thumb|[[Downtown Atlanta (unknown date)]]
This is a list of people who were born, raised, or otherwise closely associated with Atlanta, Georgia, United States.
Academics
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Name
!Known for
!Association
|-
|Ron Clark
|worked with disadvantaged students in rural North Carolina and New York City, and co-founded the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta; contestant on Survivor: Edge of Extinction
|lives in Atlanta
|-
|Alfred Gudeman
|classical scholar who died during the Holocaust
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Thomas E. Hill
|professor of philosophy at University of North Carolina; fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Sheryl McCollum
|crime analyst, professor, founder and director of the non-profit Cold Case Investigative Research Institute
|born in Atlanta
|-
| Sharlotte Neely
| professor emerita of Anthropology at Northern Kentucky University, author, expert on the Cherokees
|lived in Atlanta
|-
|Bazoline Estelle Usher
|educator and administrator in the Atlanta Public Schools, Georgia Woman of Achievement
|lived in Atlanta
|-
|Blake Ragsdale Van Leer
|former president of Georgia Tech; the first to admit women and make steps towards integration
|lived in Atlanta
|-
|James W. Wagner
|former president of Emory University
|lives in Atlanta
|}
Actors
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Name
!Known for
!Association
|-
|Isabella Acres
|played Rose on the sitcom television series Better Off Ted
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Mateo Arias
|actor, Kickin' It
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Matt Battaglia
|Emmy Award–winning producer; co-produced a two-time Golden Globe Award–nominated film; acted in over 90 films network pilots and television shows
|grew up in the towns of Tucker and Lithonia, suburbs of Atlanta
|-
|Johanna Braddy
|actress, The Grudge 3, Paranormal Activity 3 and The Levenger Tapes
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Toni Braxton
|singer, actress and reality-television star of Braxton Family Values
|formerly lived in Atlanta
|-
|Bruce Bruce
|actor and comedian
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Jahzir Bruno
|actor, The Loud House
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Monica Calhoun
|actress, The Players Club, The Best Man, The Salon; graduate of the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts
|
|-
|Michael Campion
|actor, Fuller House
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Katie Carpenter
|actress, costume designer, film producer
|lives and works in Atlanta
|-
|Barbara Cook
|actress and singer
|born in Atlanta
|-
|C. Martin Croker
|voice actor, Zorak and Moltar on Space Ghost: Coast to Coast
| born in Atlanta
|-
|David Cross
|stand-up comedian and actor
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Stephen Dorff
|actor
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Corri English
|actress, in 2006 honored at the International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival as Best Actress for Unrest
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Elle Fanning
|actress and model; younger sister of actress Dakota Fanning; known for I Am Sam, Daddy Day Care, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, We Bought a Zoo, Maleficent
|
|-
|Priah Ferguson
|actress
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Niles Fitch
|actor, known for This Is Us and stage work
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Jane Fonda
|Academy Award–winning actress, ex-wife of Atlanta television mogul Ted Turner
|formerly lived in Atlanta
|-
|Jeff Foxworthy
|comedian
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Antonia Gentry
| actress, Ginny from Ginny & Georgia
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Donald Glover
|creator, actor, and director of television show Atlanta
|attended high school in Atlanta
|-
|Jasmine Guy
|actress, star of A Different World and film Harlem Nights
|grew up and lives in Atlanta
|-
|Omari Hardwick
|
|grew up in Atlanta
|-
|Oliver Hardy
|comedian and actor
|studied in Atlanta
|-
|Steve Harvey
|actor and comedian
|resides in Atlanta
|-
|Ed Helms
|actor, The Office
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Holly Hunter
|Academy Award–winning actress
|born in Conyers, outside Atlanta
|-
|Dana Ivey
| actress
|born in Atlanta
|-
|DeForest Kelley
|actor best known as Dr. McCoy on Star Trek
|born in Toccoa, outside Atlanta
|-
|Elijah Kelley
|
|
|-
|Don Kennedy
|voice actor on Space Ghost Coast To Coast; host for many years of The Popeye Club 1956–1970 on WSB-TV; founder of WKLS radio station in Atlanta; syndicated radio broadcaster 1985–2013 (Big Band Jump, The Don Kennedy Show)
|lived in Atlanta, died in Atlanta in 2023
|-
|Nene Leakes
|reality-television star of The Real Housewives of Atlanta
|resides in Atlanta
|-
|RonReaco Lee
|
|
|-
|Chris Lowell
|Veronica Mars
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Christopher Massey
|Zoey 101
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Kyle Massey
|That's So Raven
|born in Atlanta
|-
