Have you ever wondered who the most famous person from your state is?
Over the years, tons of folks have made a name for themselves from each and every corner of the United States.
I remember when I found out Kristin Chenoweth, one of my favorite actresses, wasn't just from Oklahoma like me but actually grew up in the same hometown!
We all have pride for our home states, and knowing the famous faces who were born or raised there make each one feel even more special.
Take a look to see which celebrity calls your state their birthplace or hometown! You might be surprised by which acclaimed actor, musician, author, or otherwise talented individuals can lay claim to the very same state you do.
Do you agree with the choice for most famous from your state? Don't forget to SHARE with your friends on Facebook so they can find out their out state's celebrity, too!
Thumbnail Photos: Wikimedia Commons / Macfadden Publications // Wikimedia Commons / Eric Carpenter
Alabama
Most Famous Resident: Hank Williams
Hometown: The original king of country was born as Hiram King Williams and born in Butler County before deciding the name Hank suited him better.
Alaska
Most Famous Resident: Jewel
Hometown: Although the popular singer was born in Utah, she spent most of her time growing up in Homer, Alaska, with a family that embraced the rustic lifestyle without even any indoor plumbing.
Arizona
Most Famous Resident: Linda Ronstadt
Hometown: Despite the the "Blue Bayou" songstress being known for her aquatic tune, she was born in the ironically more arid environment of Tucson.
Arkansas
Most Famous Resident: Johnny Cash
Hometown: The "Man in Black" was actually born J.R. Cash in Kingsland. He changed his name to John R. when he enlisted in the United States Air Force — because they wouldn't allow him to use just initials for a first name — and eventually settled on Johnny when he signed with Sun Records.
California
Most Famous Resident: Cher
Hometown: Born Cherilyn Sarkisian in El Centro, her mother moved them to Los Angeles after her father abandoned the family when she was just 10 months old.
Colorado
Most Famous Resident: Douglas Fairbanks
Hometown: Before he became one of the most famous actors of the silent movie era, he got his start onstage as a youngster growing up in Denver.
Connecticut
Most Famous Person: Katharine Hepburn
Hometown: The actress who turned heads with the simple act of wearing pants was born and raised in Hartford with a family that encouraged her originality.
Delaware
Most Famous Resident: Valerie Bertinelli
Hometown: Before moving around the country with her family following her father's executive career at General Motors, the One Day at a Time actress was born in Wilmington.
Florida
Most Famous Resident: Sidney Poitier
Hometown: The Oscar-winning actor was raised in the Bahamas, but he entered the world two months premature while his parents were on vacation in Miami.
Georgia
Most Famous Resident: Ray Charles
Hometown: It's not surprising the "Georgia" singer took his first breath in the state being born in Albany. His mother traveled from Greenville, Florida, to give birth near her family before returning.
Hawaii
Most Famous Resident: Bette Midler
Hometown: The multi-talented performer was born in Honolulu and remained on the islands all the way through college at the University of Hawaii at Manoa before making it big.
Idaho
Most Famous Resident: Lana Turner
Hometown: The stunning actress was born Julia Jean Turner, known as "Judy" to her family, in the small mining town of Wallace before heading to Hollywood.
Illinois
Most Famous Resident: Walt Disney
Hometown: The world's most famous animator spent the first four years of his life in Chicago before his family moved to a farm in Missouri and you can still visit the church he was baptized in as a child.
Indiana
Most Famous Resident: James Dean
Hometown: Born in Marion, he spent a few years living in California before the death of his mother caused his father to send him back to her family in Fairmount, Indiana, where he spent most of his young life.
Iowa
Most Famous Resident: Johnny Carson
Hometown: The legendary talk show host was born in Corning and lived in nearby neighborhoods before his family moved to Nebraska when he was eight.
Kansas
Most Famous Resident: Amelia Earhart
Hometown: Long before her mysterious disappearance, the aviation pioneer enjoyed an idyllic life born and raised in Atchison.
Kentucky
Most Famous Resident: Muhammad Ali
Hometown: Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. was born and raised in Louisville and started his boxing training at the tender age of 12.
Louisiana
Most Famous Resident: Louis Armstrong
Hometown: Being born and raised in New Orleans certainly provided the jazz legend with plenty of inspiration for his iconic musical career.
Maine
Most Famous Resident: Stephen King
Hometown: The spooky novelist was born in Portland and spent a brief stint in Wisconsin before being raised in Durham by his single mother.
Maryland
Most Famous Resident: John Waters
Hometown: The director of cult classics like Hairspray (the original, non-musical version) frequently stays true to his roots by filming in Baltimore where he was born and raised.
Massachusetts
Most Famous Resident: Bette Davis
Hometown: The All About Eve actress was raised in Somerville, just outside of Boston, and attended boarding school in the Berkshires before making it big.
Michigan
Most Famous Resident: Diana Ross
Hometown: The queen of Motown music was born and raised in Detroit where she actually went by Diane, the name her mother apparently intended for her.
Minnesota
Most Famous Resident: Judy Garland
Hometown: Named Frances Ethel Gumm after both of her parents at birth, Judy grew up in Grand Rapids performing with her vaudeville family pretty much since she could walk and talk at the same time.
Mississippi
Most Famous Resident: Elvis Presley
Hometown: Pretty much everyone knows about the boy from Tupelo who grew up to be the King of Rock and Roll, but others might be surprised to learn he was born with a twin brother who unfortunately didn't survive birth.
