You don’t have to be from Los Angeles or New York to become a pop sensation. Not all country singers are born in Nashville. Some artists, no matter how small their hometown is, have left their roots to pursue a career in music. Let's take a look at which state your faves, aka the most popular music artists, are from, shall we? Who’s reppin’ your home state? Consider this a music road trip from the comfort of your couch. Sweatpants (and headphones) encouraged.
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Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie was saying "Hello" waaay before Adele. Born in Tuskegee, Alabama, we’re not surprised he’s a southern guy at heart. He’s charmed us all these years winning everything from Grammys, a Golden Globe and even a nomination for an Oscar! (Best Original Song for the film Endless Love). Nowadays he's the smiling face in the judge’s chair on ABC’s American Idol.
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Portugal. The Man.
Portugal. The Man. is living proof that the friends you played music with from high school can go on to win a Grammy. The American rock band from Wasilla, Alaska won “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance” for their runaway hit “Feel It Still” in 2018. The band (and classmates of Wasilla High School) consists of John Baldwin Gourley, Zach Carothers, Kyle O’Quin, Jason Sechrist, Eric Howk, and Zoe Manville.
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Stevie Nicks
While she penned arguably one of the biggest songs, like, ever, “Landslide,” while looking out into the mountains in Colorado, Stevie Nicks actually hails from Phoenix, Arizona. A voice like no other, she’s one of the first women in the music biz to prove that she’s just as powerful with her band Fleetwood Mac, or on her own. She’s the only woman to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice.
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Evanescence
Evanescence was formed in Little Rock, Arkansas, but nothing is little about them. Singer and pianist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody recorded separate albums before coming together for the group’s first EP, Fallen. They struck gold as the album has sold more than 17 million copies worldwide with a couple Grammys in tow. They’re planning to release a long-awaited comeback album later this year and we’re ready for them to *briiiing us back to life.*
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Billie Eilish
She’s a baaaaaaad guy, duh! Billie Eilish (full name: Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O’Connell) is a Los Angeles native, growing up in a humble bungalow with her family. At 18, she won every award imaginable with her debut album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? She wrote and recorded the entire album with her brother Finneas, creating the entire thing right in his bedroom.
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OneRepublic
OneRepublic is an American pop rock band formed in Colorado Springs. The band hit the scene back in 2002 after being discovered as an unsigned act on...Myspace! Besides frontrunner Ryan Tedder (who writes songs for literally everyone), the group consists of guitarist Zach Filkins, guitarist Drew Brown, bassist and cellist Brent Kutzle, drummer Eddie Fisher, and keyboardist Brian Willett.
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John Mayer
Just think that John Mayer’s “Your Body Is a Wonderland” could be about his memories in Bridgeport, Connecticut, *sigh*. He dabbled in various genres from pop to blues and rock, even being a member of a two person band called Lo-Fi Masters before he became famous. Although he dropped out of Berklee College of Music in Boston to pursue his career, it seemed to have all worked out for him in the end.
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George Thorogood and The Destroyers
George Thorogood hails from Wilmington, Delaware and his enthusiastic “boogie-blues” became a staple of 1980s rock radio. This is the group that sang “Bad to the Bone” and “I Drink Alone”. Selling over 15 million albums worldwide, they continue to tour recently celebrating their 40th anniversary of performing in 2014.
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Ariana Grande
Miss Ariana Grande needs no introduction, but here's one anyway: born Ariana Grande-Butera, Ari grew up in Boca Raton, Florida. She successfully navigated going from clumsy sidekick Cat Valentine in the Nickelodeon series Victorious to famed pop princess. For the first time since The Beatles, she held the top three spots on the Billboard Top 100 in the same week with “7 Rings,” “Break Up With Your Girlfriend,” and “Thank You, Next,” respectively.
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Outkast
Ah, the group that taught us all how to shake a polaroid picture. American hip hop duo, Outkatst, was formed in 1992 in East Point, Georgia consisting of André 3000 and Antwan “Big Boi” Patton. They paved the way for many from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s, commercializing Southern hip hop while experimenting with funk, jazz, techno, and psychedelia.
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Bruno Mars
Peter Gene Hernandez (we know him as Bruno Mars) was a young kid with a dream when he moved from his hometown of Honolulu, Hawaii to Los Angeles in 2003 to pursue a musical career. Since his debut album Doo-Wops & Hooligans, he’s charmed us ever since.
