Born in the U.S.A.: Top 50 Stars of the 50 States (Critic's Pick)

From Billy Joel's New York state of mind to the Beach Boys being synonymous with sunny California, each state has given us some amazing music. In honor of July 4th, Billboard has (subjectively) chosen a top star (or stars) to fly the flag for each of the 50 states. In most cases, the representative artist was born in his or her chosen state. In a few others, or in the case of groups, states were picked based on the states in which acts spent their formative years.

Please note that all selections are not based on strict Billboard chart methodology, but merely opinion, although chart history was strongly considered. READ MORE about how this list was chosen.

Alabama: As if its name isn't enough, the band Alabama has banked 33 Hot Country Songs No. 1s, the most among groups, including its first since 1993 in 2011, courtesy of its guest turn on Brad Paisley's "Old Alabama."

 

Arizona: Peter Green founded Fleetwood Mac in London, but the 1974 addition of Americans Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, the latter from Phoenix, ushered in the band's commercial era that led to its enshrinement in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Arkansas: With all due respect to occasional saxman Bill Clinton, Johnny Cash wins this musical election. The Man in Black, born in aptly named Kingsland, won new audiences with new music in even his final years (i.e., his haunting cover of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt") and topped the Billboard 200 as recently as 2006, three years after his passing.

Colorado: John Denver was born (as Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr.) in Roswell, New Mexico. Still, his name and smashes as "Rocky Mountain High" have made him as much a part of Colorado as Coors beer.

Connecticut: John Mayer takes a slight edge over New Haven native Michael Bolton, if only since "No Such Thing" so clearly evokes images of Mayer's alma mater, Fairfield High School.

Florida: We could pick Flo Rida, or Backstreet Boys or 'N Sync, but with 29 charted titles on the Billboard Hot 100 and 30, including 15 No. 1s, on Hot Latin Songs, Gloria Estefan (born in Havana, Cuba) has gotten fans on their feet and in conga lines, moving to her Miami sounds, for more than three decades.

Georgia: Home to famed alternative acts including R.E.M., the B-52s and Indigo Girls, as well as a whole new bounty of hip-hop stars from Atlanta, it feels most right to bestow the honor on the late Ray Charles. "Just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind," the R&B titan sang on his 1960 Hot 100 No. 1. Since 1979, "Georgia on My Mind" has served as the state's official song.

Idaho: Paul Revere and the Raiders, formed in Boise, notched 21 Hot 100 hits between 1961 and 1973, including the 1971 No. 1 "Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)," an ode to Native Americans forced to relocate in the 1830s.

Illinois: Originally named Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago has sent 46 songs onto the Hot 100, 20 of which reached the top 10. Even after the defection of lead singer Peter Cetera, the band topped the tally, with "Look Away," sung by Bill Champlin (who departed Chicago in 2009), ranking as Billboard's top single of 1989. (Tip: listening to any of the band's classics sounds even better with some deep dish.)

Iowa: The Everly Brothers' harmonies influenced countless acts, including The Beatles and The Beach Boys. Don was born in Kentucky and Phil in Illinois, but their family soon embraced the Shenandoah, Iowa, music scene, with their father Ike often bringing them on to sing on his radio shows on KMA and KFNF.

Kansas: Sharon-born Martina McBride has placed 55 titles on Hot Country Songs, dating to her first on the chart in 1992. Still, Kansas is right there in the name of the band, formed in Topeka, that enjoyed such everlasting hits as "Carry on Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind."

Louisiana: As New Orleans = jazz, who else but Louis Armstrong? Satchmo not only crossed over to mainstream audiences as early as the 1920s, but also stands as a pioneer in breaking racial barriers, through the power of his beloved music.

Maine: Stephen Hague. A producer, not a known performer, Hague (born in Portland) has, perhaps surprisingly, produced hits most notably recorded by British bands, including Pet Shop Boys ("West End Girls"), New Order ("True Faith") and Erasure ("A Little Respect").

Massachusetts: Aerosmith. With 28 Hot 100 hits since 1973, the "Bad Boys from Boston" best such worthy fellow (and wicked awesome) Bay Staters as James Taylor, New Kids on the Block, Boston (of course) and Dropkick Murphys.

Michigan: Heartland rock (i.e., the state's Bob Seger) perhaps best defines the Midwest, but Madonna was born in Bay City, graduated from Rochester Adams High School and attended the University of Michigan before dropping out to move to New York City and create the material that would make her musical royalty.

