List of people from Atlanta
People from the capital of Georgia, U.S.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of people who were born, raised, or otherwise closely associated with Atlanta, Georgia, United States.
Academics
| Name | Known for | Association |
|---|---|---|
| Ron Clark | worked with disadvantaged students in rural North Carolina and New York City, and co-founded the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta; contestant on Survivor: Edge of Extinction | lives in Atlanta |
| Alfred Gudeman | classical scholar who died during the Holocaust | born in Atlanta |
| Thomas E. Hill | professor of philosophy at University of North Carolina; fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences | born in Atlanta |
| Sheryl McCollum | crime analyst, professor, founder and director of the non-profit Cold Case Investigative Research Institute | born in Atlanta[1] |
| Sharlotte Neely | professor emerita of Anthropology at Northern Kentucky University, author, expert on the Cherokees | lived in Atlanta |
| Bazoline Estelle Usher | educator and administrator in the Atlanta Public Schools, Georgia Woman of Achievement | lived in Atlanta[2] |
| Blake Ragsdale Van Leer | former president of Georgia Tech; the first to admit women and make steps towards integration | lived in Atlanta |
| James W. Wagner | former president of Emory University | lives in Atlanta |
Actors
| Name | Known for | Association |
|---|---|---|
| Isabella Acres[3][4] | played Rose on the sitcom television series Better Off Ted | born in Atlanta[citation needed] |
| Mateo Arias | actor, Kickin' It | born in Atlanta |
| Matt Battaglia | Emmy Award–winning producer;[5] co-produced a two-time Golden Globe Award–nominated film; acted in over 90 films network pilots and television shows | grew up in the towns of Tucker and Lithonia, suburbs of Atlanta[6] |
| Johanna Braddy | actress, The Grudge 3, Paranormal Activity 3 and The Levenger Tapes | born in Atlanta |
| Toni Braxton | singer, actress and reality-television star of Braxton Family Values | formerly lived in Atlanta |
| Bruce Bruce | actor and comedian | born in Atlanta |
| Jahzir Bruno | actor, The Loud House | born in Atlanta[7] |
| Monica Calhoun | actress, The Players Club, The Best Man, The Salon; graduate of the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts | [citation needed] |
| Michael Campion | actor, Fuller House | born in Atlanta[8] |
| Katie Carpenter | actress, costume designer, film producer[9] | lives and works in Atlanta[10] |
| Barbara Cook | actress and singer | born in Atlanta |
| C. Martin Croker | voice actor, Zorak and Moltar on Space Ghost: Coast to Coast | born in Atlanta[citation needed] |
| David Cross | stand-up comedian and actor | born in Atlanta[11] |
| Stephen Dorff | actor | born in Atlanta |
| Corri English | actress, in 2006 honored at the International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival as Best Actress for Unrest | born in Atlanta |
| Elle Fanning | actress and model; younger sister of actress Dakota Fanning; known for I Am Sam, Daddy Day Care, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, We Bought a Zoo, Maleficent | |
| Priah Ferguson | actress | born in Atlanta[12] |
| Niles Fitch | actor, known for This Is Us and stage work | born in Atlanta[13] |
| Hampton Fluker | actor, known for stage work and roles in Shades of Blue and The Terror | raised in Atlanta[14] |
| Jane Fonda | Academy Award–winning actress, ex-wife of Atlanta television mogul Ted Turner | formerly lived in Atlanta[15] |
| Jeff Foxworthy | comedian | born in Atlanta[16] |
| Antonia Gentry | actress, Ginny from Ginny & Georgia | born in Atlanta |
| Donald Glover | creator, actor, and director of television show Atlanta | attended high school in Atlanta |
| Jasmine Guy | actress, star of A Different World and film Harlem Nights | grew up and lives in Atlanta[17] |
| Omari Hardwick | grew up in Atlanta[18] | |
| Oliver Hardy | comedian and actor | studied in Atlanta[19] |
| Steve Harvey | actor and comedian | resides in Atlanta[20] |
| Ed Helms | actor, The Office | born in Atlanta |
| Holly Hunter | Academy Award–winning actress | born in Conyers, outside Atlanta[citation needed] |
| Dana Ivey | actress | born in Atlanta |
