Most Famous Singers by State (2024)

Introduction

In this report, we delve into the five most famous singers and musician from each state in the United States. Our analysis is based on objective data, focusing on where these renowned personalities were born and the level of fame, they achieved in their home state. In this report, we have made a list of the five most famous singers from each state. Join us as we unveil the captivating stories of these iconic figures, highlighting their lasting impact and unique paths to state-wide recognition.

Alabama

Jason Isbell
  1. Jason Isbell
  2. Wilson Pickett
  3. Emmylou Harris
  4. Nat King Cole
  5. Tammy Wynette

Alaska

Jewel Kilcher
  1. Jewel Kilcher
  2. Lincoln Brewster
  3. John Luther Adams
  4. Jason Everman
  5. Portugal. The Man

Arizona

Charles Mingus
  1. Charles Mingus
  2. Chester Bennington
  3. Linda Ronstadt
  4. Jim Adkins
  5. Stevie Nicks

California

Billie Eilish
  1. Billie Eilish
  2. The Beach Boys
  3. Dr. Dre
  4. Van Halen
  5. Metallica

Colorado

John Denver
  1. John Denver
  2. Ross Lynch
  3. The Lumineers
  4. Philip Bailey
  5. Nathaniel Rateliff

Connecticut

Karen Carpenter
  1. Karen Carpenter
  2. John Mayer
  3. 50 Cent
  4. Michael Bolton
  5. Chris Webby

Delaware

Stephen Marley
  1. Stephen Marley
  2. Jimmie Allen
  3. George Thorogood
  4. Travis Greene
  5. John Gallagher Jr.

District of Columbia

Johnny Gill
  1. Johnny Gill
  2. Damian Kulash
  3. Young Summer
  4. Amerie
  5. C.J. Snare

Florida

Tom Petty
  1. Tom Petty
  2. Lynyrd Skynyrd
  3. Ariana Grande
  4. T-Pain
  5. Ronnie Van Zant

Georgia

Kanye West
Kanye West
  1. Kanye West
  2. Alan Jackson
  3. André 3000
  4. Michael Stipe
  5. Luke Bryan

Hawaii

Bruno Mars
  1. Bruno Mars
  2. ​​Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
  3. Jack Johnson
  4. Don Ho
  5. Moe Keale

Idaho

Josh Ritter
  1. Josh Ritter
  2. Paul Revere
  3. Built to Spill
  4. Curtis Stigers
  5. Eilen Jewell

Illinois

Miles Davis
Miles Davis
  1. Miles Davis
  2. Ludacris
  3. Patti Smith
  4. Verdine White
  5. Herbie Hancock

Indiana

Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
  1. Michael Jackson
  2. Joshua Bell
  3. Axl Rose
  4. Janet Jackson
  5. Adam Lambert

Iowa

Adam Young
Adam Young
  1. Adam Young
  2. Bix Beiderbecke
  3. Corey Taylor
  4. Glenn Miller
  5. Charlie Haden

Kansas

Charlie Parker
Charlie Parker
  1. Charlie Parker
  2. Joe Walsh
  3. Janelle Monáe
  4. Stan Kenton
  5. Melissa Etheridge

Kentucky

Crystal Gayle
Crystal Gayle
  1. Crystal Gayle
  2. Dwight Yoakam
  3. Keith Whitley
  4. Lionel Hampton
  5. Mary Travers

Louisiana

Jelly Roll Morton
Jelly Roll Morton
  1. Jelly Roll Morton
  2. Wynton Marsalis
  3. Louis Armstrong
  4. Joseph “King” Oliver
  5. Harry Connick, Jr.

Maine

Juliana Hatfield
Juliana Hatfield
  1. Juliana Hatfield
  2. Clarence White
  3. Patty Griffin
  4. Bill Flagg
  5. Spencer Albee

Maryland

Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
  1. Frank Zappa
  2. Toni Braxton
  3. Philip Glass
  4. Logic
  5. Good Charlotte

Massachusetts

James Taylor
James Taylor
  1. James Taylor
  2. Jo Dee Messina
  3. Donna Summer
  4. Joe Perry
  5. Meghan Trainor

Michigan

Iggy Pop
  1. Iggy Pop
  2. Stevie Wonder
  3. Bob Seger
  4. Eminem
  5. Jack and Meg White

Minnesota

Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
  1. Bob Dylan
  2. Chad Smith
  3. Mod Sun
  4. Prince
  5. The Andrews Sisters

Mississippi

Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett
  1. Jimmy Buffett
  2. Otis Rush
  3. Lester Young
  4. Conway Twitty
  5. Elvis Presley

Missouri

Eminem
Eminem
  1. Eminem
  2. Andrew VanWyngarden
  3. Chuck Berry
  4. Josephine Baker
  5. Sara Evans