|China Anne McClain
|actress, Tyler Perry's House of Payne, A.N.T. Farm, Descendants and Black Lightning
|born in Atlanta
|-
|AnnaLynne McCord
|actress
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Chloë Grace Moretz
|actress and model, known for roles in Kick-Ass, Hugo, Carrie; winner of two Saturn Awards
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Brittany Murphy
|actress
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Melissa Ordway
|actress and model; known for her roles on Hollywood Heights, The Young and the Restless
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Kip Pardue
|actor
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Robert Patrick
|actor, played "T-1000" in Terminator 2: Judgment Day
|
|-
|Ty Pennington
|television host, artist, carpenter, author, former model and actor
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Eric Roberts
|actor
|grew up in Atlanta
|-
|Tyler Perry
|actor, director, screen and playwright, producer, author, and songwriter; first film Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005); creator/actor of Madea
|moved to Atlanta
|-
|Jo Ann Pflug
|film and television actress
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Victoria Principal
|actress, Dallas
|
|-
|Shannon Purser
|actress
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Raven-Symoné
|actress, The Cosby Show, Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, That's So Raven, The Cheetah Girls, The View and Raven's Home
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Storm Reid
|actress, Euphoria and A Wrinkle in Time
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Chandler Riggs
|actor, The Walking Dead
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Julia Roberts
|Academy Award–winning actress; films include Pretty Woman and Erin Brockovich
|born at Crawford Long Hospital
|-
|Faith Salie
|actress, comedian, journalist
|moved to Atlanta; grew up in Dunwoody
|-
|Ryan Seacrest
|television and radio personality; host of reality-television series American Idol
|attended Dunwoody High School, born in Atlanta
|-
|Caroline Sunshine
|actress
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Christopher Tavarez
|actor, model and athlete
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Kenan Thompson
|actor and comedian, Saturday Night Live, Fat Albert and Good Burger
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Chris Tucker
|actor and comedian
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Barry Van Dyke
|actor
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Danielle Vega
|actress
|born in Atlanta
|-
|George Wallace
|actor and comedian
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Whitney Wegman-Wood
|actress
|formerly lived in Atlanta
|-
|Devon Werkheiser
|Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Porsha Williams
|reality-television star of The Real Housewives of Atlanta
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Scott Wilson
|actor, In Cold Blood, The Great Gatsby, The Walking Dead
|Atlanta native
|-
|Kim Zolciak
|reality-television star of The Real Housewives of Atlanta
|
|-
|}
Athletes
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Name
!Known for
!Association
|-
|Jordan Adams
|basketball player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Dennis Allen
|New Orleans Saints head coach
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Al-Farouq Aminu
|basketball player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Conner Antley
|soccer player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Ian Antley
|soccer player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Simi Awujo
|football player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Danny Barbir
|soccer player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Harris Barton
|player of American football
|grew up in Atlanta
|-
|Malik Beasley
|professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Gordon Beckham
|baseball player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Stetson Bennett
|player of American football
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Gunnar Bentz
|Olympian
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Eric Berry
|player of American football
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Ron Blomberg
|baseball player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Brandon Boykin
|player of American football
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Todd Bramble
|soccer player and coach
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Brett Branan
|soccer player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Dustin Branan
|soccer player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Luke Brennan
|soccer player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Malcolm Brogdon
|professional basketball player for the Washington Wizards
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Jaylen Brown
|professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Ricky Byrdsong
|college basketball coach and player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Wendell Carter Jr.
|professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Rajah Caruth
|NASCAR driver
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Kristi Castlin
|track-and-field athlete
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Kelvin Cato
|basketball player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Ahmad Caver
|basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Eric Chouinard
|ice-hockey player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Justin Clark
|soccer player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Ricardo Clark
|soccer player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Kenny Coker
|soccer player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Javaris Crittenton
|basketball player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Amanda Dennis
|goalball player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Ben DiNucci
|player of American football
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Amanda Doherty
|golfer
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Cameron Dollar
|basketball player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Anthony Edwards
|professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Derrick Favors
|basketball player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Joseph Forte
|basketball player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Dexter Fowler
|baseball player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Jeff Francoeur
|baseball player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Walt Frazier
|basketball player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|World B. Free
|basketball player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Coco Gauff
|tennis player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Mark Gilbert
|former baseball player, former U.S. ambassador to New Zealand and former U.S. ambassador to Samoa
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Maggie Graham
|soccer player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Jared Harper
|basketball player for Hapoel Jerusalem of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
|born in Atlanta
|-
|JJ Hickson
|basketball player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Gary Hines
|handball player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Evander Holyfield
|world-champion heavyweight boxer
|raised in Atlanta
|-
|Dwight Howard
|basketball player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Tim Hyers
|baseball player and coach
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Bryce Jamison
|soccer player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Grady Jarrett
|player of American football
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Ernie Johnson Jr.
|sportscaster, Turner Sports, TNT
|raised in Atlanta, attended University of Georgia
|-
|Bobby Jones
|golfer
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Brandon Jones
|NASCAR driver
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Walker Kessler
|professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz
|born in Atlanta, raised in College Park
|-
|Ousman Krubally
|American-Gambian basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
|born in Atlanta
|-
|DeAngelo Malone
|player of American football
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Robert Mathis
|player of American football
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Erskine Mayer
|baseball player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Jo Nattawut
|Thai-born Muay Thai kickboxer, WBC Muay Thai world champion
|raised in Atlanta
|-
|Adam Nelson
|track-and-field athlete, Olympic champion
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Cam Newton
|player of American football
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Matt Olson
|baseball player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Tony Parker
|basketball player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Jean-Marc Pelletier
|ice-hockey player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Ben Revere
|former baseball player, now a coach for the Atlanta Braves organization
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Pete Robinson
|drag racer
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Jamaree Salyer
|player of American football
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Ben Shelton
|tennis player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Kobi Simmons
|basketball player for Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Cooper Taylor
|former player of American football
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Jonantan Villal
|football player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|David Villar
|baseball player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|LeRoy T. Walker
|former president of the United States Olympic Committee
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Ibi Watson
|basketball player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Darius Watts
|player of American football
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Caleb Wiley
|soccer player
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Sam Wyche
|player and coach of American football
|born in Atlanta
|-
|}
Business people
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Name
!Field
!Known for
!Association
|-
|F. Duane Ackerman
|executive
|last CEO of Bellsouth
|lived in Atlanta
|-
|George Adair
|developer
|early Atlanta real-estate developer
|
|-
|Dean Alford
|chief executive officer and politician
|president and chief executive of Allied Energy Services; member of the Georgia General Assembly
|
|-
|Ray Anderson
|entrepreneur
|founder of carpet manufacturer Interface, Inc.