| DeForest Kelley[21] | actor best known as Dr. McCoy on Star Trek | born in Toccoa, outside Atlanta[citation needed] |
| Elijah Kelley | [citation needed] | |
| Don Kennedy | voice actor on Space Ghost Coast To Coast; host for many years of The Popeye Club 1956–1970 on WSB-TV; founder of WKLS radio station in Atlanta; syndicated radio broadcaster 1985–2013 (Big Band Jump, The Don Kennedy Show) | lived in Atlanta, died in Atlanta in 2023 |
| Nene Leakes | reality-television star of The Real Housewives of Atlanta | resides in Atlanta[22] |
| RonReaco Lee | [citation needed] | |
| Chris Lowell | Veronica Mars | born in Atlanta[citation needed] |
| Christopher Massey | Zoey 101 | born in Atlanta |
| Kyle Massey | That's So Raven | born in Atlanta |
| China Anne McClain | actress, Tyler Perry's House of Payne, A.N.T. Farm, Descendants and Black Lightning | born in Atlanta |
| AnnaLynne McCord | actress | born in Atlanta |
| Chloë Grace Moretz | actress and model, known for roles in Kick-Ass, Hugo, Carrie; winner of two Saturn Awards | born in Atlanta[23] |
| Brittany Murphy | actress | born in Atlanta |
| Melissa Ordway | actress and model; known for her roles on Hollywood Heights, The Young and the Restless | born in Atlanta |
| Kip Pardue | actor | born in Atlanta |
| Robert Patrick | actor, played "T-1000" in Terminator 2: Judgment Day | [citation needed] |
| Ty Pennington | television host, artist, carpenter, author, former model and actor | born in Atlanta |
| Eric Roberts | actor | grew up in Atlanta |
| Tyler Perry | actor, director, screen and playwright, producer, author,[24] and songwriter; first film Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005);[25] creator/actor of Madea | moved to Atlanta[26][27] |
| Jo Ann Pflug | film and television actress | born in Atlanta[28] |
| Victoria Principal | actress, Dallas | [citation needed] |
| Shannon Purser | actress | born in Atlanta |
| Raven-Symoné | actress, The Cosby Show, Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, That's So Raven, The Cheetah Girls, The View and Raven's Home | born in Atlanta[29] |
| Storm Reid | actress, Euphoria and A Wrinkle in Time | born in Atlanta[30] |
| Chandler Riggs | actor, The Walking Dead | born in Atlanta |
| Julia Roberts | Academy Award–winning actress; films include Pretty Woman and Erin Brockovich | born at Crawford Long Hospital[31] |
| Faith Salie | actress, comedian, journalist | moved to Atlanta; grew up in Dunwoody[32] |
| Ryan Seacrest | television and radio personality; host of reality-television series American Idol | attended Dunwoody High School, born in Atlanta |
| Caroline Sunshine | actress | born in Atlanta |
| Christopher Tavarez | actor, model and athlete | born in Atlanta |
| Kenan Thompson | actor and comedian, Saturday Night Live, Fat Albert and Good Burger | born in Atlanta |
| Chris Tucker | actor and comedian | born in Atlanta |
| Barry Van Dyke | actor | born in Atlanta |
| Danielle Vega | actress | born in Atlanta |
| George Wallace | actor and comedian | born in Atlanta |
| Whitney Wegman-Wood | actress | formerly lived in Atlanta |
| Devon Werkheiser | Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide | born in Atlanta |
| Porsha Williams | reality-television star of The Real Housewives of Atlanta | born in Atlanta |
| Scott Wilson | actor, In Cold Blood, The Great Gatsby, The Walking Dead | Atlanta native[33] |
| Kim Zolciak | reality-television star of The Real Housewives of Atlanta | [citation needed] |
Athletes
| Name | Known for | Association |
|---|---|---|
| Jordan Adams | basketball player | born in Atlanta |
| Dennis Allen | New Orleans Saints head coach | born in Atlanta |
| Al-Farouq Aminu | basketball player | born in Atlanta |
| Conner Antley | soccer player | born in Atlanta[34] |
| Ian Antley | soccer player | born in Atlanta[35] |
| Simi Awujo | football player | born in Atlanta |
| Danny Barbir | soccer player | born in Atlanta[36] |
| Harris Barton | player of American football | grew up in Atlanta |
| Malik Beasley | professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons | born in Atlanta[37] |
| Gordon Beckham | baseball player | born in Atlanta |
| Stetson Bennett | player of American football | born in Atlanta |
| Gunnar Bentz | Olympian | born in Atlanta |
| Eric Berry | player of American football | born in Atlanta |
