Ranked: Famous Celebrities From Every State
Published on August 26, 2019. Updated November 11, 2019Hollywood is full of celebrities from all walks of life and in all kinds of facets of the entertainment industry. While Canada takes pride in being the home land of stars such as Ryan Reynolds, Celine Dion, Ryan Gosling, Keanu Reeves, Rachel McAdams and more; in America, each state gets very protective and proud of the stars that come from there. Check out the biggest and most famous current celebrities from every state in the U.S.:
50. Alabama – Channing Tatum
Channing Matthew Tatum was born on April 26, 1980 in Cullman, Alabama. Despite the fact his family moved to Mississippi when he was six, he has always considered Alabama his home and is often representing the state with Alabama “Roll Tide” gear. He is often regarded as the biggest Alabama native turned Hollywood superstar and often returns to the state for special events and occasions. While he might be the biggest current star from the state, he has some close competition with stars like Lionel Richie, Courteney Cox, Octavia Spencer and more all hailing from Alabama.
Photo by J M Warren/SHM/REX/Shutterstock49. Alaska – Jewel
Not many stars have come from the northern state of Alaska, but many do know singer Jewel Kilcher. Technically, the singer was born in Payson, Utah but shortly after she was born her family moved to Anchorage, Alaska where her father was originally from. Jewel’s family including her father are featured on Discovery Channel’s Alaska: The Last Frontier. “We lived far from town. We had to walk 2 miles (3.2 km) just to get to the saddle barn I was raised in… No running water, no heat—we had a coal stove and an outhouse and we mainly lived off of what we could kill or can. We picked berries and made jam. We caught fish to freeze and had gardens and cattle to live on. I rode horses every day in the summer beneath the Alaskan midnight sun. I loved it there,” the singer said of her Alaskan upbringing. Other notable stars from Alaska include Curt Schilling, Irene Bedard, Darby Stanchfield, and the Palins.
Picture Perfect/REX/Shutterstock48. Arizona – Emma Stone
The hot, sunny state of Arizona has produced several Hollywood stars, and one of the biggest right now is actress Emma Stone. Emily Jean Stone, who later changed her name to Emma thanks to Spice Girls member Emma Bunton, was born on November 6, 1988 in Scottsdale, Arizona. She spent her entire childhood in Arizona before she moved with her mother to Los Angeles in 2005 to pursue her Hollywood dreams. While the actress is definitely a major celebrity to come from Arizona, she isn’t the only one! Some more popular stars from the state include: Lynda Carter, Hailey Bieber, Joe Jonas, Danielle Fishel, Jordin Sparks, and more.
(Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)47. Arkansas – Billy Bob Thornton
Billy Bob Thornton’s Hollywood career has taken him many different places, but it all started in Arkansas. The actor was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas and his family moved around to many locations within the state over the course of his childhood. He was raised mostly in his grandmother’s cabin that had no electricity or plumbing. “Well, I came from a big family and we would all gather at my grandmother’s house out in the woods there where I lived the first six or seven years of my life. And you know, the family came in from Texas, we had a lot of family there,” Thornton told ABC News in 2016. “We didn’t have a lot of money. But you know when you’re a kid you don’t know that. I mean you’re not aware of all of that kind of stuff.” More stars who hailed from Arkansas include: Mary Steenburgen, Johnny Cash, Bill Clinton, Ne-Yo and John Grisham.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Gregory Pace/BEI/Shutterstock46. California – Meghan Markle
Before she was the Duchess of Sussex married to Prince Harry and a part of the British royal family, Rachel Meghan Markle was a Los Angeles, California native. Like many who grow up in the home state of Hollywood, Markle had aspirations of fame and landed her biggest role as Rachel Zane in Suits before she began dating Prince Harry. Of course the amount of major stars from California is endless, and include, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Cher, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Jennifer Aniston, Ben Affleck, Clint Eastwood and many more.
Doug Peters/Press Association45. Colorado – Tim Allen
The state of Colorado is the location for many movies and it is the also the birthplace of beloved actor Tim Allen. The Home Improvement and Toy Story star was born Timothy Alan Dick in Denver, Colorado on June 13, 1953. Although his mother moved the family to Michigan following Allen’s father’s death in 1964, the actor has always had a special place in his heart for Colorado including basing his latest show, Last Man Standing in the state. Aside from the incredible star, other celebrities who have come from the state are Zachery Ty Bryan, Melissa Benoist, Kelly Bishop, David Fincher, T.J. Miller, and Trey Parker.