Missouri
Most Famous Resident: Dick Van Dyke
Hometown: The funnyman was born in West Plains before his family eventually moved to Danville, Illinois, where he and his brother Jerry spent most of their youth.
Montana
Most Famous Resident: Gary Cooper
Hometown: Born Frank James Cooper, he spent most of his early life as a rancher's son in the state's capital, Helena.
Nebraska
Most Famous Resident: Marlon Brando
Hometown: The method actor was born in Omaha and moved around from Chicago to Santa Ana, California, and back to a suburb of Chicago throughout his tumultuous childhood.
Nevada
Most Famous Resident: Andre Agassi
Hometown: The tennis pro's father, Emmanuel "Mike" Agassi, was his first coach while growing up in Las Vegas when he was known to best men more than twice his age by the time he was nine years old.
New Hampshire
Most Famous Resident: J.D. Salinger
Hometown: Although Jerome David Salinger was born in raised in New York City, which was also the setting for many of his stories, the author spent most of his life in the secluded town of Cornish where he avoided contact with the public as much as possible.
New Mexico
Most Famous Resident: John Denver
Hometown: Despite having the capital of Colorado for his last name, the folk singer was actually born in Roswell and spent most of his early life moving around frequently with his father's job in the Air Force never letting them settle anywhere for too long.
New York
Most Famous Resident: Lucille Ball
Hometown: The funny lady was born in Jamestown and spent much of her upbringing living with her mother, brother, and grandparents in nearby Celoron where she enjoyed spending time at the town's amusement park.
New Jersey
Most Famous Resident: Frank Sinatra
Hometown: The "New York, New York" singer was actually born and raised across the Hudson River in Hoboken where he got his start singing as a child at his parents' tavern.
North Carolina
Most Famous Resident: Andy Griffith
Hometown: Born in Mount Airy, the beloved actor remained in the state until graduating from the University North Carolina where he was president of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, a fraternity which focused on a love of music.
North Dakota
Most Famous Resident: Peggy Lee
Hometown: The jazz singer was born Norma Deloris Egstrom in Jamestown before changing her name at 17 when she moved to Los Angeles to become a star.
Ohio
Most Famous Resident: Paul Newman
Hometown: The blue-eyed actor was born and raised in Shaker Heights and, according to legend, was kicked out of Ohio University for rolling a keg of beer down a hill (and hitting the university president's car) before joining the U.S. Navy.
Oklahoma
Most Famous Resident: Will Rogers
Hometown: Born to a Cherokee family in what was still known as Indian Territory near present-day town of Oologah, the multi-talented entertainer is still renowned as the state's "favorite son."
Oregon
Most Famous Resident: Beverly Cleary
Hometown: The celebrated children's author was born in McMinnville before her family moved to Portland where she spent most of her childhood.
Pennsylvania
Most Famous Resident: Gene Kelly
Hometown: The toe-tapping actor was born and raised in Pittsburgh where he notoriously got into fights with boys who tried to make fun of him for dancing.
Rhode Island
Most Famous Resident: H.P. Lovecraft
Hometown: Howard Phillips Lovecraft was born in Providence and spent much of his tragically short life living in the area while working on his now legendary fantasy novels.
South Carolina
Most Famous Resident: Eartha Kitt
Hometown: The sultry singer and actress had a troubled upbringing after being born without a father and eventually being abandoned by her mother in the small town of North before she finally found success.
South Dakota
Most Famous Resident: Bob Barker
Hometown: The quintessential game show host was born in Darrington, Washington, but spent most of his youth growing up on the Rosebud Indian Reservation as a member of the Sioux tribe.
Tennessee
Most Famous Resident: Dolly Parton
Hometown: The country queen famously pays homage to her rural Sevier County upbringing in her classic tunes and returned to Pigeon Forge to open her amusement park, Dollywood.
Texas
Most Famous Resident: Willie Nelson
Hometown: Born and raised in Abbott, the country singer's grandparents encouraged his musical side by having him sing gospel music in church.
Utah
Most Famous Resident: Donny Osmond
Hometown: The former teen idol was born in Ogden and got his start with fame performing alongside his older brothers as The Osmonds.
Vermont
Most Famous Resident(s): The Von Trapp Family
Hometown: Of course, the family obviously got their start in Austria as the film The Sound of Music fictionalizes, but they escaped in 1940 to set roots in Stowe where they continued performing together.
Virginia
Most Famous Resident: Patsy Cline
Hometown: Born Virginia Patterson Hensley in Winchester, her family moved around the area a lot before settling right where they started when she was still a young girl.
Washington
Most Famous Resident: Bing Crosby
Hometown: Surprisingly not born with the quirky first name, Harry Lillis Jr. received his nickname while growing up in Spokane from a neighbor friend and it stuck the rest of his life.
West Virginia
Most Famous Resident: Don Knotts
Hometown: Born and raised in Morgantown, Jesse Donald took his middle name and was rumored to be related as sixth cousins to his young The Andy Griffith Show co-star, Ron Howard.
Wisconsin
Most Famous Resident: Liberace
Hometown: Władziu Valentino Liberace began learning piano at four years old while growing up in West Allis and ultimately decided to go by just his last name.
Wyoming
Most Famous Resident: Jackson Pollock
Hometown: The abstract artist known for his messy style of painting was born in Cody, but moved while he was still an infant and spent most of his life growing up in Arizona and California.
Do you agree with the most famous choice for your state? Let us know in the comments and please SHARE.
