Every musician has got to start somewhere. To make it in the industry, aspiring artists often try their luck at home, singing at bars, local festivals, and other venues. Just this March, NBC launched a new song competition, called “American Song Contest,” in which musicians representing each state and U.S. territory perform live hoping to win a prize for Best Original Song. (Check out the most popular song the year you were born.)
To determine the most famous musician or band from every state, 24/7 Tempo compiled an index based on daily average Wikipedia pageviews from July 25, 2019 to July 24, 2022; Spotify follower count and monthly listener count; certified U.S. album sales as determined by the Recording Industry Association of America; and a custom score based on Billboard Hot 100 performance as of July 15, 2022, wherein a week at No. 1 is worth 100 points, a week at No. 2 worth 99 points, and so on up to a week at No. 100 worth one point. All index components were weighted equally. (Data on birthplace or band formation location came from Famous Birthdays.)
While not all musicians on the list have reached the same level of success, they have risen above their in-state competition to become popular around the country – and some around the world – still showing home pride as they ride the waves of success. (These are the artists with the most No. 1 hits.)
The competition for the most famous musician in some states was stiff. For example, Prince is famously from Minnesota, but so is Bob Dylan. Some fans may have an equally difficult time choosing between, say, Lady Gaga and Billy Joel, who are both from New York. So who edged out whom?
Alabama: Hank Williams
> Birthplace: Mount Olive
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 3,238
> Spotify followers: 657,543
> Certified U.S. album sales: 5 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: N/A
Alaska: Portugal. The Man
> Formed in: Wasilia
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 661
> Spotify followers: 1,227,779
> Certified U.S. album sales: 1 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: Feel It Still (No. 4 for 2 weeks)
24/7 Tempo
Arizona: Linda Ronstadt
> Birthplace: Tucson
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 6,224
> Spotify followers: 544,351
> Certified U.S. album sales: 30 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: Don’t Know Much (feat. Aaron Neville) (No. 2 for 2 weeks)
Arkansas: Johnny Cash
> Birthplace: Kingsland
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 11,599
> Spotify followers: 4,686,429
> Certified U.S. album sales: 24 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: A Boy Named Sue (No. 2 for 3 weeks)
California: Metallica
> Formed in: Los Angeles
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 7,490
> Spotify followers: 17,822,487
> Certified U.S. album sales: 63 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: Enter Sandman (No. 16 for 1 week)
Colorado: OneRepublic
> Formed in: Colorado Springs
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 2,834
> Spotify followers: 11,830,892
> Certified U.S. album sales: 2 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: Counting Stars (No. 2 for 2 weeks)
Connecticut: The Carpenters
> Formed in: New Haven
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 1,917
> Spotify followers: 1,839,145
> Certified U.S. album sales: 25 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: Top Of The World (No. 1 for 2 weeks)
24/7 Tempo
Delaware: George Thorogood
> Birthplace: Wilmington
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 1,696
> Spotify followers: 604,812
> Certified U.S. album sales: 5 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: Willie & The Hand Jive (No. 63 for 2 weeks)
Florida: Lynyrd Skynyrd
> Formed in: Jacksonville
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 6,124
> Spotify followers: 3,405,231
> Certified U.S. album sales: 29 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: Sweet Home Alabama (No. 8 for 2 weeks)
Georgia: Kanye West
> Birthplace: Atlanta
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 19,824
> Spotify followers: 13,956,553
> Certified U.S. album sales: 24 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: Gold Digger (feat. Jamie Foxx) (No. 1 for 10 weeks)
Hawaii: Bruno Mars
> Birthplace: Honolulu
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 7,692
> Spotify followers: 30,806,083
> Certified U.S. album sales: 13 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: That’s What I Like (No. 1 for 1 week)
Idaho: Paul Revere & The Raiders
> Formed in: Boise
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 806
> Spotify followers: 174,689
> Certified U.S. album sales: 2 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: Kicks (No. 4 for 1 week)
Illinois: Quincy Jones
> Birthplace: Chicago