EPA/NINA PROMMER44. Connecticut – Seth MacFarlane
Seth MacFarlane is a very multi-talented man in Hollywood. He is an actor, animator, filmmaker, comedian and TV series creator, and he comes from Connecticut! MacFarlane was born and raised in Kent, Connecticut where he went to high school at the preparatory school where his dad was a teacher and his mother was the Guidance and Admissions officer. MacFarlane isn’t the only star to leave Connecticut in the search of Hollywood fame however. Katharine Hepburn. Paul Giamatti, Glenn Close, Justin Long, Meg Ryan and more are all from the state!
Photo by MediaPunch/REX Shutterstock43. Delaware – Ryan Phillippe
Ryan Phillippe may be most known for his roles in the late ’90s and early 2000’s, but he is still one of the hottest actors of today. Matthew Ryan Phillippe is one of a few stars who comes from the state of Delaware where he was born in New Castle. His mother ran a local daycare and his father was a chemist, and he spent his entire childhood in the state before graduating from New Castle Christian Academy in Wilmington, Delaware. Other notable stars from Delaware included Aubrey Plaza, Elisabeth Shue and John Gallagher Jr.
Photo by Patrick Lewis/Starpix/REX/Shutterstock42. Florida – Ariana Grande
At this point, Ariana Grande is one of the biggest pop stars in the world, and her beginnings started in Florida! Ariana Grande-Butera was born in Boca Raton, Florida and grew up performing with the Fort Lauderdale Children’s Theater. She also performed with many orchestras including South Florida’s Philharmonic and Florida Sunshine Pops and Symphonic Orchestras. While she was born and raised in Florida, at only 13 she left her home state to pursue fame in Los Angeles. More stars from Florida include: Pitbull, Jason Derulo, Sarah Paulson, Josh Gad, Maya Rudolph, Wilmer Valderrama, Abigail Spencer, Chrissy Metz, Eva Mendes, Norman Reedus, and Bella Thorne.
Photo by Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock41. Georgia – Julia Roberts
Julia Roberts is a timeless celebrity whose fame never seems to fade. While she rocked the ’90s as one of the biggest rom-com actresses out there, she has turned in many incredible performances over the years, and it all started in Georgia. The actress was born in Smyrna, Georgia where her parents co-founded the Atlanta Actors and Writers Workshop and ran a children’s acting school in Decatur, Georgia. While Roberts graduated from Smyrna Campbell High School and went on to attend Georgia State University, she did not graduate, and instead went to NYC to pursue acting. Some other stars from Georgia are: Kelly Rowland, Dakota and Elle Fanning, Ed Helms, Chloë Grace Moretz, Raven-Symoné, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Kanye West,and Ray Charles.
(Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)40. Hawaii – Jason Momoa
Hawaii has been the location for numerous movies and series, but it is also the home state for many celebrities including Aquaman himself Jason Momoa. Joseph Jason Namakaeha Momoa was born in Nankuli, Honolulu, Hawaii but while he was young his parents split and his mother moved him to Norwalk, Iowa where he was raised. Despite being raised in Iowa, Momoa returned to Hawaii after leaving Colorado State University to reconnect with his father and Hawaii. He was soon spotted by a modeling agency and in 1999 was named Hawaii’s Model of the Year. Honorable mentions from Hawaii include: Bruno Mars, Jack Johnson, Carrie Ann Inaba, Janel Parrish, Timothy Olyphant, Bette Midler, Auli’i Cravalho, Tia Carrere, and Hoku.
Photo by Lionel Hahn/ABACAPRESS.COM39. Idaho – Aaron Paul
Aaron Paul Sturtevant was born in Emmett, Idaho before he was one of TV’s biggest stars as Jesse Pinkman on Breaking Bad. The actor was not only born in Idaho but was raised there and graduated from Centennial High School in Boise in 1997. He didn’t stay in Idaho for long after his high school graduation however, and immediately drove to Los Angeles with his mother and all the money in his savings account. While the actor is perhaps the biggest known star right now from Idaho, other notable celebrities from the state include Tara Buck, Dree Hemingway and Sarah Palin.
