29 Famous People From North Carolina

There’s no denying that North Carolina has got a lot, including a lot of famous people and public figures born right here in “The Tar Heel State.” Listed below are 29 famous people from North Carolina. Some of them might even surprise you. Take a look and see how many of these famous people from North Carolina you’re familiar with.

1. Known as 'The Intimidator,' Kannapolis native Dale Earnhardt Sr. remains, to this day, one of the most popular and loved drivers in NASCAR history.

2. Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States, was born 'somewhere' between the North Carolina and South Carolina border in Western North Carolina. He is known for his strong defense in the rights of the American people.

3. America can thank Cleveland County-born Earl Scruggs and the "Foggy Mountain Boys" who helped introduce bluegrass music into pop culture through TV. His three-finger, banjo-picking style is a defining characteristic of bluegrass.

4. North Carolinians go further than just Hollywood. They also go to space, like Elizabethtown-born astronaut Curtis 'Curt' Brown.

5. The inventor of Coca Cola's number one rival, Pepsi, Caleb Bradham was born in Chinquapin. He attended the University of North Carolina and eventually mixed pepsin and cola together, thus creating Pepsi-Cola.

6. Singer-songwriter Tori Amos, an eight-time Grammy nominee, was born in Newton.

7. Hollywood starlet Ava Gardner got her start in Smithfield. She is known as one of the best actresses of her generation.

8. Born in Wilkesboro, Zach Galifanakis took all of his small town quirks first to North Carolina State and later to Hollywood where he quickly became a favored comedian and actor.

9. Another famous thinker and author is William Sydney Porter, who is best known by his pen name O. Henry. Born in Greensboro, his outstanding short stories left a mark on the literary world. Today, 'The O. Henry Prize' is one of the most prestigious awards given to short stories.

10. Noted by William Faulkner as 'having the best talent of their generation,' Asheville-born Thomas Wolfe was a major American novelist of the early 20th century.

11. Baseball Hall-of-Famer James 'Catfish' Hunter learned to play baseball on his family's farm near Hertford. Despite his superstardom, Catfish Hunter is known for always keeping his humble North Carolina ways.

12. Speaking of sports, Charlotte native Charles Sifford was a championship golfer who helped desegregate the PGA.

13. Just like North Carolina breeds talented musicians, it also breeds strong, independent women like Charlotte Hawkins Brown. Founder of the Palmer Memorial Institute, Brown paved the way for equal education opportunities starting in her home state of North Carolina.

14. Grammy winner Roberta Flack kills us all softly with her amazing music that got its soulful roots from the Blue Ridge Mountains and her birthplace, Black Mountain.

15. As a pioneer of the bebop style, drummer Max Roach used his fame to educate, influence, and advocate for civil rights. He was born in New Bern and later went on to be named Time Magazine's Person of the Year in 2007.

16. 'Small Town Girl' Kelli Pickler was born in Albermarle and got her start on American Idol. Kelli paved her own way to stardom with her chart topping singles.

17. Before becoming a famous TV evangelist and preaching to more than 215 million viewers in over 185 countries, Billy Graham was born and raised on a dairy farm in Charlotte.

18. Gold medal-winning Olympic boxer, Sugar Ray Leonard, was born in Rocky Mount.

19. In case you haven't noticed, a lot of talented musicians come from North Carolina, including Ben Folds. Born in Winston-Salem, Ben Folds is best known for being lead singer of the famous alternative rock band Ben Folds Five.

20. NBA player Chris Paul got his basketball roots playing at West Forsyth High School in Clemmons and later went on to play for Wake Forest.

21. Whether it's Mount Airy or Mayberry, TV star and producer Andy Griffith relayed North Carolina nostalgia and beauty for the whole country to see with The Andy Griffith Show.

22. Best known as First Lady to President James Madison, the vivacious Dolley Madison set standards of what a 'First Lady' should be and saved many important White House documents when it caught fire.

23. Chart topper Eric Church used his Granite Falls roots as inspiration for his famous album "Carolina."

24. Speaking of singers, Chapel Hill-born Clay Aiken placed second on American Idol and later went on to sell three million copies of his debut album. He even ran for Congress.

25. Either you love him or you hate him, but North Carolina native Edward Snowden is an extremely important figure in modern day politics and information secrecy.

26. Oscar winner Julianne Moore was born in Fayetteville.

27. Virginia Dare was the first child born to English parents in America.

28. Nina Simone is a famous singer, songwriter, pianist, and civil rights activist born in Tryon.

29. Richard Petty, nicknamed "The King," is a record setting Daytona 500 and NASCAR winner born in Level Cross.

30. Beth Grant, character actor axtraordinaire in films like Speed, Donnie Darko, Rain Man, and No Country for Old Men. Grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina and graduated from New Hanover High School

A few honorable mentions include Maya Angelou, James Taylor, and Michael Jordan. While these people weren’t actually ‘born’ in North Carolina, their legacy is felt and known throughout the state.

So, who are some of your favorite famous people from North Carolina? Please let us know in the comments below.

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Jennifer Young | August 08, 2022

What are seven fun facts about North Carolina that just might surprise you?

There are many fun facts about North Carolina. Even though you're probably familiar with most of them, there are plenty that just might surprise you. Listed below are some of our favorite North Carolina facts.

1. On March 7, 1914, Babe Ruth hit his first professional home run in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

2. Because of its rich land and hot and moist climate, North Carolina grows more sweet potatoes than any other state.

3. In 1937, Krispy Kreme was founded in the Winston-Salem area of North Carolina. Who doesn't love a Krispy Kreme doughnut? They're the best!

4. With only 25 residents (as of the 2020 Census), Dellview, North Carolina is one of the smallest towns in the United States.

5. In 1954, Putt-Putt golf was created by Don Clayton in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

6. The North Carolina Zoo is the world's largest natural habitat zoo. This sprawling zoo is an absolute must-visit for animal lovers of all ages.

7. In 1799, America's first gold rush took place in North Carolina.

What three celebrities in North Carolina are some of the best athletes of all time?

Who doesn't love a little North Carolina trivia, especially about sports? There are plenty of famous people from North Carolina, including several athletes. Listed below are three of our favorite North Carolina athletes.

1. Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina and won six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls. He was also a member of the '84 and '92 U.S. Olympic teams.

2. Richard Petty

Richard Petty is from Randleman, North Carolina and is a seven-time Daytona 500 champion.

3. Ray Floyd

Ray Floyd is from Fayetteville, North Carolina and was the only golfer on the PGA Tour and the Senior Tour in the same year, which was 1992.

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