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 6,126
> Spotify followers: 229,775
> Certified U.S. album sales: 5 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: Just Once (feat. James Ingram) (No. 17 for 2 weeks)
Indiana: Michael Jackson
> Birthplace: Gary
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 23,628
> Spotify followers: 18,546,932
> Certified U.S. album sales: 85 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: Billie Jean (No. 1 for 7 weeks)
Iowa: The Everly Brothers
> Formed in: Shenandoah
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 1,688
> Spotify followers: 546,964
> Certified U.S. album sales: 1 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: Bird Dog (No. 2 for 3 weeks)
Kansas: Kansas
> Formed in: Topeka
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 2,218
> Spotify followers: 1,051,377
> Certified U.S. album sales: 16 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: Dust In The Wind (No. 6 for 2 weeks)
Kentucky: Chris Stapleton
> Birthplace: Lexington
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 3,085
> Spotify followers: 3,250,519
> Certified U.S. album sales: 6 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: Starting Over (No. 25 for 1 week)
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Louisiana: Jerry Lee Lewis
> Birthplace: Ferriday
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 3,855
> Spotify followers: 578,514
> Certified U.S. album sales: N/A
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: Chantilly Lace (No. 43 for 1 week)
Maine: Patty Griffin
> Birthplace: Old Town
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 477
> Spotify followers: 136,996
> Certified U.S. album sales: N/A
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: N/A
Maryland: Frank Zappa
> Birthplace: Baltimore
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 4,487
> Spotify followers: 650,486
> Certified U.S. album sales: 1 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: Valley Girl (No. 32 for 2 weeks)
Massachusetts: Aerosmith
> Formed in: Boston
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 3,511
> Spotify followers: 10,292,467
> Certified U.S. album sales: 67 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: Cryin’ (No. 12 for 1 week)
Michigan: Stevie Wonder
> Birthplace: Saginaw
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 6,012
> Spotify followers: 5,000,126
> Certified U.S. album sales: 20 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: I Just Called To Say I Love You (No. 1 for 3 weeks)
24/7 Tempo
Minnesota: Bob Dylan
> Birthplace: Duluth
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 10,078
> Spotify followers: 5,062,223
> Certified U.S. album sales: 36 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door (No. 12 for 2 weeks)
Mississippi: Elvis Presley
> Birthplace: Tupelo
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 21,120
> Spotify followers: 5,461,163
> Certified U.S. album sales: 139 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: It’s Now Or Never (No. 1 for 5 weeks)
Missouri: Eminem
> Birthplace: Saint Joseph
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 17,147
> Spotify followers: 44,604,780
> Certified U.S. album sales: 47 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: Love The Way You Lie (feat. Rihanna) (No. 1 for 7 weeks)
Montana: Nicolette Larson
> Birthplace: Helena
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 701
> Spotify followers: 50,202
> Certified U.S. album sales: 1 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: Lotta Love (No. 8 for 2 weeks)
Nebraska: 311
> Formed in: Omaha
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 909
> Spotify followers: 733,053
> Certified U.S. album sales: 7 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: Love Song (No. 59 for 1 week)
Nevada: The Killers
> Formed in: Las Vegas
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 2,880
> Spotify followers: 6,004,402
> Certified U.S. album sales: 5 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: Mr. Brightside (No. 10 for 1 week)
New Hampshire: Ray LaMontagne
> Birthplace: Nashua
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 3,048
> Spotify followers: 855,130
> Certified U.S. album sales: 1 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: You Are The Best Thing (No. 90 for 1 week)
New Jersey: Bruce Springsteen
> Birthplace: Long Branch
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 7,334
> Spotify followers: 4,049,371
> Certified U.S. album sales: 66 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: Dancing In The Dark (No. 2 for 4 weeks)
New Mexico: John Denver
> Birthplace: Roswell
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 5,843
> Spotify followers: 1,280,873
> Certified U.S. album sales: 34 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: Take Me Home, Country Roads (No. 2 for 1 week)