Jaguar PS / Shutterstock.com38. Illinois – Harrison Ford
There are a lot of impressive stars from Illinois and the title of top celebrity from the state is a close race between Harrison Ford and Betty White. Harrison Ford was born at the Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago, Illinois and was raised in the state where he graduated from Maine East High School in Park Ridge, Illinois before moving to Wisconsin for college. Although he eventually moved to Los Angeles, the Illinois native actually became a carpenter before he was propelled to the top of Hollywood thanks to his Star Wars role. Of course, while Ford is a Hollywood legend whose life started in Illinois he isn’t the only one. As mentioned, iconic star Betty White is also from Illinois along with Walt Disney, Chance the Rapper, Bill Murray, Busy Philipps, Michael Ian Black, Gina Rodriguez, Jennifer Hudson, Mandy Patinkin, Nick Offerman, and Melissa McCarthy.
Photo by FeatureflashSHM/REX/Shutterstock37. Indiana – David Letterman
Indiana is yet another state that has produced quite a few notable stars, and one of them is iconic late night host David Letterman. He was born in Indianapolis, Indiana where his father was a florist and his mother was a church secretary for the Second Presbyterian Church of Indianapolis. He attended Broad Ripple High School and Ball State University before he finally moved to Los Angeles in 1975. Along with Letterman, more well known celebrities from Indiana include: Michael and Janet Jackson, James Dean, Jenna Fischer, Vivica A. Fox, Brendan Fraser, Greg Kinnear, Ryan Murphy, and Jim Gaffigan.
(John Paul Filo/CBS via AP)36. Iowa – Ashton Kutcher
Ashton Kutcher has become one of the entertainment industry’s biggest heartthrobs, but he had humble Iowa beginnings. Christopher Ashton Kutcher was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa along with his twin brother Michael. His mother worked at Procter & Gamble while his dad was a factory worker. The actor attended Washington High School in Cedar Rapids and attended the University of Iowa and worked at the General Mills plant. He was eventually discovered by a model scout at a bar called The Airliner in Iowa City and after he won the Fresh Faces of Iowa modeling competition, he left college and Iowa behind to pursue fame. “I left Iowa wanting to get out of Iowa, and the older I get the more I want to come home,” he told The Demoines Register in 2017. “In part, because the more places I go, the more I realize how great it is here, and the more I realize that I almost owe everything of who I am to where I come from.” Other notable celebrity Iowans include: Cloris Leachman, Michelle Monaghan, Robin Lord Taylor, Johnny Carson and Elijah Wood.
s_bukley / Shutterstock.com35. Kansas – Kirstie Alley
Actress Kirstie Alley was born in Wichita, Kansas on January 12, 1951 where her mom stayed at home and her dad owned a lumber company. Alley spent her entire childhood in Kansas where she attended Wichita Southeast High School and Kansas State University before she dropped out in her sophomore year. After dropping out she moved to Los Angeles where she first found fame on the popular game shows Match Game and Password Plus. The two-time Emmy winner isn’t the only star from Kansas however. Other notable celebrities from Kansas include: Janelle Monae, Martina McBride, Annette Bening, Scott Foley, Colton Haynes, and Eric Stonestreet.
Editorial credit: / Shutterstock.com34. Kentucky – Johnny Depp
A surprising amount of A-list Hollywood stars hail from Kentucky! Notable stars who got their start in Kentucky include George Clooney, Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Stapleton, Josh Hutcherson, Wyonna Judd, Billy Ray Cyrus and the iconic actor Johnny Depp! John Christopher Depp II was born in Owensboro, Kentucky as the youngest of four children to his mother Betty who worked as a waitress and his father John Christopher Depp who worked as a civil engineer. While he was born in Kentucky, Depp and his family moved around quite a bit until they finally settled in Florida, but he always kept his Kentucky roots and only recently sold a 40-acre horse form in The Bluegrass which he bought for his mother.
Editorial credit: / Shutterstock.com33. Louisiana – Reese Witherspoon
The state of Louisiana is known for a lot of things, but it is also the birthplace of countless major stars. Beloved actress Reese Witherspoon was born on March 22, 1976 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The actress has often talked about how proud she is of her “definitive Southern upbringing.” She said it have her a “sense of family and tradition” as well as taught her about being “conscientious, polite, responsible, and never taking for granted what you have in your life.” Of course, other stars who called Louisiana home include Ellen DeGeneres, Jared Leto, Ian Somerhalder, Tim McGraw, Anthony Mackie, Zachary Levi, and Harry Connick Jr.
Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP32. Maine -Patrick Dempsey
For most, Patrick Dempsey will always be Dr. Derek Shepherd on Grey’s Anatomy, but the handsome actor has been acting since the ’80s and it all began in Maine. Patrick Dempsey was born in Lewiston, Maine and grew up in the nearby towns of Turner and Buckfield. He first attended Buckfield High School and then St. Dominic Regional High School before he moved to Houston, Texas. Before taking to acting, Dempsey was an accomplished juggler and placed second at the International Jugglers Association Championship in 1981. Despite moving to Texas, Dempsey has always kept a home base in Maine and tries to get there at least once a month. Maine is also the home place of Anna Kendrick, Stephen King, Timothy Simons and Erin Andrews.
Photo by Marion Curtis/StarPix/REX/Shutterstock31. Maryland – Anna Faris
Anna Kay Faris was born in Baltimore, Maryland to her father, a sociology professor, and mother, a special education teacher. While Faris is a Maryland native, she didn’t spend too much time there as her family relocated to Edmonds, Washington when she was six years old. Other notable stars from Maryland include: Babe Ruth, Julie Bowen, David Hasselhoff, Spike Jonze, Jada Pinkett Smith, Christian Siriano, and Te-Nehisi Coates.
Jaguar PS / Shutterstock.com30. Massachusetts – Mark Wahlberg
Quite a few of Hollywood’s top stars hail from Massachusetts which makes it especially difficult to select the state’s most famous celebrity, but as one of Hollywood’s continuously sought after stars, the top honor sits with Mark Wahlberg. Mark Wahlberg was born in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts where he was raised as the youngest of nine children. After a very difficult childhood filled with legal trouble and drugs, Wahlberg went from “Marky Mark” to one of the top men in Hollywood. He has always honored his Boston roots as a die hard New England Patriots fan and he and his brother Donnie Wahlberg even started their Wahlburgers restaurant chain there. Being the most famous celebrity from Massachusetts is difficult when these stars are also from the state: Matt Damon, Ellen Pompeo, Chris Evans, Mindy Kaling, Amy Poehler, Bo Burnham, Steve Carell, John Krasinski, B.J. Novak, Conan O’Brien, Elizabeth Banks, and James Taylor.
Gregory Pace29. Michigan – Kristen Bell
There are some truly iconic stars who come from Michigan including Diana Ross, Madonna, and Stevie Wonder, but one of the top actresses of current Hollywood, Kristen Bell, also called Michigan home. Bell was born in a suburb of Detroit called Huntington Woods in Michigan where she was raised. While her parents split when she was young, she remained in Michigan where she attended Shrine Catholic High School and started her acting career. After high school, Bell moved to New York City to attend the esteemed New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Interestingly enough she ended up marrying actor Dax Shepard who was also born and raised in Michigan. Other popular stars from Michigan include: Diana Ross, Madonna, Jerry Bruckheimer, Michael Moore, Selma Blair, Taylor Lautner, Terry Crews, and Lily Tomlin.
(Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)28. Minnesota – Chris Pratt
Chris Pratt is a die hard Seattle Seahawks fan and many assume his birthplace is Washington because of his loyalty, but as it turns out he is originally from Minnesota! Christopher Michael Pratt was born in Virginia, Minnesota where his mother worked at the Safeway supermarket and his dad remodeled homes. Pratt was only three years old when his family moved to Lake Stevens, Washington which explains his Washington pride. More notable stars from Minnesota include: Bob Dylan, Judy Garland, Jessica Biel, Tippi Hedren, Jessica Lange, Winona Ryder, Shantel VanSanten, Vince Vaughn, and Vincent Kartheiser.
Photo by James M Warren/SilverHub/REX/Shutterstock27. Mississippi – Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is one of the most successful and powerful women in the entertainment industry and it all began in Mississippi. Oprah Gail Winfrey was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi. Born to a teenage mother, Winfrey’s childhood was difficult and until she was six Winfrey lived in poverty with her maternal grandmother. While her roots are in Mississippi, at six Winfrey was moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and also spent some time living in Nashville, Tennessee. “Whatever our dreams, ideas, or projects, we plant a seed, nurture it—and then reap the fruits of our labors. That lesson was there for the taking way back in Mississippi,” Winfrey once wrote. Jimmy Buffett, Britney Spears, Fred Armisen, James Earl Jones, and Tig Notaro are all also from Mississippi.
