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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

                                 June 15, 2001

Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20549

                  Re:      LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.
                           Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel to LifePoint Hospitals, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the preparation of a
registration statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") to be filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to 1,700,000 shares of
Common Stock, $.01 par value, of the Company (the "Shares") issuable pursuant to
the terms of the Company's 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "Plan").

         In connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied upon such
records, documents and other instruments as in our judgment are necessary and
appropriate in order to express the opinions hereinafter set forth and have
assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents
submitted to us as originals, and the conformity to original documents of all
documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies.

         Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares, to the
extent actually issued pursuant to the Plan and in the manner and on the terms
described in the Plan, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.

                                    Very truly yours,





                                    /s/ Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis,
                                    A Professional Limited Liability Company