List of people from Alabama
This is a listing of notable people born in, or notable for their association with, Alabama.
A
- Hank Aaron, Hall of Fame Major League Baseball player
- Ralph Abernathy, civil rights leader, Baptist Minister
- Austin Adams, MLB pitcher, Cleveland Indians
- Mario Addison, NFL player, Carolina Panthers
- Robert Aderholt, representative from Alabama's 4th congressional district since 1997
- Tommie Agee, MLB player
- Daniel Alarcón, novelist
- David Donald Albritton, Olympic medalist and politician
- Doyle Alexander, MLB player
- Chalmers Alford, musician
- James B. Allen, U.S. senator
- Jason Allen, NFL player
- Maryon Pittman Allen, U.S. senator
- Mel Allen, sportscaster, Alabama football and New York Yankees
- Viola Allen, stage actress
- Bobby Allison, NASCAR driver
- Davey Allison, NASCAR driver
- David Allison, professor at University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Donnie Allison, NASCAR driver
- John Amari, circuit judge and former member of both houses of the Alabama legislature
- Mary Anderson, actress
- Glenn Andrews, U.S. representative
- Ivy Andrews, MLB player
- Sheila Andrews, country music singer
- Anthony J. Arduengo, III, chemist, material scientist, professor at University of Alabama
- R.G. Armstrong, actor
- Ethel Ayler, actress
B
- Spencer Bachus, representative from Alabama's 6th congressional district 1993–2015
- Mary Badham, actress
- Hank Ballard, singer
- Tallulah Bankhead, actress
- Charles Barkley, Hall of Fame basketball player, television commentator
- Reggie Barlow, NFL wide receiver, college football coach
- Mark Barron, NFL player, St. Louis Rams
- Inez Baskin, African American journalist and civil rights activist
- Cynthia Bathurst, animal activist, founder of Safe Humane Chicago and the Court Case Dog Program
- Bill Baxley, lieutenant governor
- Lucy Baxley, lieutenant governor
- Paul Bearer, WWE manager and wrestling promoter
- Jere Beasley, born in Tyler, Texas, lieutenant governor
- Scott Beason, Alabama state senator since 2006
- Barry Beckett, keyboardist, composer, record producer, original member of Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section
- Ann Bedsole, member of both houses, consecutively, of the Alabama State Legislature 1979 to 1995
- Regina Benjamin, Surgeon General of the United States
- Earl Bennett, NFL wide receiver
- Amber Benson, actress
- Bo Bice, singer, American Idol runner-up
- Michael Biehn, actor
- James Gillespie Birney, planter, attorney, abolitionist
- Sanford Bishop, U.S. representative from Georgia's 2nd congressional district
- Hugo Black, U.S. senator, United States Supreme Court justice
- Lucas Black, actor
- Thomas Edwin Blanton, Jr., white supremacist and co-conspirator in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing
- Eric Bledsoe, NBA player, Milwaukee Bucks
- Winton Blount, businessman, U.S. postmaster general
- Michael Boley, NFL linebacker
- Jo Bonner, representative from Alabama's 1st congressional district since 2003
- Neil Bonnett, NASCAR driver
- Young Boozer, state treasurer
- tWitch, freestyle hip-hop dancer, entertainer, and actor
- Th-resa Bostick, IFBB professional bodybuilder
- Albert Boutwell, lieutenant governor, mayor of Birmingham
- Bobby Bowden, college football coach, Florida State
- Frank W. Boykin, former U.S. representative
- Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise, music group
- Rick Bragg, Pulitzer Prize-winning author
- Debbie Bramwell-Washington, IFBB professional bodybuilder
- Jeff Brantley, MLB player, ESPN sportscaster
- Albert P. Brewer, governor
- Jeff Briggs, businessman, video game pioneer
- Bobby Bright, mayor of Montgomery, representative from Alabama's 2nd congressional district
- David G. Bronner, CEO for Retirement Systems of Alabama, born in Cresco, Iowa
- Mo Brooks, representative from Alabama's 5th congressional district since 2011
- Janice Rogers Brown, U.S. Court of Appeals judge
- Jerry Dolyn Brown, folk artist, traditional potter
- Johnny Mack Brown, football player for Alabama, actor
- Michael Brown, astronomer
- Roger Brown, artist, member of the Chicago Imagists
- Paul "Bear" Bryant, iconic coach of Alabama football, born in Camden, Arkansas
- John Hall Buchanan, Jr., representative from Alabama's 6th congressional district
- Jimmy Buffett, singer-songwriter, born in Pascagoula, Mississippi
- Edward M. Burgess, chemist, inventor of the Burgess reagent
- Edward A. Burkhalter, admiral, United States Navy, Chief of Naval Intelligence, Chief of Staff, Defense Intelligence Agency
- Brett Butler, actress
- Keith Butler, NFL coach, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Pat Buttram, actor