Mississippi: As Elvis Presley served as perhaps the most important figure in the popularization of early rock, his Billboard chart legacy is equally astounding. He's scored 108 Hot 100 hits between 1958 and 2003 and boasts the most charted albums in the archives of the Billboard 200 albums chart. Simply, he's still the King of Rock & Roll.

Missouri: Eminem was born (Marshall Bruce Mathers III) in Saint Joseph, not moving to Michigan until age 12. Eminem is the best-selling rap album artist of all-time, with U.S. sales of 47.3 million, according to Nielsen Music. 2Pac (30 million) and JAY-Z (29.6 million) follow.

Nebraska: Another band that epitomizes the heartland rock sound, the Eagles, was co-founded by Randy Meisner, who also helped form Poco. Meisner sings lead on the Eagles' No. 4 1976 smash "Take It to the Limit."

Nevada: While Las Vegas has long been the performing home of Wayne Newton and, more recently, Celine Dion and Britney Spears, among many others, The Killers formed there in 2001. The alternative/dance band, with a stylistic flare in line with that of Sin City, has earned four Billboard 200 top 10s.

New Jersey: If from almost any other state, Bon Jovi would surely (shore-ly?) make this list in bold print. Bruce Springsteen, however, seems like the most apt choice if only for career longevity as a tie-breaker. A bittersweet honorary mention, as well, to Whitney Houston.

New Mexico: "You gotta hear this one song. It'll change your life," Zach Braff predicted about The Shins' "New Slang" in the 2004 film Garden State. The Albuquerque band roared to a No. 2 peak on the Billboard 200 with 2007's Wincing the Night Away, while 2012's Port of Morrow debuted and peaked at No. 3. In April 2017, Heartworms launched at No. 20.

North Carolina: Bucking the trend of country/rock artists best representing Southern states, Jermaine Dupri has produced 11 Hot 100 No. 1s for such R&B acts as Nelly, Usher and Monica. All 11 leaders have spent multiple weeks at No. 1, led by Mariah Carey's 14-week topper "We Belong Together" in 2005.

North Dakota: Lawrence Welk, Bobby Vee ("Take Good Care of My Baby," 1961) and Wiz Khalifa are the only artists born in the state to top the Hot 100. But, based on longevity, acting/singing favorite Welk takes the title (even if Khalifa's "See You Again" became one of 2015's biggest smashes).

Oklahoma: Garth Brooks. With U.S. sales of 71.8 million, the Tulsa native and Oklahoma State University grad (advertising major, FYI) is the best-selling album artist in Nielsen Music's 26-year history.

Oregon: 2011 Best new artist Grammy Award winner Esperanza Spalding was born in Portland. The acclaimed jazz instrumentalist/singer famously won the honor over presumed favorite (and Canada native) Justin Bieber. Also from the Portlandia region: The Decemberists, Everclear and Courtney Love.

Rhode Island: Jeffrey Osborne. The Providence-born R&B singer fronted L.T.D. before launching a solo career that yielded such hits as 1984's "Stay With Me Tonight" (a Rhody radio favorite).

South Carolina: The late, legendary "Living in America" singer himself, James Brown. The Godfather of Soul sent 91 songs onto the Hot 100, the fourth-best sum among solo acts after Lil Wayne, Drake and Elvis Presley.

Tennessee: As with Springsteen in New Jersey, it's hard to imagine anyone other than Dolly Parton representing Tennessee, especially since her "Dollywood" theme park welcomes approximately 2.5 million visitors annually. The Nashville queen, born in Sevierville, boasts the most No. 1s (25) of any female artist in the Hot Country Songs chart's history.

Texas: Even if all his exes reportedly live there, George Strait can't hide from the fact that he's sent more songs to No. 1 on Hot Country Songs (44) than any other act. With top 10s annually on the chart from 1981 through 2013, Strait, born in Poteet, is the only artist to score a top 10 on the same survey for as many as 33 "Strait" years.

Vermont: Who else but Phish? The jam band formed at the University of Vermont in Burlington in 1983. Ben & Jerry's, headquartered in nearby Waterbury, famously concocted its Phish Food ice cream flavor as a tasty tribute.

Virginia: Bruce Hornsby. The singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist has serenaded his home state in such descriptive songs as "The Red Plains," "The Valley Road" and "The Road Not Taken" (in which he sings of falling in love "with an Appalachian girl").

West Virginia: Brad Paisley. Since his arrival, by way of Glen Dale, Paisley has tallied 18 No. 1s, including a streak of 10 in-a-row, on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart and eight No. 1s on Top Country Albums. Since his debut in 1999, when it comes to country chart success, Paisley continues to be crushin' it.