27 Famous Kentuckians Who Aren’t Country Stars or Athletes

I could be here all day creating a list of Kentuckians who staked their claim to fame in the worlds of country music or sports. But what about those bright lights from the Commonwealth who pursued neither field?

Famous Kentuckians

There are some on this list that everyone reading this already knows are from the Bluegrass State. And there are some on this list who made a huge mark in entertainment long enough ago that NO ONE reading this knows at all.

And that's why I'm here...to bring together the world-famous and the now-obscure. (I have a pseudo-connection to one of the stars I consider to be in the "now-obscure" category.)

I also have a "pseudo-connection" to one of the stars I don't consider to be obscure, but he comes from the world of sports, and that category isn't part of our discussion.

Country Stars from Kentucky

And, I'll go ahead and name-check the country artists that could fill up a gallery as well. Legends like Bill Monroe, Loretta Lynn, Dwight Yoakam, Keith Whitley, and the Judds leap to mind. So do superstars like Chris Stapleton, Billy Ray Cyrus, and the retiring John Michael Montgomery. Let's not forget a couple of CMA Female Vocalists of the Year in Patty Loveless and Carly Pearce. (Carly and Patty also each have a pair of CMA Musical Event of the Year trophies.) Many of the above, as a matter of fact, are spotlighted on Kentucky's Country Music Highway.

So, let's get into it and learn the names of a bunch of famous folk from outside the worlds of country music and sports.

27 Celebrities from Kentucky Who Aren't Country Musicians

We could have a whole OTHER list of country stars from Kentucky--and athletes, for that matter. But how many of THESE celebrities did you know were from the Bluegrass State?

Gallery Credit: Dave Spencer

LOOK: The most famous actress born the same year as you

Many of the actresses in this story not only made a name for themselves through their collection of iconic performances, but also through the selfless, philanthropic nature with which many of them approached their stardom. In an age of flipping the script on societal norms, many of these actresses are using their voices and platforms to be advocates for those who are otherwise unheard.

Gallery Credit: Ben Wittstein