(Paul Drinkwater/NBC via AP)26. Missouri – Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt was actually born in Shawnee, Oklahoma and was actually named William Bradley Pitt, but he considers himself to be from Missouri. Pitt’s family moved to Springfield, Missouri when Pitt was only a baby and that is where he was raised in a conservative household. He attended Kickapoo High School in Springfield and enrolled in the University of Missouri as a journalism major. With only two weeks to go in his degree, Pitt left and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in Hollywood instead. Needless to say his big risk took off as he is one of the most notable actors of an entire generation. Other notable stars from Missouri include: Sterling K. Brown, Don Cheadle, Matt Bomer, Andy Cohen, John Goodman, Eminem, Jon Hamm, and Ellie Kemper.
Photo by Masatoshi Okauchi/REX/Shutterstock25. Montana – Michelle Williams
Michelle Ingrid Williams was born in Kalispell, Montana where her mother stayed at home and her father worked as an author and commodities trader. When Williams was only nine her family moved to San Diego, California but that never changed her love for her home state and she has often spoken about how much she loved growing up in the vast open landscape of the state. “I grew up in Montana, and I most closely associate to being from Montana,” she said when discussing her transition to San Diego when she was nine. Dana Carvey, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and David Lynch are all also from Montana.
EPA24. Nebraska – Gabrielle Union
Gabrielle Union is an actress, author and activist who has appeared in countless popular films and series, and she comes from the state of Nebraska. Union was born in Omaha, Nebraska where she was raised by her mother who worked as a phone company manager and social work and her father who was a military sergeant. Although her family moved to Pleasanton, California when she was eight, Nebraska pride has always been a part of her identity. “In my family if you couldn’t talk Cornhusker football—that means knowing the black shirt defense, knowing the I-back formation—then you don’t get to have an opinion. When I first toured the Nebraska campus and I saw Turner Gill walk, I freaked out. That was like the biggest star-struck moment I’ve probably ever had in my life. But it’s because I grew up in a household that always talked specifically Cornhusker football and Big 8 sports, at the time,” she said. More notable stars from Nebraska include: Bryan Greenberg, Jaime King, and Hilary Swank.
Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock23. Nevada – Matthew Gray Gubler
Actor Matthew Gray Gubler has become one of the most popular television stars in a decade thanks to his longtime role as Dr. Spencer Reid on Criminal Minds, but his less glamorous childhood began in Nevada. Gubler was born in Las Vegas, Nevada to Marilyn and John Gubler. While Gubler wanted to be a filmmaker ,he graduated from the Las Vegas Academy of International Studies, Visual and Performing Arts as a major in acting because the school didn’t offer a fimmaking program. He did go on to graduate with a major in film directing from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, but clearly acting really was his calling. Jena Malone, Rutina Wesley, Charisma Carpenter, and Mädchen Amick are also Nevada natives.
Photo by Can Nguyen/REX Shutterstock22. New Hampshire – Mandy Moore
Mandy Moore was only two months old when her family moved to Longwood in Seminole County, Florida, but technically she is from New Hampshire! Amanda Leigh Moore was born in Nashua, New Hampshire where her mom worked as a news reporter and her dad continues to work as an American Airlines pilot. On the flip side, New Hampshire is also considered the home of iconic comedian and actor Adam Sandler, but he was actually born in Brooklyn, New York where he lived before his family moved to Manchester, New Hampshire. Other stars from the state include: Seth Myers, Dan Brown, Matt Czuchry and Sarah Silverman.
Stewart Cook/Variety/REX/Shutterstock
21. New Jersey – Paul Rudd
New Jersey may not be a very big state but it has produced some very big stars including actor Paul Rudd. Paul Rudd was born in Passaic, New Jersey where his father Michael worked as a historical tour guide. Rudd’s time in New Jersey didn’t last long however as the Ant-Man actor’s family moved to Lenexa, Kansas when he was only ten and then moved to Anaheim, California. More major stars who hail from New Jersey are: Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Meryl Streep, Lauryn Hill, Queen Latifah, Zach Braff, Bobby Cannavale, Danny DeVito, Peter Dinklage, Ed Harris, Kal Penn, and Joe Pesci just to name a few.