New York: Billy Joel
> Birthplace: New York City
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 5,647
> Spotify followers: 3,491,965
> Certified U.S. album sales: 85 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: The River Of Dreams (No. 3 for 1 week)
North Carolina: Nina Simone
> Birthplace: Tyron
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 3,539
> Spotify followers: 2,181,767
> Certified U.S. album sales: N/A
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: I Loves You, Porgy (No. 18 for 1 week)
North Dakota: Wiz Khalifa
> Birthplace: Minot
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 6,947
> Spotify followers: 9,979,779
> Certified U.S. album sales: 5 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: See You Again (feat. Charlie Puth) (No. 1 for 12 weeks)
Ohio: John Legend
> Birthplace: Springfield
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 6,447
> Spotify followers: 5,668,627
> Certified U.S. album sales: 4 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: All Of Me (No. 1 for 3 weeks)
Oklahoma: Garth Brooks
> Birthplace: Tulsa
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 4,600
> Spotify followers: 899,539
> Certified U.S. album sales: 157 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: Wrapped Up In You (No. 46 for 1 week)
Oregon: Esperanza Spalding
> Birthplace: Portland
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 471
> Spotify followers: 325,605
> Certified U.S. album sales: N/A
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: N/A
Pennsylvania: Taylor Swift
> Birthplace: Reading
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 20,423
> Spotify followers: 40,002,532
> Certified U.S. album sales: 46 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: Shake It Off (No. 1 for 4 weeks)
Rhode Island: Nelson Eddy
> Birthplace: Providence
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 245
> Spotify followers: 2,325
> Certified U.S. album sales: N/A
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: N/A
South Carolina: James Brown
> Birthplace: Barnwell
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 4,738
> Spotify followers: 1,730,180
> Certified U.S. album sales: 2 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: Living In America (No. 4 for 1 week)
South Dakota: Shawn Colvin
> Birthplace: Vermillion
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 352
> Spotify followers: 114,794
> Certified U.S. album sales: 1 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: N/A
Tennessee: Aretha Franklin
> Birthplace: Memphis
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 9,186
> Spotify followers: 2,580,080
> Certified U.S. album sales: 10 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: Until You Come Back To Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do) (No. 3 for 1 week)
Texas: Beyoncé
> Birthplace: Houston
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 465
> Spotify followers: 27,502,710
> Certified U.S. album sales: 15 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: Irreplaceable (No. 1 for 10 weeks)
Utah: Jewel
> Birthplace: Payson
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 5,192
> Spotify followers: 529,680
> Certified U.S. album sales: 19 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: Foolish Games/You Were Meant For Me (No. 2 for 2 weeks)
Vermont: Phish
> Formed in: Burlington
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 1,082
> Spotify followers: 447,686
> Certified U.S. album sales: 6 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: N/A
Virginia: Patsy Cline
> Birthplace: Winchester
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 3,693
> Spotify followers: 591,250
> Certified U.S. album sales: 15 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: I Fall To Pieces (No. 12 for 1 week)
Washington: Jimi Hendrix
> Birthplace: Seattle
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 7,907
> Spotify followers: 4,954,131
> Certified U.S. album sales: 23 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: Freedom (No. 59 for 2 weeks)
West Virginia: Bill Withers
> Birthplace: Slab Fork
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 3,126
> Spotify followers: 1,133,388
> Certified U.S. album sales: 2 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: Lean On Me (No. 1 for 3 weeks)
Wisconsin: Al Jarreau
> Birthplace: Milwaukee
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 722
> Spotify followers: 276,539
> Certified U.S. album sales: 5 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: We’re In This Love Together (No. 15 for 2 weeks)
Wyoming: Scott Avett
> Birthplace: Cheyenne
> Daily avg. Wikipedia pageviews: 639
> Spotify followers: 868,431
> Certified U.S. album sales: 1 million
> Top Billboard Hot 100 song: N/A
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