Famous People From Arkansas

Johnny Cash, the American singer, songwriter and actor, was known for sorrow, moral suffering and redemption themes in his music. His genre was country, rock and roll, blues, folk and gospel sounds and he is one of the best-selling artists of all time. Cash had issues with drinking and drug abuse. Later he was diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease.

Former professional basketball player, Scottie Pippen, is best known for his stint with the Chicago Bulls with who he won six NBA championships. Considered one of the greatest small forwards of all time, he played a key role in transforming the Bulls into one of the most formidable forces in NBA in the 1990s.

One of the few celebrities who have been open about their aversion towards celebrity culture, Billy Bob Thornton has had quite an impact on the entertainment industry as an actor, director, writer, and musician. He suffers from OCD and a phobia of antique furniture. He hates French antiques and can spot the imitation antiques from a far distance.

Mary Steenburgen is an American actress and musician. Also an active humanitarian, Steenburgen has been involved with several groups that work towards the welfare of people and the environment. In 2005, she inspired students at the Clinton School of Public Service with her lecture on students' role in public service.

Bill Cinton was the 42nd president of the United States who served for two terms from 1993 to 2001. He was the third-youngest president in the American history and presided over the longest period of peacetime economic expansion in American history. The second-term of his presidency was rocked by the infamous Monica Lewinsky sex-scandal for which he was impeached and later acquitted.

Glen Campbell was an American TV host, actor, singer-songwriter, and guitarist. Regarded as one of the most successful musicians ever, Campbell sold more than 45 million records, which included a double-platinum album, four platinum albums, and 12 gold albums, in a career spanning 50 years. In 2014, he became the subject of a documentary titled Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me.

Wes Bentley is an American actor known for portraying prominent characters in popular films like The Hunger Games. He became one of the subjects in the 2009 documentary My Big Break, which focuses on his fame and struggles with drug and alcohol addiction. He took professional help to deal with his addiction and is currently on the path to recovery.

American actor Josh Lucas was born to anti-nuclear activist parents and was 19 when he moved to Hollywood and began guest-starring in TV sitcoms. He is known for his roles in series such as The Mysteries of Laura and in movies such as Sweet Home Alabama and American Psycho.

Melinda Dillon is an American actress whose performance in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, which marked her Broadway debut, earned her a Tony Award nomination in 1963. She then went on to earn two Academy Award nominations for delivering powerful performances in Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Absence of Malice.

Bear Bryant was an American football player who represented the Crimson Tide of the University of Alabama. Bryant is remembered for his illustrious career as a coach. He served as the head coach of the Crimson Tide for 25 years, during which he helped his team win six national championships. He is regarded as the greatest college football coach ever.

Georgia Holt is a retired American actress, singer-songwriter, and former model. After beginning her career as a child singer, Holt started appearing on popular TV shows which increased her popularity. In 2013, Georgia Holt became the subject of a documentary titled Dear Mom, Love Cher, which also featured her famous daughter Cher.

Actor, comedian, and director, Clark Duke, is best known for playing Clark Green in the TV series, The Office. While studying at Loyola Marymount University, he teamed up with Michael Cera to create the web series, Clark and Michael. Since then, he has acted in, produced, and directed many TV shows and films.

Businessman Lamar Hunt was a major promoter of American football, soccer, tennis, basketball, and ice hockey in the United States. He was the principal founder of the Major League Soccer (MLS) and American Football League (AFL). He was also the co-founder of World Championship Tennis. In 1982, he was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. 

Sister Rosetta Tharpe was an American recording artist, guitarist, and singer-songwriter. Characterized by a mixture of electric guitar and spiritual lyrics, Tharpe's music played an influential role in the development of rock and roll. Her music influenced several rock-and-roll musicians like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Chuck Berry. She is often referred to as the Godmother of rock and roll.

Ashley McBryde is an American singer-songwriter who was adjudged New Artist of the Year at the 2019 Country Music Association Awards. The same year, she was also named New Female Vocalist of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards.

Alice Walton is an heiress to the fortune of the popular American multinational retail corporation, Walmart. She is currently the second richest woman in the world. She is credited with founding the now-defunct investment bank The Llama Company. She also played a key role in the establishment of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport by providing $15 million for its construction.

A member of the Walton family—the world’s richest family— James Walton has inherited retail giant Walmart along with his siblings. A graduate from the University of Arkansas, the billionaire is also the chairman of Arvest Bank and heads newspaper company, Community Publishers Inc. He played football during his younger days and leant to pilot planes. He has four children.