Lionel Hahn/ABACAPRESS.COM20. New Mexico – Demi Lovato
Two very popular stars were born in New Mexico: Demi Lovato and Neil Patrick Harris. Lovato was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico but when her parents split shortly after her second birthday, her mom, a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, moved herself and the children back to Dallas, Texas where Lovato was raised. Neil Patrick Harris was also born in Albuquerque, New Mexico and was raised in Ruidoso, New Mexico. His early roots as a child actor began in New Mexico when he was discovered at a drama camp which led to his casting in Clara’s Heart. Other stars from New Mexico include: Adrian Grenier, Demi Moore, and Anna Gunn.
EPA/NINA PROMMER19. New York – Robert Downey Jr.
Aside from Los Angeles, New York City is also known as the hub for the entertainment industry which means the state of New York is home for many incredible celebrities. It is hard to distinguish who is the most famous when stars like Jennifer Lopez, Denzel Washington, Jerry Seinfeld, Tom Cruise, Jay Z, Mariah Carey and more are from the state, but there is no denying Robert Downey Jr.’s continued success especially recently thanks to Avengers: Endgame. Robert John Downey Jr. was born in Manhattan, New York where his dad worked as an actor and filmmaker and his mother was an actress. Downey Jr. was raised in Greenwich Village with his sister and is where he got his start in acting thanks to his dad who gave his son minor roles. When his parents divorced in 1978, Downey moved to California with his father, but in 1982, he dropped out of Santa Monica High School, and moved back to New York to pursue an acting career full-time.
Photo by MediaPunch/REX Shutterstock18. North Carolina – Julianne Moore
Actress Julianne Moore was born Julie Ann Smith at the Fort Bragg army camp in North Carolina. Due to her father’s military career with the United States Army, Moore didn’t stay in North Carolina for long as the family moved upwards of 23 times and Moore attended at least nine different schools. At 16, Moore was introduced to acting and has now become extremely popular and has been in the industry for decades. Britt Robertson, Zack Galifianakis, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Evan Rachel Wood, and Bellamy Young are all also from North Carolina.
Eric Charbonneau/REX Shutterstock17. North Dakota – Josh Duhamel
Actor Josh Duhamel was born in Minot, North Dakota and is very loyal to his home state. He took to sports and played football for the Minot State University football team and went on to attend dental school before he dropped out only one and a half credits shy of his degree. Despite leaving for California and finding success in modeling and then acting, Duhamel has endless North Dakota pride and even became the face for North Dakota Tourism’s advertising campaign.” I’ve always been very vocal about the pride that I have in this state,” Duhamel said of North Dakota. “It’s real. It’s authentic. It’s where I can find a quiet spot to fish or go mountain biking or golf a round with old friends. I love the open roads, the simplicity of the countryside, the people and the pace. It is the peace I find when I am there that I miss the most.” Other notable stars from North Dakota include Kellan Lutz and Wiz Khalifa.
Lionel Hahn/ABACAPRESS.COM16. Ohio – John Legend
Incredible singer John Legend was born and raised in Springfield, Ohio where he was homeschooled by his mother and began performing in his church choir at only four years old. Due to his homeschooling, Legend began high school at Springfield North at only 12 and graduated four years later as the salutatorian. He left Ohio to attend the University of Pennsylvania but has remained the pride of Ohio. Of course, Legend isn’t the only celebrity from Ohio, others include: LeBron James, Drew Carey, Bow Wow, Dave Grohl, Kid Cudi, John Legend, Steven Spielberg, and Sarah Jessica Parker.
(Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)15. Oklahoma – Blake Shelton
It is no secret that Blake Shelton is an Oklahoma native! The country music superstar was born in Ada, Oklahoma and was raised there until he left at the age of 17 to move to Nashville to pursue a singing career. As soon as his career skyrocketed, Shelton made sure to return to his home state where he still owns a ranch in Tishomingo. Despite his fame he is an active member of the community and opened up the Ole Red bar there as well. “I like California, but I’m dyed-in-the-wool Oklahoma,” he once said of his Oklahoma pride. Along with Brad Pitt who was born in the state, Carrie Underwood, Kristin Chenoweth, Olivia Munn, Bill Hader, Ron Howard, James Marsden, and Toby Keith are all from Oklahoma as well.