| Ron Blomberg | baseball player | born in Atlanta |
| Brandon Boykin | player of American football | born in Atlanta |
| Todd Bramble | soccer player and coach | born in Atlanta[38] |
| Brett Branan | soccer player | born in Atlanta[39] |
| Dustin Branan | soccer player | born in Atlanta[40] |
| Luke Brennan | soccer player | born in Atlanta[41] |
| Malcolm Brogdon | professional basketball player for the Washington Wizards | born in Atlanta[42] |
| Jaylen Brown | professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics | born in Atlanta[42] |
| Nico Brown | soccer player | born in Atlanta[43] |
| Ricky Byrdsong | college basketball coach and player | born in Atlanta[44] |
| Wendell Carter Jr. | professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic | born in Atlanta[45] |
| Rajah Caruth | NASCAR driver | born in Atlanta |
| Kristi Castlin | track-and-field athlete | born in Atlanta |
| Kelvin Cato | basketball player | born in Atlanta |
| Ahmad Caver | basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League | born in Atlanta |
| Eric Chouinard | ice-hockey player | born in Atlanta |
| Justin Clark | soccer player | born in Atlanta[46] |
| Ricardo Clark | soccer player | born in Atlanta[47] |
| Kenny Coker | soccer player | born in Atlanta[48] |
| Javaris Crittenton | basketball player | born in Atlanta |
| Amanda Dennis | goalball player | born in Atlanta |
| Ben DiNucci | player of American football | born in Atlanta |
| Amanda Doherty | golfer | born in Atlanta |
| Cameron Dollar | basketball player | born in Atlanta |
| Anthony Edwards | professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves | born in Atlanta[49] |
| Derrick Favors | basketball player | born in Atlanta |
| Joseph Forte | basketball player | born in Atlanta |
| Dexter Fowler | baseball player | born in Atlanta |
| Jeff Francoeur | baseball player | born in Atlanta |
| Walt Frazier | basketball player | born in Atlanta[50] |
| World B. Free | basketball player | born in Atlanta[51] |
| Coco Gauff | tennis player | born in Atlanta |
| Mark Gilbert | former baseball player, former U.S. ambassador to New Zealand and former U.S. ambassador to Samoa | born in Atlanta |
| Maggie Graham | soccer player | born in Atlanta[52] |
| Jared Harper | basketball player for Hapoel Jerusalem of the Israeli Basketball Premier League | born in Atlanta |
| JJ Hickson | basketball player | born in Atlanta |
| Gary Hines | handball player | born in Atlanta |
| Evander Holyfield | world-champion heavyweight boxer | raised in Atlanta |
| Dwight Howard | basketball player | born in Atlanta[53] |
| Tim Hyers | baseball player and coach | born in Atlanta |
| Bryce Jamison | soccer player | born in Atlanta[54] |
| Grady Jarrett | player of American football | born in Atlanta |
| Ernie Johnson Jr. | sportscaster, Turner Sports, TNT | raised in Atlanta, attended University of Georgia |
| Bobby Jones | golfer | born in Atlanta |
| Brandon Jones | NASCAR driver | born in Atlanta |
| Walker Kessler | professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz | born in Atlanta, raised in College Park |
| Ousman Krubally | American-Gambian basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League | born in Atlanta |
| DeAngelo Malone | player of American football | born in Atlanta |
| Robert Mathis | player of American football | born in Atlanta |
| Erskine Mayer | baseball player | born in Atlanta |
| Jo Nattawut | Thai-born Muay Thai kickboxer, WBC Muay Thai world champion | raised in Atlanta |
| Adam Nelson | track-and-field athlete, Olympic champion | born in Atlanta |
| Cam Newton | player of American football | born in Atlanta[55] |
| Matt Olson | baseball player | born in Atlanta |
| Tony Parker | basketball player | born in Atlanta |
| Jean-Marc Pelletier | ice-hockey player | born in Atlanta |
| Ben Revere | former baseball player, now a coach for the Atlanta Braves organization | born in Atlanta |
| Pete Robinson | drag racer | born in Atlanta[56] |
| Jamaree Salyer | player of American football | born in Atlanta |
| Ben Shelton | tennis player | born in Atlanta |
| Kobi Simmons | basketball player for Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Premier League | born in Atlanta[57] |
| Cooper Taylor | former player of American football | born in Atlanta |
