# List of people from Knoxville, Tennessee

The following is a list of notable people who have lived in Knoxville, Tennessee. For University of Tennessee students and alumni not otherwise associated with Knoxville, see List of University of Tennessee people.

## Art and architecture

* Charles I. Barber (1887–1962), architect
* George Franklin Barber (1854–1915), architect
* Albert Baumann, Jr. (1897–1952), architect
* Albert Baumann, Sr. (1861–1942), architect
* Joseph Baumann (1844–1920), architect
* Lloyd Branson (1853–1925), painter
* Darby Conley (b. 1970), cartoonist, Get Fuzzy
* Beauford Delaney (1901–1979), painter
* Joseph Delaney (1904–1991), painter
* DeWitt Sanford Dykes Sr. (1903–1991), architect, Methodist minister
* R. F. Graf (1865–1929), architect
* Thomas Hope (1757–1820), architect
* Dennis Hwang (b. 1978), graphic artist for Google and Niantic
* Joseph Knaffl (1861–1938), photographer
* Adelia Armstrong Lutz (1859–1931), painter
* Bruce McCarty (1920–2013), architect
* T. M. Schleier (1832–1908), photographer
* Catherine Wiley (1879–1958), painter

## Business and industry

* Alexander Arthur (1846–1912), entrepreneur
* Jake Butcher (1936–2017), rogue banker and gubernatorial candidate
* Eldad Cicero Camp (1839–1920), coal tycoon
* Ashley Capps (b. 1955), AC Entertainment founder, co-creator of Bonnaroo Music Festival
* George Dempster (1887–1964), inventor of the Dempster-Dumpster, mayor of Knoxville
* Guilford Glazer (1921–2014), real estate developer and philanthropist
* Dee Haslam (b. 1954), CEO of RIVR Media
* Jim Haslam (b. 1930), founder of Pilot Corp.
* Jimmy Haslam (b. 1954), owner of the Cleveland Browns
* Cal Johnson (1844–1925), saloon and racetrack owner
* Peter Kern (1835–1907), confectioner, founder of Kern's Bakery
* Joseph Alexander Mabry, Jr. (1826–1882), entrepreneur
* Charles McClung McGhee (1828–1907), railroad tycoon
* William J. Oliver (1867–1925), contractor and manufacturer, original low bidder for the construction of the Panama Canal
* Edward J. Sanford (1831–1902), manufacturing tycoon
* James G. Sterchi (1867–1932), furniture tycoon
* Dave Thomas (1932–2002), restaurant owner, founder of Wendy's
* Cas Walker (1902–1998), grocery store magnate, radio and television personality
* Chris Whittle (b. 1947), entrepreneur, founder of Channel One News and Edison Schools

## Education

* Eben Alexander (1851–1910), Greek language scholar and ambassador
* Charles W. Cansler (1871–1953), Austin High School principal, civil rights advocate and author
* William Henderson Franklin (1852–1935), educator, minister, journalist, and founder of Swift Memorial College
* Thomas William Humes (1815–1892), president of the University of Tennessee (1865–1883)
* Harcourt Morgan (1867–1950), president of the University of Tennessee (1919–1934), director and chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority

## Entertainment

* Kelsea Ballerini (b. 1993), singer-songwriter
* Bianca Belair (b. 1989), professional wrestler
* Polly Bergen (1930–2014), actress, singer
* Natalie Bible' (b. 1983), film director
* Clarence Brown (1890–1987), film director
* Archie Campbell (1914–1987), television personality
* Henry Cho (b. 1962), comedian, actor
* Simeon Coxe (1938–2020), musician, pioneer of electronic music
* Cylk Cozart (b. 1957), actor
* John Cullum (b. 1930), Tony Award-winning actor and singer
* Dale Dickey (b. 1961), actress
* Harry Fujiwara (1935–2016), better known as "Mr. Fuji," professional wrestler
* Christina Hendricks (b. 1975), actress
* Glenn Jacobs (b. 1967), better known as "Kane," professional wrestler, Knox County mayor
* Jeff Jarrett (b. 1967), professional wrestler
* David Keith (b. 1954), actor
* Johnny Knoxville (b. 1971), actor and daredevil, changed his last name in reference to his hometown
* Jamie Marchi (b. 1977), actress
* Patricia Neal (1926–2010), Academy Award-winning actress
* Lillian Randolph (1898–1980), actress
* Brad Renfro (1982–2008), actor
* Cailee Spaeny (b.1998), actress born in Knoxville but raised in Missouri
* Quentin Tarantino (b. 1963), Academy Award-winning screenwriter and director
* Bob Thomas (b. 1954), radio personality, actor, writer
* Jake Thomas (b. 1990), actor
* Tina Wesson (b. 1960), contestant, Survivor television series; winner of Survivor: The Australian Outback

