Famous People From Tennessee

Multifaceted personality, Dolly Parton is a singer, songwriter, record producer, actress, author and businesswoman and is known mainly for her work in country music. She has received various accolades and awards in her very successful singing career spanning several decades and has composed over 3,000 songs. She has also worked in several movies and is a prolific songwriter.

Known as the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll, Tina Turner was one of the best-selling recording artists of all time and had a very long and successful career. Let's Stay Together, What's Love Got to Do with It, Private Dancer and Golden Eye are some of her chartbuster songs. She was also a songwriter and had acted in films too.

Prominent character actor, Morgan Freeman, has appeared in a range of film genres playing versatile roles. He is known for his distinctive deep voice. In a career spanning over half a century, he has received various accolades, including an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award. Besides acting, he is an advocate of environmental causes.

Justin Randall Timberlake is an American actor, singer-songwriter, and record producer. Regarded as a pop icon, Timberlake has sold more than 56 million singles worldwide, which makes him one of the best-selling music artists. In 2007 and 2013, he was named in Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world list. Timberlake is also known for his philanthropic activities.

Widely regarded as the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin was a singer-songwriter, actress, and civil rights activist. Recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Aretha was ranked number one on Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Greatest Singers of All Time list in 2010. Having sold over 75 million records, she is also one of the best-selling musicians ever.

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.

Miley Cyrus, the American singer-songwriter and actress, is known for her wide range in music, spanning from pop and country pop to hip hop. The portrayal of the title character of television series, Hannah Montana, made her a teen idol. Her personal life has often sparked controversy, especially when she came out as pansexual and talked about use of cannabis.

With her sharp facial features and stunning figure, actress Megan Fox is undoubtedly a head-turner! Making her debut in the early 2000s as a teenager, she has come a long way in Hollywood and is today counted among the most beautiful and sexiest women in entertainment. She has been featured on various magazine covers as well.

Actress Natalia Dyer is best known for her role in the Netflix science fiction horror series Stranger Things. Interested in acting from a young age, she graduated from the performing arts high school Nashville School of the Arts before embarking on her career. She has appeared in many TV shows and films.

The only child of the legendary singer and musician, Elvis Presley, Lisa Marie Presley fought her addiction with drugs during her teens and later launched herself as singer-songwriter with her debut album To Whom It May Concern. It was followed by two more commercially and critically successful albums. Lisa Marie Presley has also earned appreciation for her numerous philanthropic work.

Gregg Allman was an American musician and singer-songwriter. He is credited with co-founding the rock band The Allman Brothers Band along with his brother Duane Allman. Dubbed the Southern rock pioneer, Allman was recognized for his distinctive, soulful voice; Rolling Stone magazine named him in its 100 Greatest Singers of All Time list.

Former American football player, Michael Oher had been associated with the Baltimore Ravens for the major part of his career. He also played for the Tennessee Titans and Carolina Panthers for a while. He had a very tough childhood and sought solace in playing sports. After years of struggle, he finally emerged as a successful sportsman.

An American singer and songwriter, Kane Brown first came into prominence as a social media celebrity, thereby inspiring several social media users all over the world. In 2017, he became the first artist whose music peaked at number one positions on all five principal Billboard country charts simultaneously.

Christina Hendricks is an actress and producer. She began her career as a model and enjoyed international success for several years before transitioning into acting. As an actress, she was able to replicate her success and appeared in films like Drive and Lost River. She is the recipient of several awards, including two Screen Actors Guild Awards. 

Penny Hardaway is a college basketball coach who is currently serving as the head coach for the Memphis Tigers men's basketball team. A former player, Hardaway played for teams like Miami Heat and New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association where he was a two-time All-NBA First Team member and a four-time NBA All-Star. 

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. 

NLE Choppa is one of the youngest male rappers to make a name for himself in the American rapping scene. Also a well-known Internet personality, NLE Choppa has posted several videos on his YouTube channel Awakened Choppa, inspiring many of his followers to fall back on spirituality and veganism.

Shannen Doherty is an American actress who established herself in the entertainment industry after starting out as a child actress. Thanks to her bad-girl reputation, she was described by People magazine as the iconic Hollywood bad girl of the nineties. Shannen Doherty is also an avid animal rights activist and a patron of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

Quinton Jackson is a mixed martial artist and former professional wrestler turned actor. He is famous for his eccentric personality traits and aggressive style of fighting. He is credited with making MMA a popular sport worldwide. As an actor, he has appeared in a few films, including Miss March and Bad Guys. He is a controversial person. 

Kelsea Ballerini is an American singer and songwriter. Ballerini became the first female artist since Carrie Underwood in 2006 to have her debut single top the Country Airplay chart. Kelsea Ballerini is the recipient of several prestigious awards, such as CMT Music Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards, and Teen Choice Awards.

George Hamilton is a veteran American actor who has been active in the entertainment industry for almost seven decades during which he has appeared in hundreds of films and TV shows. In his youth, he was considered a fashion icon for his debonair style. A victim of child sexual abuse, he overcame a rough childhood to become a successful and popular personality.

DJ Qualls is best known for his roles in films such as Road Trip, Hustle & Flow, and The New Guy. Fans also loved him as Citizen Z in Z Nation and as Ed McCarthy in The Man in the High Castle. He recovered from Hodgkin's lymphoma as a teenager.

Sprinter Wilma Rudolph made history by becoming the first American female athlete to win three track and field gold medals in a single Olympic game. As a child, she needed orthopedic shoes to help her walk. The sports icon lost her life to cancer but was immortalized through books and movies.

Dinah Shore initially launched a solo career after failing to qualify for Benny Goodman’s band. After delivering hits such as Blues in the Night, she appeared in a few films and ventured into a successful TV career. She also hosted shows such as The Dinah Shore Chevy Show.

A three-time Emmy Award and two-time Tony Award winner, Cherry Jones is a prominent theater actor. Not surprisingly, she was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2014. Cherry Jones is quite open about being a lesbian; she serves as an inspiration to millions of gays and lesbians around the world.

Thomas Hearns is an American retired boxer who became the first boxer in the history of boxing to win world titles in five different weight classes. Nicknamed the Hitman, Thomas Hearns was named Fighter of the Year in 1980 by The Ring magazine. He was also named Fighter of the Year in 1984 by the Boxing Writers Association of America. 

Rosanne Cash is an American singer-songwriter. The daughter of musician Johnny Cash, Rosanne Cash followed in the footsteps of her father. Also a humanitarian, Cash supports many charitable organizations like Children, Incorporated, which supports young adults and children. She has also been a board member of an organization called Center To Prevent Youth Violence, which works towards preventing gun violence.