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Paul Revere and the Raiders
Yes, some talent does come out of Idaho! Paul Revere & the Raiders is an American pop-rock band from Boise, Idaho. They defined garage rock to psychedelic pop throughout the 1960s to early 1970s. Ask your parents about them, because they were *Lady Gaga* big back then.
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Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Kate Hudson was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. While she only placed 7th on American Idol, it didn’t stop her from becoming a force of nature(!). She ventured into acting too with Dream Girls, where she stands as the only American Idol alum to win an Oscar (Best Supporting Actress).
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Michael Jackson
The King of Pop was rooted in Gary, Indiana. He is regarded as one of the most significant (also: ahem, complictaed) cultural figures of the 20th century.
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Slipknot
You can’t say heavy metal without thinking of Slipknot. The band was founded in Des Moines, Iowa in 1995 with members Shawn Crahan, Joey Jordison, and Paul Gray. Members in the following decade have swapped in and out. Their aggressive image and chaotic live shows are not for everyone, but their diehard fans live for it.
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Melissa Etheridge
From Leavenworth, Kansas, Melissa Etheridge’s debut album in 1988 was a sleeper hit. She kept the momentum going with her breakthrough album, Yes I Am with her biggest song “Come to My Window.” After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004, she returned to the Grammy stage in 2005 with a bald head and a performance of bravery that defined her career.
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Billy Ray Cyrus
While we know him as Miley’s dad or that guy in Lil Nas’ “Old Town Road” remix, he was quite the act back in his day. Born in Flatwoods, Kentucky, this man has released 16 (sixteen!!) studio albums and is best known for his smash “Achy Breaky Heart.” He’s a pioneer to country music, making line-dancing mainstream in his music video for the hit song.
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Britney Spears
Our sweet, Britney, oh where to begin. Britney Spears grew up in Kentwood, Louisiana and was singing and dancing at the age of two. She quickly shed her Disney persona and became America’s sweetheart gone bad girl with hits like “Oops!...I Did It Again” and “Toxic”. She grew up in the spotlight, making some of her greatest music in her darkest moments (yes, we’re talking about Blackout). She’s done everything from a Super Bowl Halftime Show to a Las Vegas residency—this Queen of Pop has paved the way for many pop artists to come.
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Howie Day
From Bangor, Maine, Howie Day wasn’t originally signed to a record label and released his first album self-financed and self-released. It worked out because he got signed to Epic Records in 2002 and the rest is history. “Collide” is his biggest song to date.
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Good Charlotte
Ah, Good Charlotte brings back our emo middle school days. Formed in 1996 in Waldorf, Maryland by guitarist and vocalist Benji Madden, vocalist Joel Madden, bassist Paul Thomas, and guitarist and keyboardist Billy Martin. Their breakthrough album was The Young and the Hopeless which over a decade later feels too relevant.
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Aerosmith
“The bad boys from Boston” were formed in, duh, Boston, Massachusetts. Aerosmith soared at their peak with members Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton, Joey Kramer, and Brad Whitford, constantly pushing boundaries from pop rock, heavy metal and even rhythm and blues.
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Lizzo
Born Melissa Viviane Jefferson in Detroit, Michigan, Lizzo hustled like no other. Last year she got the recognition she deserved—becoming a household name with a long list of Grammy noms. Her body positivity message is contagious, and we’re patiently (patiently!) waiting for new music.
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Prince
There was no one quite like Prince. Born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he was signed to Warner Bros. Records at the age of 19. He became one of this generation’s greatest musicians from his far-reaching falsetto and high-pitched screams. Before he passed away at age 57, he released 39 albums during his life, and an array of unreleased projects left in a vault at his home after his death. Who knows, maybe we’ll get to hear some new Prince one day. *fingers crossed*
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Elvis Presley
The King of Rock and Roll was born and raised in Tupelo, Mississippi where you can actually visit his childhood home today. He is the best-selling solo music artist of all time, crossing genres including pop, country, R&B, adult contemporary, and gospel.
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Eminem
Before his upbringing in Detroit, Eminem was born in St. Joseph, Missouri and spent time moving back and forth as a young child. Oh, yeah, and then he became the most successful artist of the 2000s, NBD.
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Reggie Watts
Yes, this is the man that keeps the rhythm going on The Late Late Show with James Corden. He grew up in Great Falls, Montana and as you’ve probably seen on the show, is super creative from playing multiple instruments to singing and rapping. Release some new music already!
