Can you be vegan from Memphis to New Orleans?

My friend and I are soon taking a road trip from Memphis to New Orleans -- woo hoo! But everyone's made out that it will be impossible even to get vegetarian food, never mind vegan food *anywhere* in the American south (I am from Melbourne Australia). Is every vegetable and every french fry really cooked in bacon? Will eating be hell on earth? What will I eat? Nice, helpful answers only please :-)