Tara Ziemba/Getty Images14. Oregon -Ty Burrell
Modern Family actor Ty Burrell has taken TV by storm as Phil Dunphy on the hit series, but before he was a TV star, he was just a kid from Grants Pass, Oregon. Burrell grew up in the small southern Oregon town of Applegate and attended Hidden Valley High School where he played football before going to Southern Oregon University in Ashland. While his further education and career took him elsewhere, Burrell will always be a part of Oregon’s pride. Other notable stars from the state include: River Phoenix, Kaitlin Olson, and Thomas Mann
Picture Perfect/REX13. Pennsylvania – Taylor Swift
It is truly difficult to pinpoint the most famous celebrity to come from Pennsylvania when the state has so many big names attached to it. One of the biggest of course is Taylor Swift who was born in Reading, Pennsylvania where she grew up on a Christmas tree farm which her father bought from a client. When Swift was 14 her family officially moved to Tennessee so she could pursue her music career. Also from Pennsylvania is Will Smith who in “West Philadelphia, was born and raised.” Other big name stars from the state include: Kevin Bacon, Joe Biden, Tina Fey, Bradley Cooper, Joe Manganiello, Bob Saget, Lee Daniels, Miles Teller, and Krysten Ritter.
(Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)12. Rhode Island – Debra Messing
Will & Grace actress Debra Messing was born in New York City, but when she was only three her whole family moved to East Greenwich, Rhode Island. It was while attending East Greenwhich High School that Messing became heavily involved in performing and was in many of the school’s productions and plays. She was even crowned Miss Junior Rhode Island in 1986 and admitted it took her a long time to lose her Rhode Island accent when she was training to be a professional actor. “I moved to Rhode Island when I was young… You know, ‘You goin’ to the Warwick Mall?’” she joked in her original accent. Damien Chazelle, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Cormac McCarthy, Wylie Dufresne and Olivia Culpo are other notable celebrities from the state.
Broadimage/REX11. South Carolina – Chadwick Boseman
While Debra Messing was born in New York but raised in Rhode Island, Viola Davis was born in South Carolina but raised in Rhode Island! Although Davis is certainly a major star from South Carolina, it is also the state which is home to incredible Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman. Boseman was born and raised in South Carolina where his mother was a nurse and his father worked at a textile factory. Boseman attended T.L. Hanna High School which is where he wrote his first play and staged it at school after a classmate was shot and killed. He eventually left to attend Howard University, but with all his success lately, South Carolina is proud to call Boseman one of its one. Other famous stars from the state include: Chris Rock, Darius Rucker, Anna Camp, Andy Dick, Mary-Louise Parker, Andie MacDowell.
EPA/NINA PROMMER10. South Dakota – Bob Barker
Iconic The Price is Right host Bob Barker was born in Washington state, but was raised on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in Mission, South Dakota, and is where he considers home. “We had what amounted to a one-room schoolhouse,” Barker told ABC of his childhood in South Dakota. “This was before television. Radio was in its infancy. And we played baseball in baseball season, football in football season, ran track in track season and played basketball of course.” Other notable stars from the state include: January Jones, Amy Hill, Tom Brokaw and Mary Hart.
Dee Cercone/Everett Collection9. Tennessee -Justin Timberlake
Tennessee is known for producing some incredible country singers, but pop star Justin Timberlake is actually from the state as well! Justin Randall Timberlake was born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1981 and grew up in Shelby Forest between Memphis and Millington. When Timberlake first began performing at 11 he sang country and gospel music because of the influence of his grandfather and the music around him. Although Timberlake and his wife Jessica Biel own several homes, they consider their Tennessee home their “home base” where they have settled in a $4 million home on 127 acres near Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee. Tennessee is of course home to many incredible stars including: Morgan Freeman, Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus, Megan Fox, Kenny Chesney, Kathy Bates, Christina Hendricks and Quentin Tarantino just to name a few.
Photo by David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock8. Texas – Beyonce
There are many celebrities who are proud Texans, but none are bigger than the Queen B herself, Beyonce. Beyonce Knowles was born in Houston, Texas where she attended St. Mary’s Montessori School in Houston and took an interest in dance classes. It was her dance instructor who discovered her singing talent and she went on to win a school talent show at only seven years old. Beyonce may be from Texas but so are these extremely popular celebrities: Wes Anderson, Chace Crawford, Hilary Duff, Jamie Foxx, Woody Harrelson, Willie Nelson, Eva Longoria, Nick Jonas, Steve Martin, Owen Wilson, Robin Wright, Selena Gomez, Jessica Simpson, Usher, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Matthew McConaughey.