- Larry Byrom, rock music guitarist, Steppenwolf
C
- Matt Cain, baseball player, San Francisco Giants
- Antoine Caldwell, NFL player, Houston Texans
- Sonny Callahan, representative from Alabama's 1st congressional district
- Julia Campbell, actress
- Eli Capilouto, twelfth president of the University of Kentucky
- Truman Capote, author of In Cold Blood, born in Louisiana
- Robert Daniel Carmichael, mathematician
- Edward Earl Carnes, judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- DeMarre Carroll, NBA player, Brooklyn Nets
- Clarence Carter, soul singer and musician
- Forrest Carter, writer
- Nell Carter, actress, singer
- George Washington Carver, scientist, botanist, born in Diamond, Missouri
- Herman Frank Cash, white supremacist and co-conspirator in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing
- Tim Castille, NFL player, Kansas City Chiefs
- Reg E. Cathey, actor
- Robert Edward Chambliss, white supremacist and co-conspirator in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing
- Hosea Chanchez, actor
- Josh Chapman, NFL defensive lineman, Indianapolis Colts
- Elaine Cheris, Olympic fencer
- Bobby Frank Cherry, white supremacist and co-conspirator in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing
- Fred Child, host of American Public Media's Performance Today
- Mark Childress, writer
- Stewart Cink, professional golfer
- Bob Clark, actor, director, screenwriter
- Jeremy Clark, NFL player, Dallas Cowboys
- Mattie Moss Clark, gospel artist, mother of gospel group The Clark Sisters
- Clever,,
- Nat King Cole, singer
- Ronnie Coleman, football player, Alabama A&M and NFL's Houston Oilers
- Marva Collins, educator
- Commodores, funk/soul band
- Fred Cone, football player for Clemson and NFL's Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys
- Bull Connor, politician who opposed the activities of the Civil Rights Movement
- Jared Cook, NFL player, St. Louis Rams
- Jeff Cook, country music guitarist, Alabama
- Timothy Cook, CEO of Apple Inc.
- Charles J. Cooper, former Assistant United States Attorney General
- Miles Copeland, Jr., musician, CIA officer
- Jerricho Cotchery, NFL player, Carolina Panthers
- DeMarcus Cousins, basketball player, Golden State Warriors
- Courteney Cox, actress
- Tony Cox, actor
- Clayne Crawford, actor
- Rick Crawford, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver
- Howard Cross, football player for Alabama and NFL's New York Giants
- Ashley Crow, actress
- Brodie Croyle, NFL player, Kansas City Chiefs
- Korey Cunningham, NFL player, New England Patriots
- Michael Curry, NBA coach, Philadelphia 76ers
D
- Marcell Dareus, NFL player, Buffalo Bills
- Angela Davis, communist activist
- Artur Davis, representative from Alabama's 7th congressional district
- N. Jan Davis, astronaut, born in Cocoa Beach, Florida
- Russ Davis, baseball player
- Tae Davis, NFL player, New York Giants
- Felicia Day, actress, writer, director, violinist, and singer
- Grant Dayton, baseball player
- Oscar Stanton De Priest, U.S. Congressman from Illinois, civil rights advocate
- Morris Dees, founder of Southern Poverty Law Center
- Sam Dees, soul music singer
- Diana DeGarmo, American Idol contestant
- David L. DeJarnette, influential archaeologist
- Jeremiah Denton, prisoner of war in Vietnam, U.S. Senator
- Donna D'Errico, actress
- James Deshler, Confederate brigadier general
- Quinton Dial, NFL player, San Francisco 49ers
- Kim Dickens, actress
- Chris Dickerson, bodybuilder
- Mahala Ashley Dickerson, lawyer
- Parnell Dickinson, NFL quarterback, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- William Louis Dickinson, representative from Alabama's 2nd congressional district
- Oliver W. Dillard, military leader
- Larry Dixon, state representative and state senator, Oklahoma native
- Larry Donnell, football player, New York Giants
- Vince Dooley, football coach
- Deidre Downs, 2005 Miss America
- John Drew, NBA player, Atlanta Hawks Utah Jazz
- Erwin Dudley, basketball player
- Benjamin Minge Duggar, botanist, discoverer of tetracycline
- Luther Duncan, 4-H pioneer, educator and administrator
- Alan Dunn, MLB bullpen coach, Baltimore Orioles
E
- Bobby Eaton, pro wrestler
- Cleveland Eaton, jazz bassist
- Dennis Edwards, soul music singer
- Jack Edwards, state representative
- Joe F. Edwards, Jr., astronaut, born in Richmond, Virginia
- Carl Elliott, state representative
- Jake Elmore, MLB player, Tampa Bay Rays
- Eric Esch, a.k.a. Butterbean, boxer
- James Reese Europe, bandleader, composer
- Rodney J. Evans, Medal of Honor winner
- Terry Everett, state representative
F
- Nick Fairley, NFL defensive lineman, St. Louis Rams
- Red Farmer, former NASCAR driver
