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Top 10 Most Famous People from Utah

The state of Utah got its name from the Ute tribe who used to live in this part of the country. It is located in the mountain west subregion of the United States. The majority of its terrain is made up of mountains, high plateaus, and deserts. Salt Lake City, the state’s capital, is located in the state’s north-central region. Idaho to the north, Wyoming to the northeast, Colorado to the east, Arizona to the south, and Nevada to the west from the state’s borders.

The state is also known for producing people who have made an impact in the different sectors of the economy. Therefore, this article will look at some of the famous people that are from this state. The knowledge from the article can also make good trivia questions for the reader during game nights.

1 Julianne Hough

Julianne Hough has established herself as one of the most prominent figures in the entertainment industry. She is also well-known for her work as a dancer and choreographer. After experiencing highs and lows in her dance and acting careers, she has now established herself as one of the industry’s most prominent choreographers. Throughout her career, she has received numerous awards and set numerous records for herself. In 2014, she was named the fourth permanent judge on ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ making her the show’s first former competitor to serve as a judge.

2 Derek Hough

The dancer was born in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1985. He is a dancer that specializes in ballroom and Latin dance. He is also an actor, musician, singer, director, and choreographer. Derek was introduced to fine arts by his mother while young. He started dancing and went on to learn under Corky and Shirley Ballas’s tutelage.

Derek Hough is best known for his appearance on ABC’s reality dance competition ‘Dancing with the Stars.’ He has been a part of the show for several seasons and has won six times. As a professional dancer, he has competed in several international competitions and travelled to Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Ireland, and Czechoslovakia. He has also appeared in several theatrical productions, including ‘Footloose: The Musical and ‘Burn the Floor.’ His dancing ability has earned him prestigious awards such as the ‘Primetime Emmy Awards.

3 Elizabeth Smart

The child safety activist and television commentator were born in Salt Lake City Utah in 1987. She is famed for her infamous kidnapping which happened in 2002. Her abduction was done by Brian David Mitchell who held her captive in his house for nine months. During this time she was repeatedly raped and abused. After being rescued Brian and his wife who helped him in his activities were arrested and sentenced to prison. Elizabeth has then become an activist and she helps the cause of missing persons.

4 Chrissy Teigen

She is a model, author, blogger and host of the reality show Lip Sync Battle. She was born in Delta, Utah in 1985.  Chrissy started her modelling career at a young age and she came to the limelight in 2019 after being featured in the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She continued to appear in the issue for the next four years. During this time, she was featured on several covers like Glamour, Vogue and Esquire.

She has campaigned for famous brands like Gillette, Nike and Olay. She has also made a name for herself in television over the years. Her notable television appearances include co-hosting ‘Lip Sync Battle’ and appearing as a food stylist in ‘FABLife.’ Her love of food inspired her to start her own blog,’sodelushious.com,’ where she shares her knowledge on the subject. Her cookbook, ‘Cravings,’ became a ‘New York Times best-seller.

5 Brendon Urie

The singer was born in St. George, Utah. He is known for being the lead vocalist of the pop rock band Panic. Brendon is the only remaining member of the original group that formed the band. He got into music while in high school where he took guitar classes. He met Ryan Ross, Brent Wilson and Spencer Smith and they formed the group ‘Panic’. The group released a debut album which was a commercial success and made him famous.

6 James Woods

The actor was born in Utah but he grew up on Rhodes Island. His first film was ‘All the Way Home,’ after which he had a few supporting roles. However, it was his portrayal of a ruthless cop-killer in the film ‘The Onion Field’ that catapulted him to stardom. Soon after, he became a sensation, and he began receiving offers. He also did impressive voice-over work for animated series and had a few memorable roles as the good guy. It’s no surprise that top directors like Martin Scorsese, Clint Eastwood, and Rob Reiner returned to him with new projects. Woods has firmly carved a niche for himself with an Oscar nomination and several awards, including the ‘Emmy’ and the ‘Golden Globe.’

7 Gary Ridgway

The American serial killer was born in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1949. It is claimed that he killed more than 70 women by choking them to death. The bodies of his first victims were recovered from the Green River which is located near Seattle. This earned him the nickname Green River Killer. Ridgway was convicted of 49 murders after being arrested in 2001 and he pleaded guilty to the charges. He is considered one of the most brutal serial killers in American history.

8 Jewel

The singer was born in 1974 in Payson, Utah. She started her singing career at a young age as her father was a local musician. When she was fifteen years old, she received a partial scholarship to study operatic voice at the Interlochen Arts Academy. After finishing school, she started performing in clubs in San Diego.

Jewel caught her big break after being signed to Atlantic Records where she released her debut album ‘Pieces of You which became a best-seller. The singer has had a fruitful career and as of 2021, she had received four Grammy Award nominations and had sold over 30 million records globally.

9 Marie Osmond

She is a singer, actress, author, philanthropist and television personality born in Ogden, Utah. She rose to fame in the 1970s and the 1980s when she was a country and pop music artist. A cover of the country pop ballad “Paper Roses” is her most well-known song. She and her singer brother Donny Osmond served as hosts of the television variety show Donny & Marie from 1976 to 1979.

10 Amanda Righetti

Actress and producer Amanda Elizabeth Righetti comes from Utah, United States. She became well-known for her role as Special Agent Grace Van Pelt in the CBS crime drama series “The Mentalist.” Righetti, a native of Utah, always dreamed of being a performer. She made her debut on the big screen in 1995 with the movie “Love and Happiness.” She made her small-screen debut as a guest star on the CBS drama “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.” Righetti began her career as a model, relocated to Los Angeles four years later, and proceeded to play tiny but important roles until she was chosen to play the recurring role of Hailey Nichol in the Fox drama The OC.