Photo by Kristina Bumphrey/StarPix/REX/Shutterstock7. Utah – Julianne and Derek Hough
Dancer, singer and actress Julianne Hough and her brother, Derek who is the most successful Dancing With the Stars pro in the series’ history, were both born and raised in Utah and their father was twice chairman of the Utah Republican Party. Together the siblings are two of the most famous people to come from Utah, but the state was also the birth place of Roseanne Barr, Matthew Davis, Chrissy Teigen and Donny Osmond.
Photo by Jen Lowery/SilverHub/REX/Shutterstock6. Vermont – Damon Wayans Jr.
Vermont is the birthplace of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, but it is also the birth place of popular actor Damon Wayans Jr. The actor was born in Huntington, Vermont to Lisa Thorner and talented actor Damon Wayans. Other notable stars from the state include JoJo Levesque, Grace Potter, Zosia Mamet, and Daphne Zuniga.
Picture Perfect/REX5. Virginia – Sandra Bullock
Iconic superstar actress Sandra Bullock was born in Arlington, Virginia but her childhood changed quickly. Due to her father’s military career, Bullock was raised for 12 years in Germany and Austria and grew up speaking German. When back in the U.S., Bullock attended Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, Virginia where she was a cheerleader and took part in the school plays. Now, she is one of the most beloved actresses in the industry and her career shows no signs of slowing down. More celebrities from Virginia include: Pharrell Williams, David Arquette, Penn Badgley, Leslie Bibb, Lauren Graham, Patsy Cline, Hilarie Burton, Missy Elliott and Rob Lowe.
Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP4. Washington – Jeffrey Dean Morgan
It is easy to guess that Jeffrey Dean Morgan is a Washington native thanks to his love for the Seattle Seahawks! Morgan was born in Seattle, Washington where he attended school and played football and was captain of his school’s basketball team. He ended up attending Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon, Washington to play basketball but his dreams were dashed because of an injury. Now, the actor is known for his roles in Supernatural, Grey’s Anatomy, P.S. I Love You and The Walking Dead, and currently resides in New York with his wife, actress Hilarie Burton. Washington was also the home to stars including Bing Crosby, Jimi Hendrix, Macklemore, Ben Gibbard, Craig T. Nelson, Emma Dumont, Constance Zimmer, and Kyle MacLachlan.
Photo by Chelsea Lauren/Variety/REX/Shutterstock3. West Virginia -Brad Paisley
Country superstar Brad Paisley was born and raised in Glen Dale, West Virginia where his father worked for the West Virginia Department of Transportation and his mother was a teacher. Paisley’s music career started at a very young age and he became the youngest inductee into the Jamboree USA Hall of Fame. He graduated from John Marshall High School and studied two years at West Liberty State College before heading to Tennessee. “My parents still live here, and a lot of my friends are still here. West Virginia isn’t an easy place to forget. It’s too ideal. It’s a wonderful place to grow up. You can’t just move on and not want some part of that to stay in your life. I’m trying to bring a piece of that to my kids who are growing up in a totally and completely different way than I did. I’m trying to replicate that a bit,” he said. Other notable celebrities from the state include: Steve Harvey, John Corbett, Josh Stewart, and Chris Sarandon.
Broadimage/REX2. Wisconsin – Mark Ruffalo
Incredible Avengers actor Mark Ruffalo was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The actor said he was a “happy kid” growing up and became involved in wrestling before his family moved to Virginia before he started high school. Despite moving when he was a child, the actor has always been vocal about his support of Wisconsin and his childhood there. More celebrities from the state include: Heather Graham, Willem Dafoe, Tony Shalhoub, Chris Farley, and Liberace.
Photo by MediaPunch/REX/Shutterstock1. Wyoming – Jim Beaver
Jim Beaver isn’t exactly a household name when it comes to celebrities, but he is well known for his work as Bobby Singer in the hit series Supernatural. James Norman Beaver Jr. was born in Laramie, Wyoming where his father was doing graduate work at the University of Wyoming before the family returned to Texas. Other notable celebrities from Wyoming include: Pete Williams, Jackson Pollock, and Dick Cheney.
Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Variety/REX Shutterstock