Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-25-205

Any person appearing before the register for the purpose of making a release or partial release of any lien, on the margin opposite any such instrument of record in any book in the registry, shall produce and exhibit to the register, at the time of applying for such release, the original note or other instrument evidencing the indebtedness secured by the lien, or file an affidavit excusing the production thereof upon the ground that same has been lost, destroyed or mislaid, unintentionally.