## Military

* Alexander Bonnyman Jr. (1910–1943), Medal of Honor recipient; killed in action during the Battle of Tarawa
* Roddie Edmonds (1919–1985), World War II POW credited with saving the lives of Jewish service members; honored as Righteous Among the Nations
* David Farragut (1801–1870), Civil War (Union) admiral
* Norman C. Gaddis (1923–2024), Air Force general and Vietnam War POW
* Thomas C. Hindman (1828–1868), Civil War (Confederate) general
* Bruce K. Holloway (1912–1999), Commander-in-Chief of the Strategic Air Command (1968–1972)
* Lawrence Tyson (1861–1929), World War I general and United States Senator
* Maurice F. Weisner (1917–2006), admiral, Commander-in-Chief of United States Pacific Command, 1976–1979

## Music

* Roy Acuff (1903–1992), country music singer
* Sheila Aldridge (b. 1956), country music singer, the Aldridge Sisters
* Sherry Aldridge (b. 1954), country music singer, the Aldridge Sisters
* Chet Atkins (1924–2001), country music guitarist
* Rodney Atkins (b. 1969), country musician
* Kelsea Ballerini (b. 1993), country music artist
* Ava Barber (b. 1954), country music singer, featured performer from The Lawrence Welk Show
* Dave Barnes (b. 1978), singer/songwriter/musician
* Brian Bell (b. 1968), guitarist for the band Weezer
* Didi Benami (b. 1986), singer/songwriter, top-ten American Idol finalist
* Chris Blue (b. 1990), singer/songwriter, The Voice season 12 winner
* Kenny Chesney (b. 1968), country musician
* Ashley Cleveland (b. 1957), gospel musician
* Mary Costa (b. 1930), opera singer, voice of Briar Rose / Princess Aurora in Disney's 1959 classic Sleeping Beauty
* Jerome Courtland (1926–2012), actor and director
* John Davis (b. 1974), musician, lead singer of Superdrag
* The Dirty Works, punk band
* Don Everly (1937–2021), early rock-and-roll singer, the Everly Brothers
* Phil Everly (1939–2014), early rock-and-roll singer, the Everly Brothers
* Con Hunley (b. 1945), country music artist
* Phil Leadbetter (b. 1962), bluegrass musician
* Briston Maroney (b. 1998), folk rock musician
* Harry McClintock (1882–1957), folk musician, "The Big Rock Candy Mountains"
* Mary McDonald, sacred music composer
* Brownie McGhee (1915–1996), blues musician
* Stick McGhee (1917–1961), blues musician
* Ashley Monroe (b. 1986), country singer
* Grace Moore (1898–1947), opera singer
* Joseph Patrick Moore (b. 1969), jazz composer, bassist, arranger, producer
* Bobby Ogdin (b. 1945), musician
* Nick Raskulinecz (b. 1970), Grammy Award-winning record producer
* Florence Reece (1900–1986), folk songwriter; coal mining labor activist
* Emily Ann Roberts (b. 1998), singer/songwriter, The Voice runner-up
* Brent Smith (b. 1978), rock singer, lead vocalist for Shinedown
* Richard Aaker Trythall (1939–2022), composer and pianist
* Myra Brooks Turner (1936–2017), composer
* 10 Years, alternative rock band
* Whitechapel, deathcore band

