Tennessee's Southern Charm Draws a Star-Studded Exodus from Hollywood

A-listers are embracing a rural lifestyle, and we're not talking about their playlists. Prominent figures such as Melissa Joan Hart, Steven Tyler, and Reese Witherspoon have made Tennessee their home in recent decades.

Kristin Cavallari, who has resided in the state since 2017, shared exclusively with Us Weekly in June 2018 why it was the ideal spot for her family. (Cavallari has three children with ex-husband Jay Cutler, who initially drew her to the South.)

“Jay attended Vanderbilt University. And we simply decided this was where we wanted to settle once he retired from football,” Cavallari stated at the time. “We always knew this was the place we wanted to raise our family. What I love most about Nashville is that it offers everything a large city does, yet it maintains a small-town feel. Everyone is so welcoming and kind, and honestly, there's nothing negative to say about Nashville.”

Kathie Lee Gifford was similarly enthusiastic about experiencing Southern hospitality after moving to the area in 2018.

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“Firstly, there’s a distinct culture — a completely different culture down there, and it’s a culture of kindness in Nashville,” Gifford explained to Hoda Kotb in November 2019 during her appearance on the Today show. “And their kindness is genuine. They are joyous, they have so much fun. Music is everywhere. There are barbecues. Everything feels authentically American, just like when I was growing up.”

Explore the list below to see which celebrities have relocated to Tennessee in recent years:

Jack White

The White Stripes musician left his native Detroit, Michigan, for Nashville in 2005 and has remained there. "I've always considered Detroit my home," White told The Tennessean in July 2014. "But I've always felt my spirit originated from another place. And perhaps that place is the South."

White brought elements of his hometown to Nashville shortly after his move. He established Third Man Records in Detroit in 2001, and in 2009, he opened its Nashville branch.

Elisabeth Hasselbeck

Hasselbeck bid farewell to Connecticut in 2016 for the tranquil Belle Meade neighborhood in Nashville. "Nashville is a city whose residents truly see others, provide space for compassion, and offer a helping hand when needed,” the former cohost of The View shared with The Tennessean in March 2019.

Elisabeth and her husband, Tim Hasselbeck, moved their family after she developed an affection for the city while hosting the K-LOVE Christian music awards show in 2015.

Steven Tyler

“I came to Nashville. I rented a house. Now I’ve just purchased a house, so I’m living here permanently. It’s a musical hub,” Tyler stated to Louder Sound in August 2016, confirming his new state of residence. “I collaborated with everyone here, and I believe I’ve produced some of my finest work with this country mindset.”

The Aerosmith frontman added: “This city still possesses a profound passion for music. It hasn’t been overshadowed by commerce and wealth, which might be significant here, but the musical aspect still thrives with passion. Artists from all corners of the globe come here to be part of it, and there's such an abundance of music flowing from the heart of this town that I’m fully immersed. I’m completely committed. I’m staying here. I’m going to reside here. I adore it here.”

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Kristin Cavallari

Cavallari relocated from Chicago to Nashville in 2017 after her then-husband, Cutler, was released from the Chicago Bears. Following Cavallari and Cutler’s 2020 divorce, the Laguna Beach alumna remained in Music City to coparent their three children: Camden, Jaxon, and Saylor.

Cavallari moved into her own residence in Franklin, Tennessee, after her separation from Cutler. After four years, she moved again, but stayed within the same vicinity. “I’m currently in my partially empty kitchen, but actually, there are boxes stacked everywhere,” she mentioned on an October 2024 episode of her “Let’s Be Honest” podcast. “I just moved into my new home a couple of days ago.”

Reese Witherspoon

Witherspoon was born in New Orleans and raised in Nashville, a place that still holds a special spot in her heart. While the actress has resided in Los Angeles intermittently for years — and still owns property in California — she moved back to Nashville in the mid-2000s. The Legally Blonde star reportedly acquired her current home in the Southern city in 2014.

Kathie Lee Gifford

The former Today With Kathie Lee & Hoda cohost moved from Greenwich, Connecticut, to Franklin, Tennessee, in 2018. After retiring from Today in 2019, Gifford purchased a second property in the same neighborhood and settled into the $3.7 million brownstone that July.

Jana Kramer

The actress and singer returned to Nashville in 2019 after living with her then-husband, Mike Caussin, and their two children, Jolie and Jace, in Los Angeles for several years. Kramer has remained in Tennessee following her divorce from Caussin in 2021. She now lives in Music City with her husband, Allan Russell, with whom she shares son Roman.