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311
311 is a rock band from Omaha, Nebraska. Consisting of Nick Hexum, Jim Watson (until Tim Mahoney replaced him in 1990), Aaron Wills, and Chad Sexton, they’ve been around the block, releasing 13 albums together. The band’s name originates from the police code for indecent exposure in this hometown, after the original guitarist was arrested for streaking.
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Imagine Dragons
From humble beginnings in Las Vegas, Imagine Dragons are a force to be reckoned with. Band members include Dan Reynolds, Wayne Sermon, Ben McKee, and Daniel Platzman. They wrote off being a one-hit wonder after they found major success with their first album Night Visions and was the most streamed group of 2018 on Spotify. They have the top three rock songs of the 2010s on the Billboard charts: “Believer,” “Thunder," and “Radioactive.”
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Mandy Moore
Although Mandy Moore has had a comeback in the show This Is Us, we cannot forget music career. Raised in Nashua, New Hampshire, this small town girl got the big dreams that she set out for. Before going further into acting, she released a few albums, with her biggest song “I Wanna Be With You.”
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Bruce Springsteen
The Boss, aka Bruce Springsteen, is a native of the Jersey Shore. He released music from the 1970s before critical acclaim and fame for the release of Born to Run in 1975. Fun fact: Courteney Cox was in his “Dancing in the Dark” music video, which you should remember for the next Friends-themed bar trivia.
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Demi Lovato
Demetria Devonne Lovato, Demi, was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She started on Barney and Friends later finding herself all over Disney Channel from Camp Rock and her show Sonny with a Chance. We’ve seen her go from pop rock to pop to R&B, with songs that are deeply personal and confident like her most recent single “I Love Me.”
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Lady Gaga
Miss Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, or simply Lady Gaga, was born and raised in Manhattan. She came onto the scene on her own terms, like when she “hung herself” on stage while performing “Paparazzi” for her first ever VMA performance. We’ve seen the meat dress but we can never forget her awe-inspiring performance in A Star is Born and how she killed every look on that press run. Most recently she took us back to her roots with Chromatica, and we already can’t wait for her next acting role in Gucci.
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Nina Simone
Nina Simone was born in Tyron, North Carolina, the sixth of eight children. Initially aspiring to be a concert pianist, she enrolled in Juilliard School of Music in New York City. She played at nightclubs in Atlantic City to make money, since then releasing more than 40 albums. Her style fuses gospel and pop with classical music, a trailblazer at heart.
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Wiz Khalifa
Wiz Khalifa, born Cameron Jibril Thomaz, was born and raised in Minot, North Dakota. He didn’t strike gold right away, having minor hits until his song “Black and Yellow” was everywhere. He did it again in 2015 when he released “See You Again” with Charlie Puth for the soundtrack of the film Furious 7, which peaked at number one on the Billboard Top 100 for 12 non-consecutive weeks.
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John Legend
John Legend, from Springfield, Ohio, is literally EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony) status. He’s super talented hitting number one with his love song to swoon us all, “All of Me”. Nowadays you can catch him on his perfect wife Chrissy Teigen’s social media or as a coach on The Voice.
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All-American Rejects
The All-American Rejects are a rock band that was formed in Stillwater, Oklahoma in 1999, consisting of Tyson Ritter, Nick Wheeler, Mike Kennerty, and Chris Gaylor. I hope you remember when he was most randomly Emma Stone’s love interest in The House Bunny. They have hits from “Dirty Little Secret” to “Gives You Hell” that are perfect for any angsty mood.
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Esperanza Spalding
Esperanza Spalding is an American jazz bassist, singer, songwriter and composer from Portland, Oregon. She’s self-taught and trained on a number of instruments, including the guitar and bass. She won a Grammy for Best New Artist beating out favorites such as Justin Bieber, Drake, Mumford & Sons, and even Florence & the Machine.
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Taylor Swift
As she loves to remind us, Taylor Swift grew up on a Christmas tree farm in West Reading, Pennsylvania. Her parents really believed in her, uprooting the family to Nashville, Tennessee so Taylor could pursue her music career. Signed at age 14, she has become one of the most successful artists of this generation. We’re predicting Album of the Year for Folklore, calling it right now.
