Famous People from Tennessee

Roy Claxton Acuff (1903 - 1992) Was an American country music singer, fiddler, and promoter. Known as the King of Country Music, Acuff is often credited with moving the genre from its early string band and "hoedown" format to the star singer-based format that helped make it internationally successful. Born in Maynardville, TN (1623)

James Agee (1909 - 1955) Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, screenwriter, journalist, poet, and film critic; Known for his autobiographical novel A Death in the Family. Born in Knoxville, TN (539)

Howard Duane Allman (1946 - 1971) Was an American guitarist, respected session musician, and a co-founder of the southern rock group The Allman Brothers Band. He is best remembered for his brief but influential tenure in that band, his expressive slide guitar playing and improvisational skills. Born in Nashville, TN (1624)

Gregory Lenoir Allman (1947 - ) Is a rock and blues singer, keyboardist, guitarist and songwriter, best known as a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band. He was inducted with the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, and personally received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 2006. His distinctive Southern-accented voice placed him in 70th place in Rolling Stone Magazines list of the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time" Born in Nashville, TN (1625)

Chester Burton Atkins (1924 - 2001) Better known as Chet Atkins, was an American guitarist and record producer who created, along with Owen Bradley, the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country's appeal to adult pop music fans as well. Born in Luttrell, TN (1626)

Walter Beech (1891 - 1950) Outstanding pioneer of aviation. Born in Pulaski, TN (196)

Polly Bergen (1930 - ) Born Nellie Paulina Burgin, is an American actress, singer, and entrepreneur. Born in Knoxville, TN (909)

Hattie Caraway (1878 - 1950) The first woman elected to the United States Senate; lived in Jonesboro. Born in Bakerville, TN (30)

Davy Crockett (1786 - 1836) American folk hero, frontiersman, soldier, and politician; He served in the Texas Revolution and was killed at the Battle of the Alamo. Born in Limestone, TN (534)

Miley Ray Cyrus (1992 - ) Born Destiny Hope Cyrus is an American pop singer, songwriter and television and film actress who rose to fame after starring as the title character in the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana. Born in Nashville, TN (1267)

Lester Flatt (1914 - 1979) Bluegrass musician who is considered one of the pioneers of bluegrass music; In the Country Music Hall of Fame and the International Bluegrass Hall of Honor. Born in Sparta, TN (543)

Aretha Franklin (1942 - ) Gospel singer known as the Queen of Soul; She is known for her hit single Respect. Born in Memphis, TN (535)

Morgan Freeman (1937 - ) Famous actor who has appeared in movies such as Driving Miss Daisy, Lean on Me Amistad and others. Born in Memphis, TN (537)

Benjamin L. Hooks (1925 - 2010) Executive director of the NAACP, attorney, and clergyman. Born in Memphis, TN (544)

Benjamin McCulloch (1811 - 1862) Was a soldier in the Texas Revolution, a Texas Ranger, a U.S. marshal, and a brigadier general in the army of the Confederate States during the American Civil War. Born in Rutherford County, TN (1206)

Henry Eustace McCulloch (1816 - 1895) Was a soldier in the Texas Revolution, a Texas Ranger, and a brigadier general in the army of the Confederate States during the American Civil War. Born in Rutherford County, TN (1207)

Dolly Parton (1946 - ) Grammy award-winning country singer/songwriter and Academy Award-winning actress. Born in Sevierville, TN (536)

Cybill Shepherd (1950 - ) Actress made famous from television's Moonlighting and Cybill. Born in Memphis, TN (542)

Dinah Shore (1916 - 1994) Born Frances Rose Shore, she was an American singer, actress, and television personality. She was most popular during the Big Band era of the 1940s and 1950s. Born in Winchester, TN (799)

Tina Turner (1939 - ) Singer. She won a Grammy award in 1972 and starred in the movie Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. Born in Nutbush, TN (545)

Alvin York (1887 - 1964) World War I hero; Awarded the Medal of Honor for leading an attack on a German machine gun nest. Born in Pall Mall, TN (540)