Miranda Lambert performs "Wranglers" during the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
A big state breeds big talent, and North Texas rears musicians through school, church, sporting events, community theater, and even dive bar performances. The artists included here took those experiences and made successful careers, with many crediting their style or grit to their childhoods here.
LeAnn Rimes
The Grammy Award-winning country singer moved to Garland at age six. As a child she toured with her father who was singing the “Star Spangled Banner” at various Dallas Cowboys games, and was eventually discovered by Dallas disc jockey Bill Mack.
Meat Loaf
This late rock legend started out as just a boy from Dallas. He attended Thomas Jefferson High School where he performed in theater productions and played football. He attended Lubbock Christian College, and then transferred to what is now known as the University of North Texas.
AP Photo/Kai-Uwe Knoth, File
Selena Gomez
Named after the Texan Tejano superstar Selena Quintenilla, Selena Gomez was born and raised in Grand Prairie. The 32-year-old pop star, actor, and beauty mogul got her start on the cast of Barney & Friends, which filmed in Carrollton at the time.
Maren Morris
The country pop singer is from Arlington, and attended James Bowie High School. She toured the state singing at honky-tonks in her teen years. She later attended college at the University of North Texas, but left after one semester.
Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
Erykah Badu
Born Erica Wright, this neo-soul singer spent her childhood in South Dallas where at a young age she began performing at the Dallas Theater Center and The Black Academy of Arts and Letters. She graduated from the esteemed Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts before leaving the state for college. She resides in Dallas today.
Miranda Lambert
Miranda Lambert was born in the East Texas town of Longview and was raised in Lindale, a small town north of Tyler. While in high school she launched her career by singing in bars with her band The Texas Pride Band. Her debut album included a track called “Texas Pride.”
Kelly Clarkson
This multi hyphenate (reality show winner turned pop singer turned talk show host) hails from Burleson. She graduated from Burleson High School, and turned down full scholarships to the University of Texas at Austin, University of North Texas, and Berklee College of Music to focus completely on her career. Two years later she represented North Texas as the first winner of American Idol.
Kelly Clarkson, center, and the team from “The Kelly Clarkson Show” accept the award for outstanding daytime talk series during the 51st Daytime Emmy Awards on Friday, June 7, 2024, at the Westin Bonaventure in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Stevie Ray Vaughan
The blues rock legend was born in Dallas, and after his family moved around through several states, they came back to Dallas, settling in Oak Cliff. He attended Justin F. Kimball High School before dropping out, and moving to Austin to pursue music. His untimely death brought him back to Dallas. He’s buried at Laurel Land Cemetery.
Mickey Guyton
Candace “Mickey” Guyton is a country singer from Arlington. She started singing as a small child at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Arlington, and moved throughout the state during her childhood. When Guyton signed to UMG’s Capitol Records she became the only Black female artist in her genre signed to a major label.
Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Demi Lovato
Raised in Colleyville by her ex-Dallas Cowboys cheerleader mother, singer and actor Demi Lovato began her acting career at age tenon the Barney & Friends, filmed in Carrollton, and was largely homeschooled. Her family attended Fellowship Church in Dallas.
