Famous People Born In Knoxville

Popular film director, screenwriter, and producer, Quentin Tarantino, first rose to fame as an independent filmmaker in the early 1990s. His films are known for their nonlinear story-lines and neo-noir elements and have garnered both critical and commercial success. He is the winner of two Academy Awards and has been called "the single most influential director of his generation."

Randy Orton is an American professional wrestler. Widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers ever, Orton has 14 world championship victories under his belt, only behind Ric Flair and John Cena. His bad boy image and distinctive wrestling style have inspired several young wrestlers all over the world.

Johnny Knoxville is an actor, filmmaker, and stunt performer. He is credited with owning and operating Dickhouse Productions, which produces films and documentaries. Johnny Knoxville is also credited with co-creating the popular MTV reality show Jackass. 

Brent Smith is a singer best known as the founder and frontman of the rock band Shinedown. He was just a small child when he started showing a keen interest in music. As a teenager, he launched his own band and enjoyed moderate success. He later founded Shinedown. The band has sold more than 10 million records.  

Retired American opera singer Mary Costa is best known for voicing Princess Aurora in the Disney animated musical fantasy Sleeping Beauty. Named a Disney Legend later, she has also appeared in iconic operas such as Verdi's in La Traviata. Post-retirement, she has turned into a motivational speaker and fights against child abuse, too.

Brownie McGhee was an American blues singer, songwriter and musician who developed an interest in guitar at the age of six and learned to play the piano at eight. Impressed by itinerant blues musicians, he later dropped out of school to perform at carnivals and minstrel shows, eventually forming a long-lasting partnership with Sonny Terry,  in-between publishing several solo albums, including Brownie's Blues.

Linda Holliday is the longtime partner of New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick. An alumnus of Vanderbilt University, she has a bachelor’s degree in radiography. She previously worked as a lifestyle correspondent for Style Boston. Currently, she is the CEO of the Bill Belichick Foundation. She has been previously married and has adult children. 

Henry D. Haynes was an American musician and comedy entertainer. Apart from achieving popularity as a jazz and country guitarist, Haynes also became popular as one-half of the famous country music and parody duo Homer and Jethro. He formed the duo along with Kenneth C. Burns and performed for 35 years starting from 1936.