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Jeffrey Osborne
Jeffrey Osborne began his music career in 1970 becoming a member of the American soul group L.T.D. Born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island, he shared the lead vocals with his brother Billy Osborne. He later went on to become the group’s primary lead vocalist, leading to five gold and platinum albums.
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Hootie & the Blowfish
Formed in Columbia, South Carolina, Hootie & the Blowfish is the quartet of Darius Rucker, Mark Bryan, Dean Felber and Jim Sonefeld. After going on a hiatus for fourteen years, the group dropped a new album, Imperfect Circle in 2019. Darius has done some solo stuff —does the Summer of “Wagon Wheel” mean anything to you? *Puts on cowboy hat*
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Shawn Colvin
From Vermillion, South Dakota, Shawn Colvin was at the height of her career in the ‘90s. She won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album and later won more for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Her music is folksy and nostalgic—she should totally team up with Taylor for some “Cardigan” remixes.
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Justin Timberlake
Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Justin Timberlake is not the country boy we’d expect. He’s become quite the Renaissance man from Disney’s Mickey Mouse Club as a child, to NSYNC, to his solo career with “Cry Me a River” (sorry Britney) even to acting such as his role in The Social Network.
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Beyoncé
Cue the drumroll for Queen Bey: Beyoncé was born and raised in Houston, Texas. Which you already know bc she’s drops her hometown in her music on the regular. While we loved her in Destiny’s Child, her destiny was to become a solo artist, and arguably one of the biggest. While we’re patiently waiting for her follow up to Lemonade, her visual album, Black is King on Disney+ just might hold us over if we watch it enough times.
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Neon Trees
Hailing from Provo, Utah, Neon Trees initially gained momentum in 2008 after opening for The Killers on their tour. The band later was signed to Mercury Records and released their first album, with their single “Animal” charting the Billboard charts. See, everyone’s gotta open for someone to get their foot in the door!
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Phish
Blending genres with musical improvisation and extended jams, Phish has one of the most dedicated fan bases around. From Burlington, Vermont (totally fits their vibe), the group consists of Trey Anastasio, Mike Gordon, Jon Fishman and Page McConnell—with each member helping out on vocals. It’s no surprise here that they’re big inspiration is the Grateful Dead...we dig it!
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Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band is the group we all grew up with. No matter where we are in our lives, you get the gang back together and see their show whenever they’re in town. Just me? Okay, fine. From Charlottesville, Virginia, the band’s frontrunner is obviously Dave Matthews, along with Stefan Lessard, Carter Beauford, Boyd Tinsley and LeRoi Moore. They’re a jam band, meaning that they’re known to play songs completely different from show to show.
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Nirvana
Oh yeah, smells like teen spirit y’all. One of the most iconic rock bands, Nirvana, had humble beginnings in Aberdeen, Washington starting with Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic, later adding Dave Grohl after various other drummers. The pull this band has: you’ll see high schoolers today wearing Nirvana shirts just because it’s cool, when in reality they’ve never heard a song all the way through.
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Brad Paisley
There ain’t no country music without Brad Paisley. He’s from Glen Dale, West Virginia, and has released 11 studio albums (and even a Christmas album!). While he’s distinguished in his craft, he also wrote songs for Pixar’s Cars franchise (“Behind the Clouds” and “Find Yourself”).
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Bon Iver
Bon Iver definitely has that Wisconsin vibe—Eau Claire to be exact. With their self-titled album, the indie folk group won Grammys for Best New Artist and Best Alternative Music Album. When Taylor Swift chose to put her alternative album, Folklore, out it was no surprise that she tapped one of the greats. (You can listen to Bon Iver on her track, “Exile.")
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Scott Avett
Born in Cheyenne, Wyoming Scott Avett started the band The Avett Brothers with yes...his brother. Their sound crosses genres from pop to blues to country. They have yet to win one, but have been nominated for three Grammy Awards.
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The Most Popular Music Artist from Every State
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You don’t have to be from Los Angeles or New York to become a pop sensation. Not all country singers are born in Nashville. Some artists, no matter how small their hometown is, have left their roots to pursue a career in music. Let's take a look at which state your faves, aka the most popular music artists, are from, shall we? Who’s reppin’ your home state? Consider this a music road trip from the comfort of your couch. Sweatpants (and headphones) encouraged.
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Bc you're running out of ideas for organizing your playlists.
34,854 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others?34,854 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others?