|
|-
|Charles Brewer
|businessman
|founder of Internet service provider MindSpring, which later merged with EarthLink
|
|-
|Asa Griggs Candler
|entrepreneur
|founder of beverage manufacturer The Coca-Cola Company
|
|-
|S. Truett Cathy
|entrepreneur
|founder of the fast-food restaurant chain Chick-fil-A
|
|-
|Anne Cox Chambers
|entrepreneur
|co-owner of mass-media company Cox Enterprises
|
|-
|Joe Francis
|entrepreneur and film producer
|founder and creator of the Girls Gone Wild franchise
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Lemuel Grant
|businessman and engineer
|early-Atlanta railroad man, landowner, engineer and businessman
|
|-
|James M. Henderson
|advertising
|born in Atlanta; lived in Greenville, South Carolina, Republican candidate for lieutenant governor of South Carolina in 1970
|
|-
|Anne T. Hill
|fashion designer
|founded Taffy's of California
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Evelyn Greenblatt Howren
|aviator
|former WASP who founded aviation businesses in Atlanta, lobbied for aviation industry
|born in Atlanta
|-
| Moss H. Kendrix
| public relations
| advertising campaigns, including for Coca-Cola
| born in Atlanta
|-
|Bernard Marcus
|entrepreneur
|co-founder of home-improvement retailing chain Home Depot; primary funding source for the Georgia Aquarium
|
|-
|Depelsha Thomas McGruder
|executive and activist
|chief operating officer of the Ford Foundation
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Myra Miller
|entrepreneur and baker
|famous Black food entrepreneur and baker in Atlanta during Reconstruction
|worked and buried in Atlanta
|-
|John Pemberton
|chemist
|chemist and inventor of the carbonated soft drink Coca-Cola
|
|-
|Richard Peters
|businessman
|early-Atlanta railroad man, landowner and a founder of Atlanta
|
|-
|John C. Portman Jr.
|architect
|international architect and developer, designer of the groundbreaking atrium-style hotel
|
|-
|Neel Reid
|architect
|student of École des Beaux-Arts; designed various buildings now listed on the National Register of Historic Places
|
|-
|Ted Turner
|media mogul
|founder of cable-news channel CNN
|
|-
|Blake R Van Leer III
|entrepreneur and producer
|entrepreneur, partner of business mogul Kathy Ireland whose companies generate $3.1B in sales, produced film about his grandfather Blake R Van Leer in a 1956 Sugar Bowl game
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Robert W. Woodruff
|executive
|president of beverage manufacturer The Coca-Cola Company
|
|-
|}
Directors
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Name
!Known for
!Association
|-
|Matt Hullum
|director of films, music videos and web series including Lazer Team and Red Vs Blue
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Spike Lee
|director of films including She's Gotta Have It, School Daze, and Do the Right Thing, and several music videos
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Kenny Leon
|director of several Broadway plays and several television episodes
|
|-
|Tyler Perry
|director of films, plays, and television series, including Meet The Browns and Madea plays and movies
|moved to Atlanta
|-
|William Emerson
|covered the civil-rights movement as Newsweeks first bureau chief assigned to cover the Southern United States; later editor in chief of The Saturday Evening Post
|moved to Atlanta
|-
|Bob Jordan
|television news journalist, author; former news anchor
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Frank Stanton
|first poet laureate of Georgia
|died in Atlanta
|-
|Ted Turner
|media mogul, TBS and CNN founder; owned Atlanta Braves
|moved to Atlanta
|-
|}
Musicians
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Name
!Known for
!Association
|-
|21 Savage, real name Shayaa Bin Abraham-Joseph
|rapper and record producer
|born in London, England, raised in Atlanta
|-
|6LACK, real name Ricardo Valdez Valentine
|rapper, singer, songwriter
|moved to Atlanta at very young age
|-
|Aliyah's Interlude
|rapper and influencer
| born in Atlanta
|-
|André 3000, real name André Lauren Benjamin
|rapper, actor, record producer, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist; half of the rap group OutKast
|born and raised in Atlanta
|-
|Murray Attaway
|singer-songwriter, founding member of Guadalcanal Diary
| born in Atlanta
|-
|Johntá Austin
|singer-songwriter, signed to Jermaine Dupri's So So Def Recordings; won two Grammy Awards for songs "We Belong Together" by Mariah Carey and "Be Without You" by Mary J. Blige
|born in Atlanta
|-
|B.o.B, real name Bobby Ray Simmons Jr.
|rapper
|from Atlanta
|-
|Bali Baby
|rapper
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Bankroll Fresh, real name Trentavious Zamon White, Sr.
