List of Famous people born in Tennessee, United States of America
Margaret Keane
Margaret D. H. Keane is an American artist known for her paintings of subjects with big eyes. She mainly paints women, children, or animals in oil or mixed media. The work achieved commercial success through inexpensive reproductions on prints, plates, and cups. It has been critically acclaimed but also criticized as formulaic and cliché. The artwork was originally attributed to Keane's husband, Walter Keane. After their divorce in the 1960s, Margaret soon claimed credit, which was established after a court "paint-off" in Hawaii.
Harold Ford Jr.
Harold Eugene Ford Jr. is an American financial managing director, pundit, author, and former U.S. congressman who served from 1997–2007 in the United States House of Representatives as a member of the Democratic Party from Tennessee's 9th congressional district, centered in Memphis. He is the son of former Congressman Harold Ford Sr., who held the same seat for 22 years. In 2006, Ford made an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by retiring Bill Frist. He is a member of the Ford political family from Memphis. Ford was the last chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC).
Van Jones
Anthony Kapel "Van" Jones is an American news commentator, author, and lawyer. He is the co-founder of several non-profit organizations, a three-time New York Times bestselling author, a CNN host and contributor, and an Emmy Award winner.
Arthur Smith
Arthur William Smith is an American football coach who is the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). Smith previously served as an assistant coach for the Tennessee Titans, most recently as an offensive coordinator, prior to becoming head coach of the Falcons in 2021. Smith is the son of FedEx founder Frederick W. Smith.
Juicy J
Jordan Michael Houston III, known professionally as Juicy J, is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and record executive from Memphis, Tennessee. He is a founding member of the Southern hip hop group Three 6 Mafia, established in 1991, with whom he won an Academy Award for Best Original Song, for their single “It's Hard out Here for a Pimp”. Some of his most notable singles as a soloist are his features on the Mike Will Made It single “23”, the Usher single “I Don’t Mind” and his own single “Bandz a Make Her Dance”. Juicy J received a Grammy Award nomination for his feature on the Katy Perry single “Dark Horse”, which peaked at number one in the US.
Cedrick Wilson Jr.
Cedrick Wilson Jr. is an American football wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Boise State University.
Cameron Payne
Cameron Payne is an American professional basketball player for Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for Murray State.
Gangsta Boo
Lola Chantrelle Mitchell, better known by her stage name Gangsta Boo, is an American rapper. She was the first female member of the Memphis-based hip hop group Three 6 Mafia, where she initially rose to prominence. She left the group and label sometime in 2002, months after the release of her sophomore album, Both Worlds *69, due to money disputes and issues regarding promotion of her album. She has since released mixtapes alongside artists like La Chat and Yelawolf, as well as some solo music. She has also been featured on albums by clipping. and Run The Jewels. She has been referred to as a pioneer of female rap music.
Christina Hendricks
Christina Rene Hendricks is a British-American actress and former model. Her accomplishments include six Primetime Emmy Award nominations, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and two Critics' Choice Awards for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. A 2010 poll of female readers taken by Esquire magazine named her "the sexiest woman in the world," and voted as Best Looking Woman in America the same year.
Deana Carter
Deana Kay Carter is an American country music singer-songwriter who broke through in 1996 with the release of her debut album Did I Shave My Legs for This?, which was certified 5× Multi-Platinum in the United States for sales of over 5 million. It was followed by 1998's Everything's Gonna Be Alright, 2003's I'm Just a Girl, 2005's The Story of My Life, and 2007's The Chain. Overall, Carter's albums have accounted for 14 singles, including three which reached Number One on the Billboard country charts: "Strawberry Wine", "We Danced Anyway", and "How Do I Get There".