Lived in JC for about 8 years… spent almost 2 years (until I moved last year) traveling between Knoxville and JC on most weekends to visit the BF (now hubby) at college in Knox, so I feel your pain! (I much preferred to take the highway through Jonesboro/Greeneville, much more scenic and relaxing than I-81 and less mileage too.)  Most restaurants in JC are chains, unfortunately.  There is a place in Unicoi, about 15 minutes south of JC on I-26, called Clarences – it’s down-home country cooking that we’ve always enjoyed.  Other than that, the Cracker Barrel is the only “country breakfast” I know of around there… Might check in Jonesboro, although a few of their downtown restaurants are closed now, they might still have a cafe or two that serves breakfast.  Best of luck!
 
Oh, and although it’s not breakfast, if you haven’t tried Cootie Brown’s in JC, you ought to head over there for lunch or dinner sometime – it’s one of the city’s best restaurants, IMHO!