| Jonantan Villal | football player | born in Atlanta |
| David Villar | baseball player | born in Atlanta |
| LeRoy T. Walker | former president of the United States Olympic Committee | born in Atlanta |
| Ibi Watson | basketball player | born in Atlanta |
| Darius Watts | player of American football | born in Atlanta |
| Caleb Wiley | soccer player | born in Atlanta[58] |
| Sam Wyche | player and coach of American football | born in Atlanta |
Business people
| Name | Field | Known for | Association |
|---|---|---|---|
| F. Duane Ackerman | executive | last CEO of Bellsouth | lived in Atlanta |
| George Adair | developer | early Atlanta real-estate developer | [citation needed] |
| Dean Alford | chief executive officer and politician | president and chief executive of Allied Energy Services; member of the Georgia General Assembly | [citation needed] |
| Ray Anderson | entrepreneur | founder of carpet manufacturer Interface, Inc. | [citation needed] |
| Charles Brewer | businessman | founder of Internet service provider MindSpring, which later merged with EarthLink | [citation needed] |
| Asa Griggs Candler | entrepreneur | founder of beverage manufacturer The Coca-Cola Company | [citation needed] |
| S. Truett Cathy | entrepreneur | founder of the fast-food restaurant chain Chick-fil-A | [citation needed] |
| Anne Cox Chambers | entrepreneur | co-owner of mass-media company Cox Enterprises | [citation needed] |
| Joe Francis | entrepreneur and film producer | founder and creator of the Girls Gone Wild franchise | born in Atlanta |
| Lemuel Grant | businessman and engineer | early-Atlanta railroad man, landowner, engineer and businessman | [citation needed] |
| James M. Henderson | advertising | born in Atlanta; lived in Greenville, South Carolina, Republican candidate for lieutenant governor of South Carolina in 1970 | [59] |
| Anne T. Hill | fashion designer | founded Taffy's of California | born in Atlanta[60] |
| Evelyn Greenblatt Howren | aviator | former WASP who founded aviation businesses in Atlanta, lobbied for aviation industry | born in Atlanta[61] |
| Moss H. Kendrix | public relations | advertising campaigns, including for Coca-Cola | born in Atlanta |
| Bernard Marcus | entrepreneur | co-founder of home-improvement retailing chain Home Depot; primary funding source for the Georgia Aquarium | [citation needed] |
| Depelsha Thomas McGruder | executive and activist | chief operating officer of the Ford Foundation | born in Atlanta[62] |
| Myra Miller | entrepreneur and baker | famous Black food entrepreneur and baker in Atlanta during Reconstruction | worked and buried in Atlanta[63][64][65] |
| John Pemberton | chemist | chemist and inventor of the carbonated soft drink Coca-Cola | [citation needed] |
| Richard Peters | businessman | early-Atlanta railroad man, landowner and a founder of Atlanta | [citation needed] |
| John C. Portman Jr. | architect | international architect and developer, designer of the groundbreaking atrium-style hotel | [citation needed] |
| Neel Reid | architect | student of École des Beaux-Arts; designed various buildings now listed on the National Register of Historic Places | [citation needed] |
| Ted Turner | media mogul | founder of cable-news channel CNN | [citation needed] |
| Blake R Van Leer III | entrepreneur and producer | entrepreneur, partner of business mogul Kathy Ireland whose companies generate $3.1B in sales, produced film about his grandfather Blake R Van Leer in a 1956 Sugar Bowl game | born in Atlanta[66] |
| Robert W. Woodruff | executive | president of beverage manufacturer The Coca-Cola Company | [citation needed] |
Directors
| Name | Known for | Association |
|---|---|---|
| Matt Hullum | director of films, music videos and web series including Lazer Team and Red Vs Blue | born in Atlanta[67][non-primary source needed] |
| Spike Lee | director of films including She's Gotta Have It, School Daze, and Do the Right Thing, and several music videos | born in Atlanta[68] |
| Kenny Leon | director of several Broadway plays and several television episodes | [citation needed] |
| Tyler Perry | director of films, plays, and television series, including Meet The Browns and Madea plays and movies | moved to Atlanta[26][27] |