Melissa Joan Hart

The Sabrina the Teenage Witch alum relocated her family in October 2020, moving from Connecticut to Nashville. Hart marked her three-year anniversary in the South via Instagram by sharing a photo with her husband, Mark Wilkerson, and their three sons inside their comfortable home.

“Happy Nashville Anniversary to us … and a big embrace to all the friends, neighbors, teachers, and people who have made it such a wonderful place to raise our family,” she captioned the October 2023 post.

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Ali Fedotowsky

The former Bachelorette moved from Los Angeles to Nashville in 2021, exclusively telling Us that she and husband Kevin Manno had discovered their “dream home.”

“My husband and I both feel incredibly fortunate to live in this house. We found it when it was just a framed structure, and even though there wasn’t even drywall on the walls yet, we just knew it was the perfect home for us,” she stated in 2022. “I hand-picked every light fixture, every piece of hardware, and all the small details. Truly, the only thing I didn’t choose was the layout, as that was already established when we found it. So, we really did have the chance to make it our dream home, even though we didn’t technically construct it. I wake up thankful for this home every single morning.”

In July 2025, Fedotowsky announced that she and Manno, along with their daughter, Molly, and son Riley, sold their house and were departing Nashville. “We’re not entirely certain where we’re headed yet, but we’re enthusiastic about this new chapter nonetheless! More news to follow soon,” she hinted via Instagram.

Kellan Lutz

The Twilight star informed Fox News in December 2023 that he moved from the West Coast to Nashville to be closer to his wife, Brittany’s family. "Given the current state of the industry, I can work and reside anywhere and simply travel for films,” Lutz explained. “And at least my wife has a support system here when I'm away."

"I recall growing up, my family had a farm in Iowa, and I saw my grandparents, and it was the best time. We spent about a month on the farm. Cows, pigs, everything. But it's fleeting. People aren't living as long," Lutz, who shares two children with his spouse, continued. "You only have limited time with your grandparents. And we live a mile from my wife's parents, so we walk there. It's simply beautiful."

Kirk Cameron

Cameron disclosed in July 2024 that he moved his family from California to Tennessee amidst safety concerns. “Certainly, there are worries about politics, crime, and the economy, but I’m encountering California expatriates all over Tennessee, Texas, Florida, and similar places,” the Growing Pains alum told Fox News. “There’s been an influx of talented individuals and creatives who have left California. They’re frustrated that their values aren't being represented in the projects they’re working on.”

He observed that Tennessee saw an “82 percent increase in motion picture and television production jobs,” labeling it the “Hollywood of the South.” Cameron added that he was among many working on Christian projects in the state.

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Chrissy Metz

"I moved to Nashville," Metz told People in April 2025, revealing she’d been living in the South for a few years. "I was in L.A. for 21 years, but my family is in Florida, where I'm from, and during the pandemic, I could drive to them from here. The quality of life is simply better here. Everything is a 15-minute drive away, and it's just so much less stressful.”

The This Is Us alum explained, "There's a lot happening. There's obviously fantastic music, great food. I grew up in the South, so I’m accustomed to that kind of hospitality — it feels more communal here. In L.A. it was always like, 'Oh, you have an audition? What's it for? Oh, you have an audition? For what?' It was all very cutthroat.”

Kirsten Storms

The General Hospital actress announced in July 2025 that she was departing Los Angeles for Nashville with her daughter, Harper, whom she shares with ex-husband Brandon Barash.

“I’m truly thrilled to be making Tennessee my new home! I can’t wait to return to GH once Harper and I are settled in our new town,” Storms wrote via Instagram. “I plan on documenting as much of this new journey on my social media as I can. It’s always been a dream of mine to move to a place like this; it’s hard to believe it’s actually happening.”

Ben Foster

Foster disclosed in September 2025 that he recently relocated to Nashville after nearly a decade in Los Angeles.

“I resided in L.A. for, we'll say 12 years. I lived in New York for roughly the same duration,” Foster told The Hollywood Reporter. “[My ex-wife, Laura Prepon, and I] had two children, and my parents are very close with my children. They've moved near Nashville. After the pandemic, I realized I didn't need to live on either coast, frankly.”

He added, “I love horses and I ride them. I love live music. I appreciate country music. There’s been a migration from both coasts, and I’ve found that it’s more gentle for me, at least, to be based there. Nashville offers a different way of life. I’m really enjoying it.”