# Who is the most famous person BORN in your state? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 11, 2010, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341 "2010-11-11T18:41:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![justrob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9adbd/32.png) [@justrob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justrob)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/21 "2010-11-11T19:46:48Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Ummm, how about Prince? > For Wisconsin I’d have to say either Spencer Tracy or Joseph McCarthy. Looking up famous people from Wisconsin there are a few big name actors. I think I might have to pick… Wisconsin / Frank Lloyd Wright ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/22 "2010-11-11T19:49:41Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > Also Johnny Carson, but I don’t know how long he stayed. Not very. They moved to Nebraska when Johnny was very young. And as for Minnesota, I’d say Bob Dylan trumps Judy Garland. Kentucky / Abraham Lincoln – or possibly Muhammad Ali worldwide ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/23 "2010-11-11T19:54:15Z")
> [@Caffeine.addict](#): > > For Washington DC, I am going to go with Marvin Gaye. I’d have thought both Al Gore and Duke Ellington were better known. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/24 "2010-11-11T19:54:46Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Ohio / Neil Armstrong > > Which is kind of funny to say because I woudn’t recognize him if he walked into my office right now. But, his is the first name that pops into my mind. John Glenn is probably AS famous, plus he gets out more. In the past, Clark Gable. However, I will see all of them and raise you Thomas Edison and the Wright Brothers. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/25 "2010-11-11T19:57:27Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > John Glenn is probably AS famous, plus he gets out more. > In the past, Clark Gable. > > However, I will see all of them and raise you Thomas Edison and the Wright Brothers. Nitpick: Only one Wright brother – Wilbur was born in Indiana. But Edison is an excellent choice. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/26 "2010-11-11T19:57:50Z")
Probably LBJ. Quite a few Musicians: Buddy Holly, Willie Nelson, Bob Wills, George Jones, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/27 "2010-11-11T20:07:17Z")
[Caitlin Upton](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww) ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/28 "2010-11-11T20:07:23Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > Kentucky / Abraham Lincoln – or possibly Muhammad Ali worldwide I don’t know - Abraham Lincoln is weirdly huge around the world. Alabama - Helen Keller? Hank Aaron? Willie Mays? ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/29 "2010-11-11T20:08:07Z")
Vermont – Rudy Vallee Not so much now, of course, but, at his height, he was extremely popular nationwide. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/30 "2010-11-11T20:09:01Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Alabama - Helen Keller? Hank Aaron? Willie Mays? Maybe Hank Williams (Sr.)? ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/31 "2010-11-11T20:15:07Z")
From my home state of origin, Indiana, in addition to the ones already mentioned: Hoagy Carmichael James Whitcomb Riley Janie Fricke (I grew up just down the road from her) Michael Jackson My adopted home state of Tennessee is a bit harder. Most famous Tennesseans, historical or current, tend to have been born elsewhere. But for the extra points, Minnie Pearl (aka Sarah Cannon or Mrs. Henry Cannon) from Centerville, who became famous performing on the Grand Ol’ Opry. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/32 "2010-11-11T20:19:07Z")
Washington has musicians Bing Crosby, Jimi Hendrix, and Kurt Cobain. From business, there’s Bill Gates and Paul Allen. ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/33 "2010-11-11T20:20:30Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > I’d have thought both Al Gore and Duke Ellington were better known. I forgot about Al Gore. You can make a good point about him having rised to prominence in DC as well. I’d argue that at these days Marvin Gaye is more famous than Duke Ellington. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/34 "2010-11-11T20:20:53Z")
Florida would probably be Pat Boone (Jacksonville) or Tom Petty (Gainesville). Petty is worth bonus points. IMO these two are the most internationally famous Floridians. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/35 "2010-11-11T20:44:17Z")
I was looking at a list of politicians/political activists born in MA. Shortening the list a bit… John Adams John Quincy Adams Samuel Adams George H. W. Bush Calvin Coolidge John Hancock Abbie Hoffman Oliver Wendell Holmes Edward M. Kennedy John F. Kennedy Robert F. Kennedy John F. Kerry Tip O’Neill Paul Revere Malcolm X ---
**Author:** ![BobArrgh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobarrgh/32/2881_2.png) [@BobArrgh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobArrgh)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/36 "2010-11-11T20:50:39Z")
For Kansas, I think it is probably Amelia Earhart. ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/37 "2010-11-11T21:08:28Z")
> [@missred](#): > > From my home state of origin, Indiana, in addition to the ones already mentioned: > > Hoagy Carmichael > James Whitcomb Riley > Janie Fricke (I grew up just down the road from her) > Michael Jackson Add: Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. James Dean Steve McQueen Larry Bird The rest of the Jackson clan, including Janet Jackson John Dillinger Including the resides-here bonus points, I’d say the first Hoosier mentioned, John Mellencamp, and Larry Bird are the winners; overall fame would be Michael Jackson by a landslide, followed by Janet. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/38 "2010-11-11T21:11:37Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > John Glenn is probably AS famous, plus he gets out more. > In the past, Clark Gable. > > However, I will see all of them and raise you Thomas Edison and the Wright Brothers. I thought of the Wright Bros but figured (perhaps incorrectly) Armstrong was more internationally known. Totally forgot about Edison. I’d say he’s definitely at least as famous as Armstrong. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/39 "2010-11-11T21:12:56Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > Florida would probably be Pat Boone (Jacksonville) or Tom Petty (Gainesville). Petty is worth bonus points. IMO these two are the most internationally famous Floridians. I’d go with Tom Petty as well. Not only is he probably one of the most famous Floridians, but he talks about Florida (and specifically Gainsville) enough that the ‘slightly more then just casual’ Petty fan is usually aware of his hometown. ETA: Oh, that reminds me Howie Epstein is from Milwaukee. In fact, he’s buried about ten minutes from where I’m sitting right now. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/40 "2010-11-11T21:13:30Z")
Most famous person _born_ here (NC) … hmm. Andy Griffith? Elizabeth Dole? Richard Petty? Billy Graham? I guess it depends on what kind of famous you are looking for … (Contrary to some folks’ beliefs, neither Michael Jordan nor James Taylor was born here, though they are strongly associated with the state). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341.md?page=3)