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The following is list of notable people associated with the U.S. city of Charlotte, North Carolina. All people listed are or have previously been residents of Charlotte, unless otherwise indicated.
[edit] Arts, literature, humanities and entertainment
Spirit Square Center for the Arts
- Clay Aiken, pop singer; 2003 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
- Fantasia Barrino, R&B singer, American Idol season 3 winner
- Adina Howard, R&B singer
- Romare Bearden, famed artist
- Ben Browder, actor Farscape and Stargate SG-1
- Horace Brown, R&B singer
- John P. Kee, gospel singer
- Nappy Brown, R&B and gospel singer
- Phillip Bush, American classical pianist
- Tom Constanten, former keyboard player Grateful Dead
- David L Cook, Christian recording star, comedian
- FireHouse, early 90's "hair metal" band
- Mark Freiburger, Filmmaker
- Patrick Frye III, musician, harpsichordist, composer, performance artist, poet (resident of Charlotte)
- Harry Golden, author
- Anthony Hamilton, R&B singer
- Ali Hillis, actress
- Cheris F. Hodges, author
- Kwame Jackson, runner-up in the first season of "The Apprentice"
- Renneker Jenkins, actor
- Travis Jeppesen, author
- K-Ci and JoJo of 1990s R&B group Jodeci
- Si Kahn, singer-songwriter and activist (resident of Charlotte)
- Mark Kemp, author, music journalist
- Sharon Lawrence, Hollywood actress, most known from NYPD Blue
- Ben Long, internationally-renowned artist, most known for his fresco work and his drawings
- Carson McCullers, author
- James B. McMillan, federal judge who ruled in favor of school busing to integrate Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
- Maureen O'Boyle, formerly of "Current Affair" and now newscaster for WBTV
- Kathy Reichs, anthropologist and author
- Randolph Scott, actor
- John Shelby Spong, retired Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, noted author, lecturer, and theologian
- AlTonya Washington, author
- Wednesday 13, musician
- Stephanie Mills,R&B singer
- Skeet Ulrich, graduate of Northwest Cabarrus High School and Star of CBS Show "Jericho"
- Sunshine Anderson, (musician) R&B singer
- Hopesfall, hard rock band
- Ric Flair, sports-entainer/professional wrestler
- Bryan Frances Kennedy IV (aka "B.K."), Celebrated humanitarian and sometime motivational speaker. Once held his breath for 5 minutes and 27 seconds. Currently splitting time between divinity school and writing his unauthorized biography of James Van Der Beek.
- Maurice Williams, songwriter and performer of Maurice William and the Zodiacs, famous for "Stay"
[edit] Politics, law and the military
- Erskine Bowles, served as Chief of Staff in Clinton White House
- Rebecca Carney, Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly
- Daniel G. Clodfelter, attorney and politician, Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly
- Chris Cole, politician
- Charlie Smith Dannelly, educator and politician, Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly
- Buster Glosson, Lieutenant General (Ret.), United States Air Force
- Sarah Parker, Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court (born in Charlotte)
- Robert Pittenger, real estate invester and politician, Republican member of the North Carolina General Assembly
- Richard Vinroot, attorney and politician
- Sue Myrick, member of the United States House of Representatives
[edit] Business
- Daniel DiMicco, President and CEO of Nucor, one of the largest steel-producing companies in the United States.
- Leon Levine, founder of Family Dollar; prominent billionaire, businessman and philanthropist.
- Hugh McColl, former CEO and Chairman of Bank of America; built the company from a small regional bank into one of the largest banks in the world.
- Bruton Smith, billionaire founder and CEO of Speedway Motorsports, Inc., a company that owns and operates six race tracks in the United States. Also founded Sonic Automotive, one of the largest automobile retailers in the US.
- Clemmie Dixon (C.D.) Spangler, Jr., #117 on Forbes list of 400 richest Americans; former president of the 16-campus University of North Carolina system. Made his fortune in construction and investments.
- Ben Elbert Douglas, Sr., Mayor
- Muggsy Bogues, former NBA guard
- Dwight Clark, former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
- Stu Cole, former professional baseball player and minor league manager of the Tulsa Drillers
- Mo Collins, former Oakland Raiders lineman
- Carlos Crawford, former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
- Jim Crockett, wrestling promoter
- Walter Davis, former NBA player and 1976 Olympian
- Ray Durham, MLB second baseman
- Ric Flair, pro wrestler
- DeShaun Foster, running back for the Carolina Panthers
- Todd Fuller, Professional Basketball Player, 1996 CoSIDA/GTE Male Scholar/Athlete of the Year
- Jeff Gordon, NASCAR driver
- Leonard (Pug) Green, Golden Gloves Champion
- Mario Grier, former NFL running back
- Rick Hendrick, NASCAR team owner
- Brandon Inge, Detroit Tigers third baseman
- Antawn Jamison, NBA forward, former University of North Carolina basketball star
- Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR driver
- Bobby Jones, former NBA player and 1972 Olympian
- Ron "The Truth" Killings, pro wrestler and rapper
- Chris Leak, Offensive MVP of 2007 BCS National Championship Game
- Mark Maye, former NFL QB
- Jeff McInnis, NBA guard
- Sam Mills, American football linebacker who played twelve seasons in the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers
- Jim Nantz, sportscaster
- Roman Phifer, former NFL linebacker
- Jerry Richardson, owner of the Carolina Panthers
- John Sadri, former tennis player, Australian Open singles finalist
- Ricky Steamboat, former pro Wrestler
- Chad Tracy, MLB third baseman
- Reggie White, American football defensive end for the Carolina Panthers; career leader at the time of his retirement in sacks
- Haywood Workman, former Indiana Pacers guard