## Politics and law

* Robert H. Adams (1792–1830), United States Senator from Mississippi
* Alexander O. Anderson (1794–1869), United States Senator
* Victor Ashe (b. 1945), former mayor, U.S. Ambassador to Poland
* George W. Baxter (1855–1929), territorial governor of Wyoming
* William Blount (1749–1800), Constitutional Convention delegate, Governor of the Southwest Territory, United States Senator
* William G. "Parson" Brownlow (1805–1877), publisher of the Knoxville Whig, Governor of Tennessee, United States Senator
* John Hervey Crozier (1812–1889), U.S. congressman
* James Alexander Fowler (1863–1955), U.S. Assistant Attorney General and Knoxville mayor
* Lizzie Crozier French (1851–1926), women's suffragist
* Lucius F. C. Garvin (1841–1922), former governor of Rhode Island
* Sion Harris (1811–1854), member of the Liberian legislature
* Bill Haslam (b. 1958), Governor of Tennessee, former mayor of Knoxville
* William H. Hastie (1904–1976), U.S. Virgin Islands governor, first African American federal appellate court judge
* Leonidas Houk (1836–1891), U.S. congressman
* Ray Jenkins (1897–1980), attorney, Senate counsel during the Army-McCarthy Hearings
* Horace Maynard (1814–1882), U.S. congressman and postmaster general
* William Gibbs McAdoo (1863–1941), U.S. Secretary of the Treasury
* Lee McClung (1870–1914), U.S. Treasurer
* John Randolph Neal, Jr. (1876–1959), law professor, Scopes Trial attorney
* T.A.R. Nelson (1812–1873), U.S. congressman
* John Reinhardt (1920–2016), diplomat
* Glenn Reynolds (b. 1960), legal academic and blogger
* James Herman Robinson (1907–1972), clergyman, founder of Operation Crossroads Africa
* Edward Terry Sanford (1865–1930), U.S. Supreme Court justice
* John Sevier (1745–1815), pioneer and soldier, first governor of Tennessee
* William Henry Sneed (1812–1869), U.S. congressman
* Oliver Perry Temple (1820–1907), attorney, judge, and historian
* Hugh Lawson White (1773–1840), United States Senator, presidential candidate
* James White (1747–1820), pioneer, founder of Knoxville
* John Williams (1778–1837), United States Senator
* William F. Yardley (1844–1924), attorney, first African American to run for governor of Tennessee

## Science

* William M. Bass (b. 1928), founder of the University of Tennessee's Body Farm; author of Death's Acre
* Randall Collins (b. 1941), sociologist and author
* Weston Fulton (1871–1946), meteorologist, inventor
* Jack Hanna (b. 1947), zoologist
* Lexemuel Ray Hesler (1919-1977), mycologist
* Gerald North (b. 1938), climatologist
* Helen Smith, forensic psychologist

