Pennsylvania is a historic state. Besides being one of the key birthplaces of the United States, the state has a number of firsts, including the first library and first hospital in the country. As a progenitor of American culture since its inception, it should come as no surprise that some of the biggest musicians on earth hail from the Keystone State.
Let’s meet the 10 biggest living musicians from Pennsylvania. (Though they are some of the biggest names, not everyone has won a Grammy — here is a list of the best-selling musicians who have never won a Grammy.)
To compile a list of the 10 biggest living musicians from Pennsylvania, 24/7 Tempo consulted a variety of celebrity databases and news affiliate sites such as Hello Music Theory. From there, we selected a diverse roster of big-name musicians. After that, we consulted websites like Biography and Britannica for the artists’ biographical information.
P!NK
- Hometown: Doylestown
Born Alecia Beth Moore, P!NK is a singer, songwriter, and actress. Though she got her start in the girl group Choice as a teenager, she first rose to prominence with the release of her first solo studio album, “Can’t Take Me Home.” Since then, P!NK has become akin to pop royalty, selling over 135 million records worldwide.
Besides music, she is noted for her activism. She has been involved in or lent her support to organizations like Save the Children, the Human Rights Campaign, the New York Restoration Project, and Black Lives Matter. Among her many accolades, she has won three Grammy Awards, seven MTV Video Music Awards, and a Daytime Emmy Award.
Trent Reznor
- Hometown: Newcastle
One of the biggest living musicians from Pennsylvania is musician, singer, and producer Trent Reznor. Born Michael Trent Reznor, Reznor first rose to fame with the release of his band Nine Inch Nail’s debut album “Pretty Hate Machine.” Since then, Reznor has become a music legend, revolutionizing the industrial rock genre and spawning a league of imitators.
After his rockstar days, Reznor took to composing soundtracks for Hollywood Films. Some of his soundtrack work includes “Natural Born Killers,” “The Girl With a Dragon Tattoo,” and “The Social Network.” For his musical success, Reznor has won an Academy Award for Best Original Score and a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Musical Composition for a Limited Series.
Joan Jett
- Hometown: Wynnewood
Born Joan Marie Larkin, Joan Jett is a singer, songwriter, producer, and actress. She first rose to fame as a frontwoman for her band Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, as well as her work in the band The Runaways. Jett is perhaps best known for a number of her songs, including “I Love Rock and Roll,” “Bad Reputation,” and “I Hate Myself for Loving You.”
Now considered something like the queen of rock and roll, three of Jett’s albums have been certified platinum or gold in record sales. Later in her career, she took to acting and starred in several hit movies. Among her many accolades, Jett has won an AP Icon Award and a Golden God Award. In 2015, Jett was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with her band The Blackhearts. (Discover baby boomers who are still making hit albums.)
Meek Mill
- Hometown: Philadelphia
Another one of the biggest living musicians from Pennsylvania is rapper Meek Mill. Born Robert Rihmeek Williams, Meek Mill started as a battle rapper. He first rose to prominence, however, with the release of his debut studio album “Dreams and Nightmares,” which spawned a chart-topping hit single.
Since then, Mill has released several chart-topping albums. He has also seen his fair share of legal trouble, however, spending considerable time in prison for parole violations. In 2019, an Amazon Prime documentary was released detailing Mill’s absurd and prolonged battle with the legal system.
Bret Michaels
- Hometown: Chicora
Born Bret Michael Sychak, Bret Michaels is a singer and musician. He first rose to prominence as the lead singer and frontman for the classic 80s glam rock band, Poison. The band found unparalleled success during its run, with ten singles charting in the Billboard Top 10, and 50 million records sold worldwide.
After Poison, Michaels took to more television roles. Besides his role as a judge on the talent show Nashville Star, Michaels is best known for his reality show “Rock of Love”. The success of this show led to Michaels appearing in other television shows such as “Celebrity Apprentice 3,” “Bret Michaels: Life as I Know It,” and “The Masked Singer.”
Taylor Swift
- Hometown: West Reading
No doubt, the biggest living musician from Pennsylvania is Taylor Swift. Born Taylor Alison Swift, Swift is a singer-songwriter and current powerhouse of the pop music industry. She first rose to prominence with her second studio album, “Fearless,” which spawned several hit songs.
Since then, Swift has steadily grown into the biggest pop star in the world. Besides her 200 million sales worldwide, she is also the most-streamed woman on both Apple Music and Spotify. Swift has also earned a litany of accolades. Some of these include 12 Grammy Awards, 40 American Music Awards, 39 Billboard Music Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award.
Will Smith
- Hometown: Philadelphia
Another one of the biggest living musicians from Pennsylvania is Will Smith. Born Willard Carroll Smith II, Will Smith is an actor, rapper, and producer. He first rose to prominence as part of a hip-hop duo with DJ Jazzy Jeff. With this duo, Smith released five albums which spawned a half-dozen hit singles.
After his musical career, Smith transitioned to acting, and in the process, became one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. Some of his notable roles are in films like “Wild Wild West,” “Independence Day,” “Men in Black,” and “Bad Boys.” For his musical achievements, however, Smith won four Grammy Awards. (Discover the movies that launched the careers of Hollywood’s biggest stars.)
Hall & Oates
- Hometown: Philadephia
Daryl Hall and John Oates make up the pop/rock/r&b duo Hall & Oates. They first started the band after meeting in Philadelphia. Since then, the duo has found unparalleled success. 29 of the duo’s 33 released singles reached the US Top 40 Billboard Charts. What’s more, seven of their albums have reached platinum status, and six albums have reached gold.
In recent years, the relationship between Hall and Oates has become rather contentious. Just this week, Daryl Hall filed a restraining order against John Oates due to unnamed conflicts. They have received many accolades for their work, however, with the duo being inducted into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Christina Aguilera
- Hometown: Pittsburgh
Another one of the biggest living musicians from Pennsylvania is Christina Aguilera. Born Christina Maria Aguilera, Aguilera is a singer, songwriter, and television personality. She first rose to prominence with her self-titled debut album. Since then, she has been considered the “voice of a generation” and one of the best-selling musicians of all time.
Throughout her multi-decade career, Aguilera has sold an estimated 100 million records worldwide. In her capacity as a pop culture icon, she has won numerous accolades including five Grammy Awards, two Latin Grammy Awards, and two MTV Video Music Awards. In recent years, Aguilera has taken to acting, appearing in projects like “Nashville,” “The Emoji Movie,” and the hit show “The Voice.”
Wiz Khalifa
- Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Another one of the biggest living musicians from Pennsylvania is rapper and actor Wiz Khalifa. Born Cameron Jibril Thomaz, Wiz Khalifa first rose to prominence after signing to Warner Brothers Records and releasing his debut album, “Show and Prove.” Since then, Khalifa has released several albums, spawning a number of hit songs and earning him multiple Grammy Award nominations in the process.
Besides being a heavy proponent of cannabis usage, which saw him release a number of strains to dispensaries across the country, Khalifa has also gained a reputation for acting. His television appearances include “The Eric Andre Show,” “American Dad!,” and “Dickinson.” He also starred, along with Snoop Dogg, in the stoner comedy film “Mac & Devin Go To High School.” (Learn about top-charting collaborations between legendary musicians and new artists.)