|rapper
|from Atlanta and died in Atlanta
|-
|David Berkeley
|singer-songwriter
|moved to Atlanta for his wife to finish school
|-
|Big Boi, real name Antwan Patton
|rapper, actor, record producer, songwriter; half of the rap group Outkast
|born in Savannah, Georgia, raised in Atlanta
|-
|Big Kuntry King, real name Sean Merrett
|rapper
|from Atlanta
|-
| Bktherula
| rapper
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Bobby V, real name Bobby Wilson
|recording artist (nicknamed "Valentino" because he was due to be born on Valentine's Day)
|attended North Atlanta High School and Clark Atlanta University
|-
| Zac Brown
| country singer
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Peter Buck
|lead guitar player and songwriter for R.E.M.
|lived in Atlanta
|-
|John Burke
|solo pianist and composer
|born and lives in Atlanta
|-
|Kandi Burruss
|singer, songwriter, record producer; part of the group Xscape, wrote "No Scrubs" by TLC and "Bills, Bills, Bills" by Destiny's Child
|born in College Park, Georgia, resides in Atlanta
|-
|K Camp, real name Kristopher Thomas Campbell
|rapper
|from Atlanta
|-
|Ken Carson, real name Kenyatta Lee Frazier Jr.
|rapper
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Ric Cartey, real name Whaley Thomas Cartey
|1950s rockabilly singer; songwriter
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Cash Out, real name John-Michael Hakim Gibson
|rapper
|from Atlanta
|-
|Cat Power, also known as Chan Marshall, real name Charlyn Marshall
|singer-songwriter, actress and model
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Eddie Chamblee
|jazz tenor saxophonist
|born in Atlanta in 1920
|-
|Che
|rapper
|born and based in Atlanta
|-
|Ciara
|singer
|
|-
|Clairo, real name Claire Elizabeth Cottrill
|singer-songwriter
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Kelly Nelon Clark
|inspirational Christian and southern gospel vocalist
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Freddy Cole
| jazz singer and pianist
| born in Chicago in 1931; resided in Atlanta for over fifty years until his death in 2020
|-
|Roscoe Dash, real name Jeffery Lee Johnson Jr.
|rapper
|from Atlanta
|-
|Davido
|singer, songwriter, and record producer
|born in Atlanta but based in Nigeria
|-
|Destroy Lonely, real name Bobby Wardell Sandimanie III
|rapper
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Drumma Boy, real name Christopher James Gholson
|record producer, songwriter
|lives in Atlanta
|-
|Roy Drusky
|country singer
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Sonny Emory
|drummer
|born and raised in Atlanta
|-
|Future, real name Nayvadius DeMun Wilburn
|rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer
|born and raised in Atlanta
|-
|Sean Garrett
|singer and songwriter
|born in Atlanta
|-
|O.T. Genasis
| rapper
|born in Atlanta
|-
|CeeLo Green, real name Thomas DeCarlo Gallaway
|rapper, singer, actor
|born and raised in Atlanta
|-
|Kristin Hersh
|singer and guitarist
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Keri Hilson
|singer-songwriter and actress from Decatur
|attended Emory University
|-
|iLoveMakonnen, real name Makonnen Kamali Sheran
|rapper
|from Atlanta
|-
|India Arie, real name India Arie Simpson
|singer-songwriter and record producer; has sold over 3.3 million records in the U.S.; has won four Grammy Awards, including Best R&B Album
|moved to Atlanta
|-
|Graham Jackson
|theatre organist, pianist and choral conductor
|moved to Atlanta in 1923
|-
|Trinidad James, real name Nicholas Williams
|rapper
|from Atlanta
|-
|Erika Jayne
|singer
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Jeezy, real name Jay Wayne Jenkins
|rapper, entrepreneur, and businessman
|born in South Carolina, raised in Atlanta
|-
|JID, real name Destin Route
|rapper, singer
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Elton John
|singer-songwriter, English-born entertainer whose songs include "Your Song", "Crocodile Rock" and "Candle in the Wind"
|lives part-time in Atlanta
|-
|Mario Judah
|rapper
|
|-
|Kap G
|rapper, actor
|born in Long Beach, California, moved to Atlanta
|-
|R. Kelly
|singer, songwriter, record producer
|resided in Atlanta
|-
|Khujo, real name Willie Edward Knighton Jr.