| Steven Soderbergh | film director, Out of Sight, Erin Brockovich, Traffic, Ocean's Eleven | born in Atlanta |
Journalists
| Name | Known for | Association |
|---|---|---|
| Brooke Baldwin | journalist; formerly for CNN | born in Atlanta |
| Pat Conroy | educator, journalist, memoirist, novelist | born in 1945 in Atlanta[69] |
| William Emerson | covered the civil-rights movement as Newsweek's first bureau chief assigned to cover the Southern United States; later editor in chief of The Saturday Evening Post | moved to Atlanta[70] |
| Bob Jordan | television news journalist, author; former news anchor | born in Atlanta |
| Frank Stanton | first poet laureate of Georgia | died in Atlanta[71] |
| Ted Turner | media mogul, TBS and CNN founder; owned Atlanta Braves | moved to Atlanta[72] |
Musicians
| Name | Known for | Association |
|---|---|---|
| Daniela Avanzini | singer and dancer apart of the EYEKONIC, Grammy winning girl group Katseye | born in Atlanta |
| 21 Savage, real name Shayaa Bin Abraham-Joseph | rapper and record producer | born in London, England, raised in Atlanta |
| 6LACK, real name Ricardo Valdez Valentine | rapper, singer, songwriter | moved to Atlanta at very young age |
| Aliyah's Interlude | rapper and influencer | born in Atlanta |
| André 3000, real name André Lauren Benjamin | rapper, actor, record producer, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist; half of the rap group OutKast | born and raised in Atlanta |
| Murray Attaway | singer-songwriter, founding member of Guadalcanal Diary | born in Atlanta |
| Johntá Austin | singer-songwriter, signed to Jermaine Dupri's So So Def Recordings; won two Grammy Awards for songs "We Belong Together" by Mariah Carey and "Be Without You" by Mary J. Blige | born in Atlanta[73] |
| B.o.B, real name Bobby Ray Simmons Jr. | rapper | from Atlanta |
| Bali Baby | rapper | born in Atlanta |
| Bankroll Fresh, real name Trentavious Zamon White, Sr. | rapper | from Atlanta and died in Atlanta |
| David Berkeley | singer-songwriter[74] | moved to Atlanta for his wife to finish school[75] |
| Big Boi, real name Antwan Patton | rapper, actor, record producer, songwriter; half of the rap group Outkast | born in Savannah, Georgia, raised in Atlanta |
| Big Kuntry King, real name Sean Merrett | rapper | from Atlanta |
| Bktherula | rapper | born in Atlanta |
| Bobby V, real name Bobby Wilson | recording artist (nicknamed "Valentino" because he was due to be born on Valentine's Day) | attended North Atlanta High School and Clark Atlanta University[76] |
| Zac Brown | country singer | born in Atlanta |
| Peter Buck | lead guitar player and songwriter for R.E.M. | lived in Atlanta |
| John Burke | solo pianist and composer | born and lives in Atlanta |
| Kandi Burruss | singer, songwriter, record producer; part of the group Xscape, wrote "No Scrubs" by TLC and "Bills, Bills, Bills" by Destiny's Child | born in College Park, Georgia, resides in Atlanta |
| K Camp, real name Kristopher Thomas Campbell | rapper | from Atlanta |
| Ken Carson, real name Kenyatta Lee Frazier Jr. | rapper | born in Atlanta |
| Ric Cartey, real name Whaley Thomas Cartey | 1950s rockabilly singer; songwriter | born in Atlanta |
| Cash Out, real name John-Michael Hakim Gibson | rapper | from Atlanta |
| Cat Power, also known as Chan Marshall, real name Charlyn Marshall | singer-songwriter, actress and model | born in Atlanta |
| Eddie Chamblee | jazz tenor saxophonist | born in Atlanta in 1920 |
| Che | rapper | born and based in Atlanta |
| Ciara | singer | |
| Clairo, real name Claire Elizabeth Cottrill | singer-songwriter | born in Atlanta |
| Kelly Nelon Clark | inspirational Christian and southern gospel vocalist | born in Atlanta[77] |
| Freddy Cole | jazz singer and pianist | born in Chicago in 1931; resided in Atlanta for over fifty years until his death in 2020 |
| Roscoe Dash, real name Jeffery Lee Johnson Jr. | rapper | from Atlanta |
| Davido | singer, songwriter, and record producer | born in Atlanta but based in Nigeria |
| Destroy Lonely, real name Bobby Wardell Sandimanie III | rapper | born in Atlanta |
| Drumma Boy, real name Christopher James Gholson | record producer, songwriter | lives in Atlanta |
| Roy Drusky | country singer | born in Atlanta |
| Sonny Emory | drummer | born and raised in Atlanta |
