The most famous musicians from Missouri

Though the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll wasn't born in Missouri, Tina Turner began her singing career in St. Louis after moving there as a teenager. She started gaining traction after joining Ike Turner and his band in the late 1950s and eventually became a successful solo act thereafter with the release of her comeback album, Private Dancer, in 1984.

Country music singer Sara Evans was born and raised near Columbia, Missouri, where she grew up playing in her family's band. Evans released her first album, Three Chords and the Truth, in 1997 and recently released her 10th album, Unbroke. She became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2023.

The heart and soul of the band Puddle of Mudd, Wes Scantlin, was born in Kansas City, Missouri. Scantlin has been the only steady member of the band since its formation in the early 1990s. Their biggest hits include "Blurry," "Control," and "She Hates Me" from their debut album, Come Clean, released in 2001.

Chuck Berry, a.k.a. the Father of Rock and Roll, was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. Known for such hits as "Johnny B. Goode" and "Maybellene," Berry was one of the first to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 and is still considered one of the most influential musicians.

Blues musician Samantha Fish grew up in Kansas City, playing at several local bars as a teenager. Fish's career began to take off in 2009 with The Samantha Fish Blues Band, and she has since then released seven solo albums. She and collaborator Jesse Dayton's 2023 album Death Wish Blues received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album.

Rapper Marshall Mathers, a.k.a. Eminem, was born in St. Joseph and lived in a few different areas of Missouri before ultimately moving to Detroit, Michigan. Eminem is one of the best-selling artists in music, having won several awards, including 15 Grammys and an Oscar for Best Original Song for "Lose Yourself."

You can probably tell from their name that the Ozark Mountain Daredevils were formed near the Ozarks in Springfield, Missouri. The band has had many members since they first began, all the way back in 1972, and they are still playing today.

Known for hits like "Hot in Herre" and "Ride wit Me," Nelly began rapping as a teenager in St. Louis, Missouri. He started gaining success after the release of his debut album, Country Grammar, and quickly became one of the biggest artists of the 2000s.

Singer and songwriter Sheryl Crow was born and raised in Kennett, Missouri. Crow started out as a music teacher and then a background singer for various notable artists before getting her big break with her debut album, Tuesday Night Music Club. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2023 and released her 12th album, Evolution, in 2024.

Would "Yacht Rock" even exist without Michael McDonald? McDonald of St. Louis has served as lead vocalist for the band the Doobie Brothers on and off since 1975 and provided background vocals for various artists like Steely Dan in addition to his own success as a solo act. His most popular songs include "What a Fool Believes" and "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)."

If you're from Kansas City, chances are you know all about Tech N9ne. Tech N9ne is one of the Midwest's best-known rappers, with a career spanning almost three decades. He's worked with the likes of Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, and Lil Wayne (just to name a few) and has released several studio and compilation albums over the years.

Grammy Award-winning jazz guitarist Pat Metheny also hails from the Kansas City area. Methany has had an impressive career, from the release of his debut album, Bright Size Life, in 1976 to today.

Though he may not have grown up in Missouri, singer and music producer Akon was born in the city of St. Louis. He's known for several 2000s classics like "Smack That" and "Right Now (Na Na Na)" and understandably holds a Guinness World Record for being the top-selling artist for ringtones.

St. Louis-born Nathaniel Rateliff grew up playing music in Herman, Missouri, before moving to Colorado. He's released music as a solo artist and as a part of a few different bands, most notably Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats. The band released their fourth album, South of Here, in 2024.

SZA is one of the biggest artists as of late. She also just so happens to be from St. Louis, Missouri. With four Grammys, an Oscar nomination, and her acting debut quickly approaching, what can't she do?

American Idol alumni David Cook was raised in the town of Blue Springs, Missouri. Known for such hits as "The Time of My Life" and "Light On," Cook released his third EP, The Looking Glass, in 2021 and is still touring.

Rapper Chingy was born and raised in, you guessed it, St. Louis. You may remember him from his debut single, "Right Thurr," from the early 2000s. His first three albums were fairly successful, and although he hasn't released an album since 2010, he's still touring.

Despite starting out as a child actor in the film How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), St. Louis native Taylor Momsen made the switch to music in 2009 with the formation of her band The Pretty Reckless. The band released their fourth album, Death by Rock and Roll, in 2021.

Andrew VanWyngarden of the band MGMT was born in Columbia, Missouri, before moving to Tennessee. MGMT's debut album, Oracular Spectacular, produced the ever-popular song "Electric Feel" and is considered to be one of the greatest albums of all time. VanWyngarden released a solo EP in 2020.

Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, professionally known as Chappell Roan, is from Willard, Missouri. She started making music in 2015 but didn't have a breakthrough until 2022 when she returned to Los Angeles to record her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. And the rest is history.