Really? They’re From INDIANA?

Indiana, oh Indiana. Some may call this the bible belt here in the Midwest. And yes, there are many churches, but there is much more to Indiana than religion. This is coming from a girl who got out of Indiana straight after she turned 18. I’m back though, and love Indianapolis more and more every day.

Since I have been back in Indiana, I have met some of the greatest people, made many dear friends, and have been blessed to be involved in great projects. Indiana rocks! I mean, do you know how many famous people are from here? Thanks to the folks over at Midwest Emerging Artists (an amazing not-for-profit who is all about supporting local artists), we have a nice compiled list. I bet you didn’t know ALL of them. Here you go:

FILM
James Dean, actor (Fairmount)
Sydney Pollack, actor, producer, director, (Lafayette)
Vivica A. Fox actress (Indianapolis)
TV
Shelley Long, actress (Fort Wayne)
David Letterman, comedian (Indianapolis)
Tavis Smiley, talk show host on PBS and NPR (Kokomo)
COMEDY
Red Skelton, comedian (Vincennes)
MUSIC
Hoagy Carmichael, songwriter (Bloomington)
John Hiatt, singer, songwriter (Indianapolis)
Janet Jackson, singer (Gary)
Michael Jackson, singer (Gary)
John Mellencamp, singer, songwriter, musician (Seymour)
Wes Montgomery, jazz guitarist (Indianapolis)
Cole Porter, songwriter (Peru)
Axl Rose, Guns N’ Roses singer (Lafayette)
Shannon Hoon, Blind Melon (Lafayette)
David Lee Roth, Van Halen singer (Bloomington)
Izzy Stradlin, Guns N’ Roses rhythm guitarist (Lafayette)
ART AND LITERATURE
Jim Davis, cartoonist (Fairmount)
Norman Bridwell, cartoonist (Kokomo)
Ernie Pyle, newsman, legendary war correspondent during World War II (Dana)
Kurt Vonnegut, author (Indianapolis)
T. C. Steele, artist (Indianapolis)
James Whitcomb Riley, poet (Greenfield)
Booth Tarkington, Pulitzer Prize winning author of Alice Adams, Seventeen, and The Magnificent Ambersons (Indianapolis)

I may have missed one or two, so if you can think of any more, please add to the list. The point is, Indiana is great. Come to Indianapolis sometime and you’ll see!