## Sports

* Erik Ainge (b. 1986), former NFL quarterback and sports radio personality
* Trevor Bayne (b. 1991), NASCAR driver and 2011 Daytona 500 winner
* Chad Bell (b. 1989), Major League Baseball player
* Ralph Boston (1939–2023), Olympic athlete
* John Bruhin (b. 1964), NFL player
* Ken Burkhart (1916–2004), MLB player and umpire
* Brett Carroll (b. 1982), MLB player
* Joey Clinkscales (b. 1964), NFL player and executive
* Reggie Cobb (1968–2019), NFL running back
* Mike Cofer (1960–2019), NFL linebacker
* Tony Cosey (b. 1974), All-American cross country and track runner; Olympic athlete in the steeplechase at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games
* Cartha Doyle (b. 1929), All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
* Chad Finchum (b. 1994), NASCAR driver
* Phillip Fulmer (b. 1950), former head coach of Tennessee Volunteers football team
* Ray Graves (1918–2015), former NFL player and head coach at Florida
* Anthony Hancock (b. 1960), former NFL player
* Todd Helton (b. 1973), Hall of Fame Major League Baseball player
* Adam Henley (b. 1994), professional soccer player
* Paul Hogue (1940–2009), former NBA player
* Scott Holtzman (b. 1983), mixed martial artist and Ultimate Fighting Championship competitor
* Garth Iorg (b. 1954), Major League Baseball player and coach
* Tim Irwin (b. 1958), former NFL offensive lineman
* Todd Kelly (b. 1970), NFL linebacker
* Pete Kreis (1900–1934), race car driver
* Terry McDaniel (b. 1965), NFL defensive back
* Raleigh McKenzie (b. 1963), NFL lineman
* Reggie McKenzie (b. 1963), NFL linebacker, General Manager of the Oakland Raiders
* Kathleen Malach (1926–2011), All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
* Billy Meyer (1893–1957), Major League Baseball player and manager
* Robert Neyland (1892–1962), University of Tennessee football coach
* Kevin O'Connell (b. 1985), NFL player
* Rafaello Oliveira (b. 1982), mixed martial artist and Ultimate Fighting Championship competitor
* Peter Oppegard (b. 1959), Olympic figure skater
* Randy Orton (b. 1980), professional wrestler, actor
* Jackie Parker (1932–2006), CFL football player
* Chad Pennington (b. 1976), NFL quarterback
* Jerry Punch (b. 1953), ESPN analyst
* Fuad Reveiz (b. 1963), NFL placekicker
* Ovince St. Preux (b. 1983), mixed martial artist and Ultimate Fighting Championship competitor
* Doris Sams (1927–2012), All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
* Aaron Schoenfeld (b. 1990), American-Israeli Major League Soccer player
* Steve Searcy (b. 1964), former Major League Baseball pitcher
* Harrison Smith (b. 1989), NFL safety for Minnesota Vikings
* Lee Smith (b. 1987), NFL tight end
* Pat Summitt (1952–2016), former head coach, Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team
* Davis Tarwater (b. 1984), Olympic swimmer
* John Tate (1955–1998), Olympic and professional boxer
* Ben Testerman (b. 1962), professional tennis player
* Leroy Thompson (b. 1968), former NFL running back
* Bubba Trammell (b. 1971), Major League Baseball player
* Elston Turner (b. 1959), NBA player and coach
* Jackie Walker (1950–2002), All-American linebacker at Tennessee
* Josh Walker (b. 1991) NFL guard
* Jason Witten (b. 1982), NFL tight end
* Chris Woodruff (b. 1973), professional tennis player
* Trey Cabbage (b. 1997), Major League Baseball player

## Writers and journalists

* James Agee (1909–1955), Pulitzer Prize-winning author
* Paul Y. Anderson (1893–1938), Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter
* Anne W. Armstrong (1872–1958), author of This Day and Time (1930)
* Carson Brewer (1920–2003), journalist and conservationist
* Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849–1924), author of The Secret Garden
* Albert Chavannes (1836–1903), Utopian philosopher
* Lowell Cunningham (b. 1959), comic book writer, Men in Black creator
* Nikki Giovanni (1943–2024), poet
* Alex Haley (1921–1992), author of Roots
* George Washington Harris (1814–1869), Southern humorist
* Frederick Heiskell (1786–1882), pioneering Tennessee journalist; cofounder of the Knoxville Register
* Ed Hooper (b. 1964), author, journalist
* Joseph Wood Krutch (1893–1970), writer, naturalist
* S. J. Mathes (1849?–1927), pioneer California newspaperman
* Cormac McCarthy (1933–2023), Pulitzer Prize-winning author
* Adolph Ochs (1858–1935), newspaper publisher
* J. G. M. Ramsey (1797–1884), historian
* William Rule (1839–1928), newspaper editor, mayor of Knoxville
* Ed Sams (b. 1952), author and educator
* Bernadotte Schmitt (1886–1969), Pulitzer Prize-winning historian
* Karl Edward Wagner (1945–1994), fantasy writer

## Other

* Jane Franklin Hommel Denney (1878–1946), socialite and women's club leader
* Adam Ragusea (b. 1982), YouTube chef
* Mary Boyce Temple (1856–1929), philanthropist and preservationist