| Future, real name Nayvadius DeMun Wilburn | rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer | born and raised in Atlanta |
| Sean Garrett | singer and songwriter | born in Atlanta |
| O.T. Genasis | rapper | born in Atlanta[78] |
| CeeLo Green, real name Thomas DeCarlo Gallaway | rapper, singer, actor | born and raised in Atlanta |
| Kristin Hersh | singer and guitarist | born in Atlanta |
| Keri Hilson | singer-songwriter and actress from Decatur | attended Emory University[79] |
| iLoveMakonnen, real name Makonnen Kamali Sheran | rapper | from Atlanta |
| India Arie, real name India Arie Simpson | singer-songwriter and record producer;[80] has sold over 3.3 million records in the U.S.; has won four Grammy Awards, including Best R&B Album | moved to Atlanta[81] |
| Graham Jackson | theatre organist, pianist and choral conductor | moved to Atlanta in 1923[82] |
| Trinidad James, real name Nicholas Williams | rapper | from Atlanta |
| Erika Jayne | singer | born in Atlanta |
| Jeezy, real name Jay Wayne Jenkins | rapper, entrepreneur, and businessman | born in South Carolina, raised in Atlanta |
| JID, real name Destin Route | rapper, singer | born in Atlanta |
| Elton John | singer-songwriter, English-born entertainer whose songs include "Your Song", "Crocodile Rock" and "Candle in the Wind" | lives part-time in Atlanta[clarification needed][83] |
| Mario Judah | rapper | |
| Kap G | rapper, actor | born in Long Beach, California, moved to Atlanta |
| R. Kelly | singer, songwriter, record producer | resided in Atlanta[84] |
| Khujo, real name Willie Edward Knighton Jr. | rapper | born in Atlanta |
| Killer Mike, real name Michael Santiago Render | rapper, actor and activist | born and raised in Atlanta |
| Kaki King | guitarist and composer | born in Atlanta |
| Gladys Knight | singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman and author | born in Atlanta |
| Latto, real name Alyssa Michelle Stephens | rapper | born in Columbus, Ohio, raised in Atlanta |
| Brenda Lee | performer who sang rockabilly, pop and country music; had 37 US chart hits during the 1960s,[85] known for songs "I'm Sorry" (1960) and "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" (1958); recipient of Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (2009) | born in Atlanta in 1944[86] |
| Mable Lee | dancer, entertainer, 2008 inductee into the Tap Dance Hall of Fame | born in Atlanta in 1921 |
| Lil Baby, real name Dominique Jones | rapper | born and raised in Atlanta |
| Lil Gnar, real name Caleb Samuel Shepard | rapper | born in Oakland, California, from Atlanta |
| Lil Gotit, real name Semaja Zair Render | rapper | born in Atlanta |
| Lil Jon, real name Jonathan H. Smith | rapper, record producer, songwriter and Grammy Award winner | born and raised in Atlanta |
| Lil Keed, real name Raqhid Jevon Render | rapper | born in Atlanta and died in Los Angeles |
| Lil RT | rapper | born in Atlanta |
| Lil Scrappy, real name Darryl Raynard Richardson III | rapper | from Atlanta |
| Lil Yachty, real name Miles Parks McCollum | rapper, songwriter | from Atlanta |
| Baylee Littrell | singer-songwriter and actor; son of Backstreet Boys member Brian Littrell | born and raised in Alpharetta, Georgia |
| Ludacris, real name Christopher Brian Bridges | rapper | born in Champaign, Illinois; raised in Atlanta |
| Vivek Maddala | composer, producer, multi-instrumental performer | attended Georgia Tech |
| MadeinTYO, real name Malcolm Jamaal Davis | rapper | originated in Atlanta |
| Gucci Mane, real name Radric Davis | rapper, actor | born in Alabama; raised in Atlanta |
| Mariah the Scientist | singer | born in Atlanta |
| China Anne McClain | singer-songwriter and actress (Jasmine Payne on television series Tyler Perry's House of Payne, Chyna Parks on A.N.T. Farm) | born in Atlanta[87] |
| Big Maceo Merriweather | blues singer-pianist, made many recordings in the 1940s for Bluebird and Victor | born in Atlanta in 1905 |
| Migos (Quavo, Offset, Takeoff) | rap group | all born and raised in Atlanta |
| Money Man | rapper | |
| Shawn Mullins | singer-songwriter | born in Atlanta |
| Eric Nam | Korean-American singer-songwriter, television host, entertainer and entrepreneur currently based in South Korea | born in Atlanta |
| OJ da Juiceman, real name Otis Williams Jr. | rapper | from Atlanta |
