16 Famous People You Didn't Know Were From Georgia
By Amanda Northern|Updated on June 29, 2021(Originally published June 24, 2021)
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Amanda Northern
Author
Amanda Northern is a freelance writer, and creator/virtual assistant of The Proassists. Amanda is a Georgia native, GSU Panther, and blogger. More of her words can be found at amandanorthern.wordpress.com
Not only is Georgia known for its great history, beautiful land, awesome people, and fantastic food, but we are also the land of the stars! Some of the top actors, musicians, and celebrities in the world hail from right here in the Peach State. Here are 16 famous people from Georgia that you may not have realized have Georgia roots!
Who would have known that little Olivia from The Cosby Show is from right here in Atlanta, Georgia? Raven-Symoné got her start in the industry at the tender age of just two years old! Her first gigs were advertisements for Jell-O and Cool Whip. After her stints with The Cosby Show and Hangin' With Mr. Cooper, the young actress became a Disney star. Her Disney Channel show That's So Raven premiered in 2007 and was a big hit for the station.
Here's another young actress who is one of the better-known celebrities in Georgia! Born to a nurse and a plastic surgeon in Atlanta, Chloë has made appearances in many movies. Some of her most noteworthy roles were starring performances in Kick-Ass (2010) and the remake of Carrie (2013).
One of the most recognizable faces of our time was born in the Atlanta suburb of Smyrna. The iconic star of Steel Magnolias and Pretty Woman, Julia grew up in a creative atmosphere. Both of her parents were actors and she followed in their footsteps. She has received many awards and is one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood. As one of the most famous people in Georgia, she certainly makes her home state proud!
Reality star/wrestler Hulk Hogan was born in Augusta, Georgia (though he was known as Terry Eugene Bollea then!). Hogan was an immensely popular performer in the World Wrestling Federation in the 1980s. His reality show starring his family, Hogan Knows Best, again made him a household name in the late 2000s.
Grammy award-winning country star Alan Jackson hails from Newnan, Georgia. He married his high school sweetheart in 1979 and they are still together. After marrying, he moved to Nashville to pursue his musical career, and has found immense success.
Distinguished military officer and aide to President Theodore Roselvelt, Major Archibald Butt was a hero that sank on the tragic Titantic ship. He was born in Augusta, Georgia and worked as a journalist for a period of time. Butt was one of many heroes on board the Titanic and we're proud to call him a Georgia native!
One of the most famous broadcasters in the US today hails from Atlanta, Georgia. This UGA alumni always knew he wanted to have a career in television from an early age. His career really took off when he become the host of the popular show, American Idol in 2002.
The famous CeeLo Green has made a career for himself beyond music. The rapper/singer was born in Atlanta, Georgia and started a hip hop group called Goodie Mob with three other people. He then went on to become the frontman of the famous Gnarls Barkley duo, and has appeared as a judge on The Voice.
This young War of the Worlds (2005) star was born in Conyers, Georgia! She was born into an athletic family as one of her parents was a minor league baseball player and the other a tennis player. She began acting at the age of 5 and became the adorable little girl that we've all come to know!
Though this famous rapper claims Chicago as his homeland, he was actually born in Atlanta, Georgia. He has won multiple Grammys and is famous not only for his award-winning music, but also his colorful antics off-stage.
Another international artist that claims another state yet is originally from Georgia! Kelly Rowland was a member of the top R&B girls group- Destiny's Child, and she was born in Atlanta, Georgia. At the age of 7, Kelly moved to Houston, Texas where she would meet her destiny (pun intended) and the other members of the group.
The first African American baseball player to play in the major leagues was born in Cairo, Georgia. He signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers and throughout his career he made many advancements in the civil rights movement.
Country superstar Jason Aldean was originally born in Macon, Georgia. His parents split when he was three so he spent his school years in Macon and his summers in Florida. He made his first appearance at 14 years old in Macon, Georgia, and hasn't looked back since!
The late Brittany Murphy starred in many popular movies, such as Clueless, 8 Mile, and Sin City. She was born in Atlanta and knew she wanted to be an actress from a young age. She died in 2009 at the age of 32.
Actress Kim Basinger is originally from the Classic City of Athens, Georgia. This Academy Award-winning actress is best known for her roles in 8 Mile and L.A. Confidential.
Comedian and actor Chris Tucker is a native of Decatur, Georgia. He rose to fame while starring in the Rush Hour film series and performing alongside Ice Cube in the film Friday.
Of course, Georgia lays claim to many more superstars from all walks of life. If we forgot any notable famous people from Georgia, let us know in the comments! We are always up for discussing Georgia trivia.
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Famous People From Georgia
Lisa Sammons|June 29, 2021
What are some fun facts about Georgia's history?
For one, did you know Georgia was the first to do many things? For example, Georgia was the first state to charter a university (go Dawgs!). Another Georgia college, Wesleyan in Macon, was the first in the country to grant degrees to women. On two separate occasions, Georgia has had three governors simultaneously! People not from here may not know that Coca Cola was developed here, and the Coca Cola Museum is in Atlanta. We have had five state capitals throughout our history (Savannah, Augusta, Louisville, Milledgeville, Atlanta). Some of our towns have pretty interesting histories.
What are some movies and TV shows filmed in Georgia?
Georgia is quickly getting a reputation for being a little Hollywood. In addition to the above list of famous people from Georgia, we've had many famous movies and TV shows filmed here over the last few years -- most notably the smash AMC hit The Walking Dead. Much of The Hunger Games was also filmed in Georgia (the Atlanta area, to be exact). To see some places you might recognize from the big screen, check out this list. There's even more big films listed here.
What's some more Georgia trivia?
I know we just covered famous people born in Georgia, but there are quite a few who took their last breaths in Georgia as well! This list features celebrities that passed away in the Peach State. Not only are we the top producer of peaches (duh), but also pecans, peanuts, and Vidalia onions (which are named for a city in Georgia). The Okefenokee Swamp is the largest swamp in all of North America. There's a tree in Athens that owns itself and the area surrounding it.
