1. Mary Steenburgen (North Little Rock)
Steenburgen has started in many movies, including Parenthood and Back to the Future III . She won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in Melvin and Howard in 1981. How's this for fun facts about Arkansas? She also produced and starred in The End of the Line< , which was filmed right here in the Natural State. She is one of the most famous people born in Arkansas.
2. Glen Campbell (Delight)
This native of Pike County was a famous pop/country singer and songwriter. He also hosted two hit TV variety shows: The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour and The Glen Campbell Music Show . His hit recordings include "Wichita Lineman" and "By the Time I Get To Phoenix." Campbell appeared in many hit movies, including True Grit and Family Prayers .
3. John Grisham (Jonesboro)
John Grisham is a lawyer and one of the best-selling authors of all time. His list of acclaimed works includes A Time To Kill , The Rainmaker , The Fir , The Pelican Brief , and The Client , all of which have been successfully translated into movies. His book A Painted House was made into a Hallmark Channel movie and was filmed on location in Lepanto. Grisham has lived in various towns throughout northeast Arkansas.
4. Johnny Cash (Kingsland)
The late, great Man in Black was born to an Arkansas sharecropper in 1932. His first big hit was Folsom Prison Blues, which rose to the top five in country singles in 1956. His first number 1 hit was "I Walk the Line." In 1957, he made his first appearance at the Grand Ole Opry. By 1958, he'd published 50 songs and sold over six million records. He and his wife June Carter Cash had a number of famous hits and he's undoubtedly among the most famous people from Arkansas.
5. Al Greene (Jacknash)
This legendary gospel and soul singer is an eight-time Grammy Award winner. He's been referred to as the "quintessential soul man." He recorded nine best-selling gospel albums and many secular hits, including "Let's Stay Together." He's one of the most talented celebrities from Arkansas.
6. Ronnie Dunn (El Dorado)
RBrooks and Dunn received the 1996 CMA Entertainers of the Year Award and will reunite in late 2015 to perform a series of concerts in Las Vegas with fellow country legend Reba McEntire.
7. John Daly (Dardanelle)
John Daly is a PGA golfer known for his driving distance off the tee. However, he should also be known for his Arkansas roots.
8. Charles "Sonny" Liston (Sand Slough)
Nicknamed "the Bear" for his massive physique, Liston was born in a small St. Francis County community. He won the world heavyweight boxing championship title in 1962. He held that title until 1964 when he lost it to Cassius Clay (later known as Muhammed Ali). Liston was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1991.
9. Scottie Pippen (Hamburg)
Scottie Pippen was born in 1965. He graduated from the University of Central Arkansas and was a celebrated professional basketball player. He was most remembered for, along with Michael Jordan, leading the Chicago Bulls, to six championships. He was one of the best all-around players of all time. He retired in 2004, and a year later, his jersey number 33 was retired. He's one of the most famous sports celebrities from Arkansas.
10. Levon Helm (Turkey Scratch)
This Arkansas native was a drummer, vocalist, and original member of the legendary group The Band. They were best known for the hit "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down." He also played supporting roles in films like Coal Miner's Daughter and The Right Stuff . Helm was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award in 2008 for his work with The Band. In 2003, he was named by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. He was later inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
11. Billy Bob Thornton (Malvern)
Thornton directed and starred in the classic film Sling Blade , a movie that was filmed in Benton. He received two Oscar nominations for the film, one for Best Actor and one for Best Screenplay (he won that one). He also starred in the cult holiday hit Bad Santa , and is the vocalist and drummer of The Boxmasters, a country/rockabilly band he founded in 2007.
The Natural State has had a number of notable citizens who have made a name in the sports, art, music, and film realms. The vast culture of our state is more diverse than many may think at first glance! There are plenty of famous people from Arkansas that help to make the world a more interesting place. Do you know of any other celebrities from Arkansas? Please mention them in the comments.
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More to Explore
True Facts About Arkansas
Lisa Sammons
|
July 08, 2021
What are some fun facts about Arkansas?
Here are some fun facts about Arkansas:
Did you know Arkansas's forests cover land large enough to cover 1.5 times the size of Switzerland? It's no wonder they call us the Natural State!
On average, Arkansas gets about twice as much precipitation as California! Arkansas produces more rain than rice than any other state.
Check out this list for more true facts about Arkansas.
What are some true facts about Arkansas' history?
The Natural State has had a long and fascinating history . Here are a couple of true facts about Arkansas:
Did you know it rained ducks in Stuttgart in 1973?
Famed Prohibitionist Carrie A. Nation was from Arkansas and often destroyed saloons with her hatchets (named Faith, Hope, and Charity).
What are some historical landmarks in Arkansas?
The following are some historical landmarks in Arkansas:
Central High School is the site of a famed anti-segregationist standoff.
There are also quite a few Native American mounds.
Check out this list of nine cool historical landmarks in Arkansas.