According to a recent survey by the aptly named website Famous People, Lionel Richie is the most famous person in Alabama. The pop and R&B star from Tuskegee topped a list of five celebrities highlighted as the state's most recognized people.
Courteney Cox of Friends fame took second place, followed by Channing Tatum, Mitch McConnell and Condoleezza Rice.
Crimson Tide fans may have differing opinions, especially during football season. That's because University of Alabama coach Nick Saban was nowhere on the candidate list. There was also no Charles Barkley, Octavia Spencer, Emmylou Harris, Gucci Mane, Bo Jackson, Louise Fletcher, Harper Lee, Hank Williams or Tim Cook.
read: 50 Most Famous People Born in Alabama
The site presents results for all 50 states and describes the report as follows: “Based on a national survey conducted by entertainment experts at Famouspeople.io, which evaluated over 3,000 people from a variety of fields, including actors, politicians, singers, and singers. The report targeted athletes and writers. , we take a deep dive into fame, likes and dislikes metrics. …The latest data is based on a nationally representative survey of the U.S. population collected in the second quarter of 2023. They were presented and asked if they knew the people well.”
Perhaps the idea behind rankings is to provide topics for discussion and debate. (Hank Sr. fans, unite!) And there's no denying that all five people on Alabama's list are big names. Let's take a closer look.
Five. Condoleezza Rice
Rice, 69, of Birmingham, made his mark on the world as U.S. Secretary of State (2005-2009) and National Security Advisor to former President George W. Bush (2001-2005). At the time of her appointment as Secretary of State, Rice was the highest-ranking woman in presidential succession in U.S. history. According to her, she is currently the director of the Hoover Institution, a public policy think tank at Stanford University, and is also a “writer, professor, pianist, golfer, and football fan.” X's profile (Formerly known as Twitter).
Four. Mitch McConnell
McConnell, an 81-year-old senator from Kentucky, is widely considered one of the most influential Republicans in Washington, D.C. He was born in Sheffield, spent part of his childhood in Athens, and then moved to Georgia and Kentucky. McConnell, now the Senate Minority Leader, was especially powerful during his time as Senate Majority Leader from 2015 to 2021. He is currently the longest-serving Senate leader in U.S. history, having been elected chair of the Republican Conference nine times since 2006.
3. Channing Tatum
Tatum, 43, of Cullman, is a member of Hollywood's A-list. He has an extensive acting history, including the “Magic Mike” series, the films “21 Jump Street,” “Logan Lucky,” “Dog,” “The Hateful Eight” and “Hail, Caesar!” Tatum is also known for his roles in “Foxcatcher,” “Dear John,” the “Lego His Movie” series, and several “Step Up” movies, among others. He won the People's Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actor for “22 Jump Street'' in 2016. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2022. The actor has 21 million followers on his Facebook, 17 million followers on Instagram, and on his X (formerly Twitter) he has 7.4 million followers.
read more: Matthew McConaughey says 'Magic Mike' co-star Channing Tatum: 'It was money well spent'
2. courteney cox
Cox, 59, from Birmingham, first found fame with her role in the hit TV series Friends. She played Monica Geller, a properly eccentric chef who was bossy, obsessive, anxious, eccentric, kind and caring, sometimes all at the same time. Cox is also known for her work in the “Scream'' film series and television series such as “Cougar Town'' and “Dirt.'' She is also a director and producer. Cox has been nominated for many awards in the entertainment industry, and she has won trophies from Teen Choice, Screen Actors Guild, People's Choice, and more. Cox has 13 million followers and 1.3 million followers on her Instagram. on X (Formerly Twitter). In February, Cox received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
read more: From Hank Williams to Courteney Cox, Alabama people featured on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
1. lionel richie
Ritchie, 74, of Tuskegee, is an iconic pop and R&B star known for his hugely popular solo work and early work with the Commodores. Since 2018, he has also been a judge on “American Idol.” Ritchie's hit list is long and highly celebrated, ranging from “Brick House'' to “Hello'' to “Dancing on the Ceiling.'' Richie will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. He is a member of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame. He has received his four Grammy Awards, an Oscar, a Golden Globe, a BET Award, several American Music Awards, and an NAACP Image Award. He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2022, Ritchie won the Library of Congress Gershwin Award for Popular His Song. In 2017, he received the Kennedy Center Honors for his lifetime artistic achievement. In May 2023, Ritchie was announced as one of the headliners for King Charles' coronation concert on the grounds of Windsor Castle.
read more: Lionel Richie: 10 essential songs recorded by the legendary Alabama star