|rapper
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Killer Mike, real name Michael Santiago Render
|rapper, actor and activist
|born and raised in Atlanta
|-
|Kaki King
|guitarist and composer
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Gladys Knight
|singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman and author
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Latto, real name Alyssa Michelle Stephens
|rapper
|born in Columbus, Ohio, raised in Atlanta
|-
|Brenda Lee
|performer who sang rockabilly, pop and country music; had 37 US chart hits during the 1960s, known for songs "I'm Sorry" (1960) and "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" (1958); recipient of Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (2009)
|born in Atlanta in 1944
|-
|Mable Lee
|dancer, entertainer, 2008 inductee into the Tap Dance Hall of Fame
|born in Atlanta in 1921
|-
|Lil Baby, real name Dominique Jones
|rapper
|born and raised in Atlanta
|-
|Lil Gnar, real name Caleb Samuel Shepard
|rapper
|born in Oakland, California, from Atlanta
|-
|Lil Gotit, real name Semaja Zair Render
|rapper
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Lil Jon, real name Jonathan H. Smith
|rapper, record producer, songwriter and Grammy Award winner
|born and raised in Atlanta
|-
|Lil Keed, real name Raqhid Jevon Render
|rapper
|born in Atlanta and died in Los Angeles
|-
|Lil RT
|rapper
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Lil Scrappy, real name Darryl Raynard Richardson III
|rapper
|from Atlanta
|-
|Lil Yachty, real name Miles Parks McCollum
|rapper, songwriter
|from Atlanta
|-
|Baylee Littrell
|singer-songwriter and actor; son of Backstreet Boys member Brian Littrell
|born and raised in Alpharetta, Georgia
|-
|Ludacris, real name Christopher Brian Bridges
|rapper
|born in Champaign, Illinois; raised in Atlanta
|-
|Vivek Maddala
|composer, producer, multi-instrumental performer
|attended Georgia Tech
|-
|MadeinTYO, real name Malcolm Jamaal Davis
|rapper
|originated in Atlanta
|-
|Gucci Mane, real name Radric Davis
|rapper, actor
|born in Alabama; raised in Atlanta
|-
|Mariah the Scientist
|singer
|born in Atlanta
|-
|China Anne McClain
|singer-songwriter and actress (Jasmine Payne on television series Tyler Perry's House of Payne, Chyna Parks on A.N.T. Farm)
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Big Maceo Merriweather
|blues singer-pianist, made many recordings in the 1940s for Bluebird and Victor
|born in Atlanta in 1905
|-
|Migos (Quavo, Offset, Takeoff)
|rap group
|all born and raised in Atlanta
|-
|Money Man
|rapper
|
|-
|Shawn Mullins
|singer-songwriter
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Eric Nam
|Korean-American singer-songwriter, television host, entertainer and entrepreneur currently based in South Korea
|born in Atlanta
|-
|OJ da Juiceman, real name Otis Williams Jr.
