Famous People from Mississippi

Mississippi is a Southern state with rich industries like agriculture, fishing, manufacturing and mining. It’s earned nicknames like the Magnolia State based on its magnolia trees and the Hospitality State for its reputation of southern charm. The state is also the birthplace of a variety of notable people from history, the arts, and sports. We’ve created this guide to help you learn about some of the famous people from Mississippi.

Jim Henson

“Jim Henson & Kermit” by Ben Clark is licensed with CC BY 2.0

Jim Henson was born in Greenville on Sept. 24, 1936. As an artist, he was a puppeteer, cartoonist, animator, inventor, actor, screenwriter, director, and producer. He’s largely most recognizable for creating the Muppets and “Fraggle Rock.” He also worked on the “Sesame Street” TV show and movies to help develop the show’s Muppet characters and assisted with other iconic characters, such as creating the character of Yoda for the film “Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back.” Henson’s other notable works include the movies “Labyrinth” and “The Dark Crystal.”

Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo on Jan. 8, 1935. Nicknamed the “King of Rock and Roll,” Presley was a musician who released dozens of studio albums and soundtrack albums throughout his career, selling an estimated range of 500 million to 1 billion records. According to “Guinness World Records,” this qualifies him as the best-selling solo music artist. Presley was also an actor on stage and in film and television. He appeared in works like “Love Me Tender,” “Jailhouse Rock,” and “The Trouble With Girls.”

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey was born in Kosciusko on Jan. 29, 1954. She began her media career as the youngest and first Black female anchor on Nashville’s WLAC-TV. She continued her television career by hosting local talk shows, including “AM Chicago” in 1984. This show eventually became “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and transitioned into nationwide broadcasting on Sept. 8, 1986, running successfully until its finale on May 25, 2011. Winfrey’s legacy also includes acting, producing, writing, and philanthropy, and the media mogul also has her own television network, Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), which she formed in 2008.

Jimmy Buffet

Musician Jimmy Buffet was born in Pascagoula on Dec. 25, 1946. He’s a singer-songwriter with a unique style of music known for celebrating escapism and an island lifestyle. His discography includes iconic songs like “Margaritaville” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise.” In 2003, he collaborated with country star Alan Jackson for “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” which went on to hit number one on country music charts and earn the 2003 Country Music Association (CMA) Award for Vocal Event of the Year. Buffet also has several business endeavors, including restaurants, resorts, retirement communities, casinos, record labels, and beer.

James Earl Jones

“Driving Miss Daisy” by Eva Rinaldi is licensed with CC BY-SA 2.0

James Earl Jones was born in Arkabutla on Jan. 17, 1931. He’s a theater, film, and television star noted for having one of the most recognizable voices in show business. His iconic voice acting appearances include Darth Vader throughout “Star Wars” and in “The Lion King.” Jones is one of few people with the distinction of having an EGOT, meaning he has an Emmy Award, a Grammy Award, an Oscar, and a Tony Award. The American Theater Hall of Fame inducted him in 1985, and, in 2017, he received a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre.

Brett Favre

Brett Favre was born in Gulfport on Oct. 10, 1969. He’s a Super Bowl-winning, record-setting quarterback who played for the University of Southern Mississippi before advancing to the National Football League when the Atlanta Falcons drafted him in 1991. In 1992, the Green Bay Packers traded to acquire Favre, and he played for them until 2007. He continued to play with the New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings before retiring in 2010. Favre holds the NFL record for most consecutive starts, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Inducted him in 2016.

B.B. King

B.B. King was born in Berclair on Sept.16, 1925. Dubbed the “King of the Blues” and one of the “Three Kings of the Blues Guitar,” he was an accomplished blues guitarist, singer-songwriter, and producer. He released more than 40 albums during his career, and his discography includes iconic songs like “The Thrill Is Gone,” “You Know I Love You,” and “Every Day I Have the Blues.” King won 15 of the 21 Grammy Awards he received nominations for, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted him in 1987.

Ruby Bridges

Ruby Bridges was born in Tylertown on Sept. 8, 1954. Bridges is a civil rights activist and philanthropist, and she’s most known for being one of six Black children in New Orleans who passed testing to attend the all-white William Frantz Elementary School. The city began integrating schools on Nov. 14, 1960, based on a court order, and federal marshals escorting Bridges into school became an iconic image. She now serves as the chair for the Ruby Bridges Foundation, and the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis features her in its permanent exhibit called “The Power of Children: Making a Difference.”

Faith Hill

Faith Hill was born in Star on Sept. 21, 1967. She’s a singer and record producer, and she’s sold more than 40 million albums worldwide. While Hill is most successful in country music, she’s also had some crossover success with pop music. Her discography has more than half-a-dozen albums and includes iconic hits like “This Kiss” and “The Way You Love Me.” She’s won three CMA Awards and five Grammy Awards during her career, and her original song for the movie “Pearl Harbor,” which is called “There You’ll Be,” earned her an Academy Award nomination in 2002.

We’ve reached the end of our list, reviewing some famous people from Mississippi. At Herrin-Gear INFINITI, we’re proud to serve Mississippians just like you, and we hope this guide helped you learn about some notable people from our state. Feel like we left someone important off of our list? Drop us a line to let us know. We might even update our guide to include your suggestion.