Ashley County, Arkansas: Where Stars Are Born

Ashley County, Arkansas is not only home to beautiful countrysides, magnificent landscapes and great hunting, but it is also the county that quite a few celebrities call home and often visit. There have been many sightings of the notable residents of this county but they generally just blend in because when they are home, they are just a citizen of the community and not a famous face.

Probably the most notable native of this Southeastern Arkansas County is Joseph Jackson. One might go so far to say that Fountain Hill, Arkansas is the birthplace of the Jackson 5, because it is home to the man who started it all. Many people are under the impression that Mr. Jackson is from Gary, Indiana but that just is not the case. Mr. Jackson was born and raised in this tiny, one horse town and moved away after the separation of his parents at the tender age of 12. It is rumored that some members of the Jackson family still live in the area, but they don't openly announce that they are related to the Jackson family.

Scottie Pippin is another Ashley County citizen who has made it big. Mr. Pippen attended high school at Hamburg High where he played on the school's basketball team. After graduating from high school, he went on to college at the University of Central Arkansas. He then joined the NBA. After his retirement, he has returned to his hometown to open a construction company and golf course.

Hamburg is also home to 2008's Miss Teen USA, Stevi Perry. Both Perry's and Pippen's name appears on the sign that welcomes you to this quaint little community. Stevi attended Hamburg High School and was a cheerleader for the Hamburg Lions before becoming Miss Teen USA. Now living in New York City, she is occasionally seen around town when she comes back home for a visit.

When one thinks of the Dallas Cowboys, they think Texas. However, in 1995 a country boy from Crossett, Arkansas led this great team to a Super Bowl victory and his name was Barry Switzer. Switzer was born and raised in this small Arkansas community and went on to become one of the two head coaches in history to win both a college national championship and a Super Bowl - with the other one being the legendary Jimmy Johnson.

Country music is also represented by a citizen of Ashley County. Award winning country music singer and songwriter, K.T. Oslin was born in Crossett, Arkansas. She and her family only lived in Crossett, Arkansas for a short period of time before they moved on to Tennessee. Nevertheless, it is still considered to be her hometown.

Next time you pass through the cities of Crossett, Hamburg and Fountain Hill, Arkansas, take notice of your surroundings and the people that you meet. You never know what future celebrity you might be talking to or shaking hands with.

Sources:
http://www.nndb.com/people/799/000030709/
http://sports.jrank.org/pages/3758/Pippen-Scottie.html
http://www.tpmum.com/teen08th.html
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0652040/
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842810/