|rapper
|from Atlanta
|-
|Pastor Troy
|rapper
|from Atlanta
|-
|Duke Pearson
|jazz pianist and composer, noted for work on the Blue Note label
|born in Atlanta 1932; died in Atlanta 1980
|-
|Scott Phillips
|drummer, percussionist, keyboardist, and co-founder of rock band Creed
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Playboi Carti, real name Jordan Terrell Carter
|rapper and songwriter
|born in Riverdale, Atlanta
|-
|Mac Powell
|Christian singer
|
|-
|Jerry Reed
|country-music singer-songwriter, guitarist and actor who appeared in more than a dozen films; signature songs include "Guitar Man", "East Bound and Down", "A Thing Called Love" and "When You're Hot, You're Hot"
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Rich Homie Quan, real name Dequantes Devontay Lamar
|rapper
|from Atlanta
|-
|Porter Robinson
|DJ, record producer, singer-songwriter
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Chris Robinson
|singer-songwriter
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Rocko
|rapper
|from Atlanta
|-
|Tommy Roe
|singer-songwriter
|from Atlanta
|-
|Rubi Rose
|rapper
|born in Lexington, Kentucky; based in Atlanta
|-
|Kelly Rowland
|singer-songwriter with Destiny's Child and as a solo artist; actress and television personality; two-time Grammy Award winner
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Russ
|rapper
|from Atlanta
|-
|SahBabii, real name Saaheem Valdery
|rapper and songwriter
|born in Chicago; raised in Atlanta
|-
|Troy Sanders
|bass player, singer-songwriter of Grammy Award–winning metal band Mastodon
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Cappriccieo Scates
|drummer and record producer; won Phoenix Award in 2011
|lives and works in Atlanta
|-
|Kodie Shane
|rapper
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Silentó
|rapper, singer and songwriter
|
|-
|Natalie Lauren Sims, also known as Suzy Rock
|musician, songwriter, graphic and art designer, and music executive
|moved to Atlanta in 2007
|-
|Skooly, real name Kazarion Fowler
|rapper
|from Atlanta
|-
|Musiq Soulchild
|singer, songwriter
|resides in Atlanta
|-
|Soulja Boy, real name DeAndre Cortez Way
|rapper
|from Atlanta
|-
|Southside, real name Joshua Howard Luellen
|rapper, record producer
|from Atlanta
|-
|Angie Stone
|singer and record producer
|moved to Atlanta
|-
|T.I., real name Clifford Joseph Harris Jr.
|rapper, actor and businessman
|born and raised in Atlanta
|-
|Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas
|singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress from TLC
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Chris Tomlin
|contemporary Christian music artist, worship leader and songwriter; co-founder, Passion Conferences Christian organization
|from Grand Saline, Texas; moved to Atlanta
|-
|DJ Toomp
|record producer, songwriter and Grammy Award winner
|born and lives in Atlanta
|-
|Trouble, real name Mariel Semonte Orr
|rapper
|from Atlanta
|-
|Unk, real name Anthony Platt
|rapper
|from Atlanta
|-
|Usher, real name Usher Raymond
|singer-songwriter, dancer and actor; rose to fame in late 1990s with release of second album My Way
|attended North Springs High School
|-
|Waka Flocka Flame, real name Juaquin James Malphurs
|rapper
|
|-
|Summer Walker
|singer
|from Atlanta
|-
|Florence Warner
|singer-songwriter; best known for her appearance on television commercials and local television image campaigns
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins
|singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress from TLC
|lived in Atlanta
|-
|Faye Webster
|singer-songwriter
|from Atlanta
|-
| Freddy Weller
| singer-songwriter
| from Atlanta
|-
|Kanye West
|rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer and fashion designer;
|born in Atlanta, raised in Chicago
|-
|YC, real name Christopher Daniels Miller
|rapper
|from Atlanta
|-
|YFN Lucci
|rapper
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Young Dro, real name D'Juan Montrel Hart
|rapper
|from Atlanta
|-
|Young Nudy, real name Quantavious Tavario Thomas
|rapper
|from Atlanta
|-
|Young Scooter, real name Kenneth Edward Bailey
|rapper
|from Atlanta
|-
|Young Thug, real name Jeffery Lamar Williams
|rapper, songwriter
|born and lives in Atlanta
|-
|Yung Joc
|rapper
|born in Atlanta
|}
Politics and law
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Name
!Known for
!Association
|-
|Paul V. Applegarth
|former chief executive officer, Millennium Challenge Corporation
|raised in Atlanta until college
|-
|James Earl "Jimmy" Carter Jr.
