to make sure that they got a shoutout," he said after his winning streak. "Because without them, I wouldn’t have a job, and we wouldn’t have a country.”

During his time with Pilot, Henegar has spoken to many truck drivers and has learned to understand and appreciate the work they do and how vital they are to the country.

"In my opinion, they don’t get enough credit for all they do to keep our nation moving," he said.

How to watch the 'Jeopardy!' semifinals

Henegar said he is blessed beyond words to know that he has so many people from his home state cheering him on. He encourages those who are interested in participating in the iconic game show to try their hand and apply online.

"I am living proof that you can do this," he said. "I promise, it’s the best experience and allows you to make memories that last a lifetime.

Davidson County residents are able to tune in to the "Jeopardy!" semifinals at 5 p.m. CDT on FOX 17. Showtimes depend on location, to see how you can watch, visit jeopardy.com. Fans are also able to stream "Jeopardy!" with Pluto TV.

Diana Leyva covers trending news and service for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @_leyvadiana

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How to watch Tennessean Brian Henegar compete in 'Jeopardy!' semifinals