| Pastor Troy | rapper | from Atlanta |
| Duke Pearson | jazz pianist and composer, noted for work on the Blue Note label | born in Atlanta 1932; died in Atlanta 1980 |
| Scott Phillips | drummer, percussionist, keyboardist, and co-founder of rock band Creed | born in Atlanta |
| Playboi Carti, real name Jordan Terrell Carter | rapper and songwriter | born in Riverdale, Atlanta |
| Mac Powell | Christian singer | |
| Jerry Reed | country-music singer-songwriter, guitarist and actor who appeared in more than a dozen films; signature songs include "Guitar Man", "East Bound and Down", "A Thing Called Love" and "When You're Hot, You're Hot" | born in Atlanta[88] |
| Rich Homie Quan, real name Dequantes Devontay Lamar | rapper | from Atlanta |
| Porter Robinson | DJ, record producer, singer-songwriter | born in Atlanta[89] |
| Chris Robinson | singer-songwriter | born in Atlanta[90] |
| Rocko | rapper | from Atlanta |
| Tommy Roe | singer-songwriter | from Atlanta[91] |
| Rubi Rose | rapper | born in Lexington, Kentucky; based in Atlanta |
| Kelly Rowland | singer-songwriter with Destiny's Child and as a solo artist; actress and television personality; two-time Grammy Award winner | born in Atlanta |
| Russ | rapper | from Atlanta[92] |
| SahBabii, real name Saaheem Valdery | rapper and songwriter | born in Chicago; raised in Atlanta |
| Troy Sanders | bass player, singer-songwriter of Grammy Award–winning[93] metal band Mastodon | born in Atlanta[94] |
| Cappriccieo Scates | drummer and record producer; won Phoenix Award in 2011 | lives and works in Atlanta[95][96] |
| Kodie Shane | rapper | born in Atlanta |
| Silentó | rapper, singer and songwriter | |
| Natalie Lauren Sims, also known as Suzy Rock | musician, songwriter, graphic and art designer, and music executive | moved to Atlanta in 2007[97] |
| Skooly, real name Kazarion Fowler | rapper | from Atlanta |
| Musiq Soulchild | singer, songwriter | resides in Atlanta[98] |
| Soulja Boy, real name DeAndre Cortez Way | rapper | from Atlanta |
| Southside, real name Joshua Howard Luellen | rapper, record producer | from Atlanta |
| Angie Stone | singer and record producer | moved to Atlanta |
| T.I., real name Clifford Joseph Harris Jr. | rapper, actor and businessman | born and raised in Atlanta |
| Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas | singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress from TLC | born in Atlanta |
| Chris Tomlin | contemporary Christian music artist, worship leader and songwriter; co-founder, Passion Conferences Christian organization | from Grand Saline, Texas; moved to Atlanta |
| DJ Toomp | record producer, songwriter and Grammy Award winner | born and lives in Atlanta |
| Trouble, real name Mariel Semonte Orr | rapper | from Atlanta |
| Unk, real name Anthony Platt | rapper | from Atlanta |
| Usher, real name Usher Raymond | singer-songwriter, dancer and actor; rose to fame in late 1990s with release of second album My Way | attended North Springs High School[99] |
| Waka Flocka Flame, real name Juaquin James Malphurs | rapper | |
| Summer Walker | singer | from Atlanta[100] |
| Florence Warner | singer-songwriter; best known for her appearance on television commercials and local television image campaigns | born in Atlanta[101] |
| Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins | singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress from TLC | lived in Atlanta[102] |
| Faye Webster | singer-songwriter | from Atlanta[103] |
| Freddy Weller | singer-songwriter | from Atlanta[104] |
| Kanye West | rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer and fashion designer; one of the best-selling artists of all time[citation needed] | born in Atlanta, raised in Chicago |
| YC, real name Christopher Daniels Miller | rapper | from Atlanta |
| YFN Lucci | rapper | born in Atlanta |
| Young Dro, real name D'Juan Montrel Hart | rapper | from Atlanta |
| Young Nudy, real name Quantavious Tavario Thomas | rapper | from Atlanta |
| Young Scooter, real name Kenneth Edward Bailey | rapper | from Atlanta |
| Young Thug, real name Jeffery Lamar Williams | rapper, songwriter | born and lives in Atlanta |
| Yung Joc | rapper | born in Atlanta |
Politics and law
| Name | Known for | Association |
|---|---|---|
