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As you've already heard...yes, men in their 50's did enlist, although it wasn't terribly common.
Although you said your man was from TN, you didn't mention which army you think he served in. TN was a border state, and raised regiments for both armies. So, first thing to remember is to look in both armies. In rare cases, in fact, I've found men who enlisted and served in BOTH armies, at different times.
Second thing to remember is that if an overage man enlisted (in either army), the age shown on his army records will be wrong. The maximum age for service in the Union army was 44. Men over that age weren't accepted. Theoretically, at least. But men over 44 who wanted to enlist could get quite inventive when the recruiter asked the "age?" question. Most said they were 44, regardless of their actual age. And recruiters virtually never questioned it. Two legs...two arms...sign here. In fact, my experience suggests that whenever you find a Union soldier whose age is given as 44, you should be suspicious. This, of course, makes the task of modern day genealogists more difficult. Normally, you find a soldier who enlisted in/near the right place, has the right name, and is the right age, and you're fairly sure of your ID. In this case, though, you're looking for a soldier with the right name, who enlisted in the right place, but is the WRONG age.
All the above applies to Union soldiers. The maximum enlistment age for Confederates was...different. 45, I think. But I'm less sure of that.
Finally, the man's actual service can provide a hint. The rigours of field service were especially trying for older men. Many of these older men ended up being assigned to less demanding duties - teamters, hospital orderlies, and the like. Also, many did not serve out their entire enlistments. Be especially suspicious of a soldier whose age on enlistment was 44, who was discharged (or transferred to the Invalid Corps) 18 months into a 3 year enlistment, and who seems to have spent most of his enlistment driving a wagon or working in a hospital. Of course, MANY - probably most - men fitting that description really were what they said they were. But be suspicious.
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