Montana

Jeff Ament
Jason Isbell
  1. Jeff Ament
  2. Nicolette Larson
  3. Colin Meloy
  4. David Lynch
  5. Aimee Allen

Nebraska

Buddy Miles
Buddy Miles
  1. Buddy Miles
  2. James Valentine
  3. Conor Oberst
  4. Matthew Sweet
  5. Elliott Smith

Nevada

Dan Reynolds
Dan Reynolds
  1. Dan Reynolds
  2. Jim Root
  3. Brandon Flowers
  4. Jenny Lewis
  5. Ronnie Radke

New Hampshire

Mandy Moore
Mandy Moore
  1. Mandy Moore
  2. Our Last Night
  3. Ray LaMontagne
  4. Ronnie James Dio
  5. Franz Nicolay

New Jersey

Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
  1. Whitney Houston
  2. Count Basie
  3. Wesley Schultz
  4. Paul Simon
  5. Gloria Gaynor

New Mexico

John Denver
John Denver
  1. John Denver
  2. Ryan Bingham
  3. Randy Castillo
  4. Lorenzo Antonio
  5. Tim Pierce

New York

Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
  1. Frank Sinatra
  2. Lady Gaga
  3. Jay-Z
  4. Barbra Streisand
  5. Billy Joel

North Carolina

Jermaine Dupri
Jermaine Dupri
  1. Jermaine Dupri
  2. Nina Simone
  3. Ronnie Milsap
  4. Ben Folds
  5. George Clinton

North Dakota

Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk
  1. Lawrence Welk
  2. Bobby Vee
  3. Peggy Lee
  4. Jonny Lang
  5. Josh Duhamel

Ohio

John Legend
  1. John Legend
  2. Art Tatum
  3. Dean Martin
  4. Anita Baker
  5. Bobby Womack

Oklahoma

Toby Keith
Toby Keith
  1. Toby Keith
  2. Blake Shelton
  3. Chet Baker
  4. Garth Brooks
  5. Reba McEntire

Oregon

Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
  1. Bing Crosby
  2. Portugal. The Man
  3. Esperanza Spalding
  4. Elliott Smith
  5. Kathleen Hanna

Pennsylvania

Joan Jett
Joan Jett
  1. Joan Jett
  2. Taylor Swift
  3. Meek Mill
  4. Pattie LaBelle
  5. P!NK

Rhode Island

Billy Gilman
Billy Gilman
  1. Billy Gilman
  2. Pauly D
  3. Dicky Barrett
  4. John Cowsill
  5. Nelson Eddy

South Carolina

Eartha Kitt
Eartha Kitt
  1. Eartha Kitt
  2. James Brown
  3. Chubby Checker
  4. Eartha Kitt
  5. Darius Rucker

South Dakota

Shawn Colvin
Shawn Colvin
  1. Shawn Colvin
  2. Rita Coolidge
  3. Chad Kroeger
  4. David Soul
  5. Brian Vander Ark

Tennessee

Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
  1. Dolly Parton
  2. Tina Turner
  3. Miley Cyrus
  4. Justin Timberlake
  5. Kenny Chesney

Texas

Beyoncé
Beyoncé
  1. Beyoncé
  2. Barry White
  3. Stevie Ray Vaughan
  4. Nelly
  5. Buddy Holly

Utah

Jewel
Jewel
  1. Jewel
  2. Marie Osmond
  3. Neon Trees
  4. The Used
  5. David Archuleta

Vermont

JoJo singer
JoJo singer
  1. JoJo
  2. Phish
  3. Prydein
  4. Noah Kahan
  5. RAQ

Virginia

Jason Mraz
Jason Mraz
  1. Jason Mraz
  2. Ella Fitzgerald
  3. Timbaland
  4. Wayne Newton
  5. Bruce Hornsby

Washington

Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
  1. Jimi Hendrix
  2. Macklemore
  3. Heart
  4. Nirvana
  5. Bing Crosby

West Virginia

Bill Withers
Bill Withers
  1. Bill Withers
  2. Billy Cox
  3. Brad Paisley
  4. The Lilly Brothers
  5. Hazel Dickens

Wisconsin

Bon Iver
Bon Iver
  1. Bon Iver
  2. Les Paul
  3. Woody Herman
  4. Steve Miller
  5. Skylar Grey

Wyoming

Chris LeDoux
Chris LeDoux
  1. Chris LeDoux
  2. Chancey Williams
  3. Teenage Bottlerocket
  4. Foreverlin
  5. Luke Bell

Arkansas

Al Green
Al Green
  1. Al Green
  2. Johnny Cash
  3. Ne-Yo
  4. Sister Rosetta Tharpe
  5. Billy Bob Thornton

Methodology

The latest data about most famous singers, is based on a nationally representative survey of the US population, collected during January 2024. Individuals were presented with a series of famous singers and asked to identify whether or not they are familiar with them.