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6 celebrities from small towns

Cue Journey’s “Midnight Train”


Jovita Trujillo
Jovita Trujillo - Los Angeles
Senior WriterLos Angeles
APRIL 29, 2022 10:26 AM EDT

If you are from a small town and have big dreams, don’t give up because some of the biggest names in Hollywood are from a town with under 50,000 people. Check out these 6 celebrities that are from a small town.

ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" - Season 19© GettyImages

Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen DeGeneres was born in Louisiana but graduate high school in Atlanta, Texas, which has a population of 5,495 at this time. She graduated class of 1976 and was a reporter for her high school and played varsity tennis.

Today - Season 69© GettyImages

Oprah Winfrey

Billionaire Oprah Winfrey is from Kosciusko, Mississippi which as of 2019 had a population of 6,855. While it was the location where many of her childhood traumas took place, she has donated millions to the cities she called home including Kosciusko where she opened the Oprah Winfrey Boys & Girls Club of Kosciusko/Attala County in 2006.

Saturday Night Live - Season 47© GettyImages

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift was born in West Reading, Pennsylvania. The tiny town has a population of 4,268 as of 2019. She relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of 14 to pursue a career in country music.

Chanel : Photocall - Paris Fashion Week - Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2022© GettyImages

Margot Robbie

The Suicide Squad star was born in Dalby, Queensland, Australia which has a tiny population of 12,719.

2022 CMT Music Awards - Red Carpet© GettyImages

Carrie Underwood

Before winning the fourth season of America Idol Carrie Underwood grew up on the family farm outside of Muskogee in Checotah, Oklahoma. It has a population of 3,142 and the country singer has helped her hometown financially, giving to an animal shelter, fire department, and the town’s first splash pad per Cheapism.

Premiere Of Disney Studios' "Ron's Gone Wrong"© GettyImages

Zach Galifianakis

Funny guy Zach Galifianakis is from Wilkesboro, North Carolina which has a population of 3,495. The Hangover star owns a farm there in Sparta, North Carolina where he lives with his wife and two sons. His childhood home sold in 2001 for around $200000.