| Paul V. Applegarth | former chief executive officer, Millennium Challenge Corporation | raised in Atlanta until college |
| James Earl "Jimmy" Carter Jr. | 76th governor of Georgia and 39th president of the United States | lived in Atlanta; attended the Georgia Institute of Technology |
| Knowa De Baraso | political commentator | lives in Atlanta[105] |
| Nathan Deal | 82nd governor of Georgia | lived in Atlanta |
| Lawrence Dennis | diplomat, consultant, author, advocate for fascism | born in Atlanta[106] |
| Andre Dickens | 61st mayor of Atlanta | born in Atlanta |
| John Brown Gordon | Confederate States Army lieutenant general; 53rd governor of Georgia | lived in Atlanta |
| Kwanza Hall | U.S. representative, Atlanta City Council member | born and lived in Atlanta[107] |
| Stumpy Harris | eminent-domain lawyer | born in Atlanta |
| Cora Catherine Calhoun Horne | Black suffragist, civil-rights activist, and Atlanta socialite | born and raised in Atlanta; attended Atlanta University[108] |
| Maynard Holbrook Jackson Jr. | 54th and 56th mayor of Atlanta; first Black mayor of Atlanta | attended college and lived in Atlanta |
| Martin Luther King Jr. | civil-rights leader, religious leader | born in Atlanta[109] |
| John Lewis | U.S. representative, Atlanta City Council member, civil-rights activist | lived in Atlanta[110] |
| Lester Maddox | 75th governor of Georgia | born and lived in Atlanta |
| Michelle Nunn | foreign service, candidate for senator, non-profit chief executive officer | born and lived in Atlanta |
| Jon Ossoff | U.S. senator from Georgia | born and lived in Atlanta[111][112][113] |
| Kasim Reed | 59th mayor of Atlanta | lived in Atlanta |
| David Scott | U.S. representative, Georgia state senator, Georgia representative | lived in Atlanta[114] |
| Randolph W. Thrower | former commissioner of Internal Revenue | lived in Atlanta |
| Conrad Tillard | politician, Baptist minister, radio host, author, and activist | |
| Raphael Warnock | first African-American U.S. senator from Georgia | lived and pastored in Atlanta[115] |
| Charline White | first African-American woman to be elected to the Michigan Legislature | born in Atlanta[116] |
| Nikema Williams | U.S. representative, Georgia state senator, chair of the Georgia Democratic Party | lived in Atlanta[117] |
| Christopher C. Wimbish | African-American Illinois state senator and lawyer | born and lived in Atlanta[118] |
Religious leaders
| Name | Known for | Association |
|---|---|---|
| Paul S. Morton | founding pastor of Changing a Generation Full Gospel Baptist Church in Atlanta; founder and first presiding bishop of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship;[119] Grammy Award–nominated gospel recording artist[120] | lives in Atlanta |
| Andy Stanley | senior pastor of North Point Community Church, Buckhead Church, and other local churches; founded North Point Ministries, a worldwide Christian organization | moved to Atlanta |
| Charles Stanley | senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Atlanta; founder and president of In Touch Ministries; served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention 1984–1986 | moved to Atlanta |
Writers and artists
| Name | Known for | Association |
|---|---|---|
| Bob the Drag Queen | drag queen | born in Atlanta[121] |
| Paul Darcy Boles | author and advertising writer | long-time resident |
| Violet Chachki | drag queen | born in Atlanta[122] |
| Lewis Grizzard | writer and humorist | lived in Atlanta |
| Joel Chandler Harris | wrote the Uncle Remus stories | lived in West End of Atlanta[123] |
| Tayari Jones | author | born and grew up in Atlanta, attended Spelman College, professor at Emory University[124] |
| Cheryl McKay | wrote The Ultimate Gift screenplay | lives in Atlanta[125] |
| Margaret Mitchell | wrote novel Gone with the Wind | born, lived, and died in Atlanta[126] |
| Flannery O'Connor | Southern gothic writer | attended one year of school in Atlanta[127] |
| Judith Pordon | poet and editor | born in Atlanta |
| Anne Rivers Siddons | novelist | born in Atlanta |
| Lucy May Stanton | artist | born in Atlanta[128] |
| Natasha Tretheway | poet | lived in Atlanta (taught at Emory University)[129] |
| Isabel Wilkerson | author and journalist | lived in Atlanta (taught at Emory University)[130] |