|76th governor of Georgia and 39th president of the United States
|lived in Atlanta; attended the Georgia Institute of Technology
|-
|Knowa De Baraso
|political commentator
|lives in Atlanta
|-
|Nathan Deal
|82nd governor of Georgia
|lived in Atlanta
|-
|Lawrence Dennis
|diplomat, consultant, author, advocate for fascism
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Andre Dickens
|61st mayor of Atlanta
|born in Atlanta
|-
|John Brown Gordon
|Confederate States Army lieutenant general; 53rd governor of Georgia
|lived in Atlanta
|-
|Kwanza Hall
|U.S. representative, Atlanta City Council member
|born and lived in Atlanta
|-
|Stumpy Harris
|eminent-domain lawyer
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Cora Catherine Calhoun Horne
|Black suffragist, civil-rights activist, and Atlanta socialite
|born and raised in Atlanta; attended Atlanta University
|-
|Maynard Holbrook Jackson Jr.
|54th and 56th mayor of Atlanta; first Black mayor of Atlanta
|attended college and lived in Atlanta
|-
|Martin Luther King Jr.
|civil-rights leader, religious leader
|born in Atlanta
|-
|John Lewis
|U.S. representative, Atlanta City Council member, civil-rights activist
|lived in Atlanta
|-
|Lester Maddox
|75th governor of Georgia
|born and lived in Atlanta
|-
|Michelle Nunn
|foreign service, candidate for senator, non-profit chief executive officer
|born and lived in Atlanta
|-
|Jon Ossoff
|U.S. senator from Georgia
|born and lived in Atlanta
|-
|Kasim Reed
|59th mayor of Atlanta
|lived in Atlanta
|-
|David Scott
|U.S. representative, Georgia state senator, Georgia representative
|lived in Atlanta
|-
|Randolph W. Thrower
|former commissioner of Internal Revenue
|lived in Atlanta
|-
| Conrad Tillard
|politician, Baptist minister, radio host, author, and activist
|
|-
|Raphael Warnock
|first African-American U.S. senator from Georgia
|lived and pastored in Atlanta
|-
|Charline White
|first African-American woman to be elected to the Michigan Legislature
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Nikema Williams
|U.S. representative, Georgia state senator, chair of the Georgia Democratic Party
|lived in Atlanta
|-
|Christopher C. Wimbish
|African-American Illinois state senator and lawyer
|born and lived in Atlanta
|}
Religious leaders
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Name
!Known for
!Association
|-
|Paul S. Morton
|founding pastor of Changing a Generation Full Gospel Baptist Church in Atlanta; founder and first presiding bishop of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship; Grammy Award–nominated gospel recording artist
|lives in Atlanta
|-
|Andy Stanley
|senior pastor of North Point Community Church, Buckhead Church, and other local churches; founded North Point Ministries, a worldwide Christian organization
|moved to Atlanta
|-
|Charles Stanley
|senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Atlanta; founder and president of In Touch Ministries; served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention 1984–1986
|moved to Atlanta
|-
|}
Writers and artists
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Name
!Known for
!Association
|-
|Bob the Drag Queen
|drag queen
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Paul Darcy Boles
|author and advertising writer
|long-time resident
|-
|Violet Chachki
|drag queen
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Lewis Grizzard
|writer and humorist
|lived in Atlanta
|-
|Joel Chandler Harris
|wrote the Uncle Remus stories
|lived in West End of Atlanta
|-
|Tayari Jones
|author
|born and grew up in Atlanta, attended Spelman College, professor at Emory University
|-
|Cheryl McKay
|wrote The Ultimate Gift screenplay
|lives in Atlanta
|-
|Margaret Mitchell
|wrote novel Gone with the Wind
|born, lived, and died in Atlanta
|-
|Flannery O'Connor
|Southern gothic writer
|attended one year of school in Atlanta
|-
|Judith Pordon
|poet and editor
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Anne Rivers Siddons
|novelist
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Lucy May Stanton
|artist
|born in Atlanta
|-
|Natasha Tretheway
|poet
|lived in Atlanta (taught at Emory University)
|-
|Isabel Wilkerson
|author and journalist
|lived in Atlanta (taught at Emory University)
|}
See also
- List of people from Georgia (U.S. state)