- Paul Finebaum, columnist, author, radio personality, born in Memphis
- Howard Finster, folk artist
- Zelda Fitzgerald, writer
- Fannie Flagg, author and actress
- Louise Fletcher, Oscar-winning actress
- Richmond Flowers, Jr., football player
- Richmond Flowers, Sr., attorney general and activist
- Trey Flowers, NFL defensive end, New England Patriots
- Vonetta Flowers, Olympic gold medalist in bobsled, 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics
- Wayne Flynt, editor-in-chief of Encyclopedia of Alabama
- Emory Folmar, mayor of Montgomery, Republican gubernatorial nominee in 1982
- James Folsom, Jr., governor, lieutenant governor
- Jim Folsom, governor
- Dee Ford, NFL player, Kansas City Chiefs
- Joe Forehand, CEO of First Data
- George Foster, MLB player
- Reuben Foster, NFL player, Washington Football Team
- Jalston Fowler, NFL player, Tennessee Titans
- Melvin Franklin, soul music singer
- Chris Fryar, drummer for Zac Brown Band
G
- Noah Galloway, former United States Army soldier and contestant on Dancing with the Stars season 20
- Oscar Gamble, Major League Baseball outfielder
- Pat Garrett, sheriff of Lincoln County, New Mexico, killed Billy the Kid
- A.G. Gaston, businessman, civil rights activist
- Betty Lou Gerson, voice actress, "Cruella de Vil" of One Hundred and One Dalmatians
- Charles Ghigna, poet, author
- Robert Gibbs, press secretary for President Barack Obama
- Kenneth A. Gibson, first black mayor of major eastern city
- Kenneth R. Giddens, director of Voice of America, TV and radio station founder
- Wallace Gilberry, NFL defensive end, Cincinnati Bengals
- Horace Gillom, NFL player, Cleveland Browns
- Samuel Ginn, pioneer in wireless communications industry
- Mark Gitenstein, former U.S. Ambassador to Romania
- Mickell Gladness, NBA player, Miami Heat
- Harvey Glance, track and field athlete
- Walton Goggins, actor
- Eli Gold, sportscaster, born in New York
- William Lee Golden, country music singer, The Oak Ridge Boys
- Bobby Goldsboro, singer
- Alfred Goldthwaite, state representative, chairman of Alabama Republican Party
- Tina Gordon, NASCAR driver
- William C. Gorgas, U. S. Army Surgeon General
- Vern Gosdin, country and gospel singer
- Mike Gottfried, former college football coach, ESPN commentator
- Charles Graddick, judge and Attorney General of Alabama
- Beth Grant, actress
- Kendall Graveman, MLB player, Oakland A's
- Chris Gray, NFL player
- Hank Green, vlogger and musician
- Urbie Green, jazz trombonist
- Kevin Greene, NFL player, born in Schenectady, New York
- Rusty Greer, MLB player, Texas Rangers
- John Grenier, Republican politician
- Parker Griffith, representative from Alabama's 5th congressional district
- David G. Grimes, insurance agent, Republican politician
- Steve Grissom, NASCAR driver
- Winston Groom, author of Forrest Gump
- Gabe Gross, MLB player, Oakland A's
- Lafayette Guild, pioneer in research of yellow fever
- Annabelle Gurwitch, actress
H
- Rick Hall, record producer
- Mary Katharine Ham, journalist, video blogger, Fox News contributor
- Mia Hamm, soccer player, Olympic and World Cup champion
- Chris Hammond, MLB pitcher
- Cully Hamner, comic book artist and writer
- Lionel Hampton, jazz musician
- Jon Hand, football player
- W. C. Handy, jazz composer
- John Hannah, Hall of Fame football player, Alabama and NFL's New England Patriots, born in Georgia
- John M. Harbert, billionaire businessman
- Marguerite Harbert, billionaire heiress
- Roman Harper, NFL player, Carolina Panthers
- Emmylou Harris, singer
- William R. Harvey, president of Hampton University
- Gustav Hasford, writer, screenwriter
- Erskine Hawkins, jazz composer
- George C. Hawkins, member of both houses of the Alabama legislature
- Alexander T. Hawthorn, Confederate States Army general
- Glenn Hearn, mayor of Huntsville, Alabama, FBI special agent, Alabama legislator
- Howell Heflin, Chief Justice, Alabama Supreme Court, United States Senator, born in Poulan, Georgia
- Kurt Heinecke, music composer, songwriter, voice actor, photographer
- John S. Hendricks, founder, chair and CEO of Discovery Networks
- Richard Hendrix, basketball player
- Alexis Herman, former Secretary of Labor
- Will Herring, NFL player, New Orleans Saints
- Jake Hess, gospel quartet singer
- Taylor Hicks, singer, American Idol winner 2006
- Harlon Hill, American Football Player, Chicago Bears
- Howard Hill, professional archer and stunt archer for films
- J. Lister Hill, United States Senator
- Sammie Lee Hill, football player, Detroit Lions
- Joe Hilley, author
- Brent Hinds, singer, guitarist, Mastodon
- Eddie Hinton, musician
- Sylvia Hitchcock, Miss USA and Miss Universe 1967
- Chandler Hoffman, Major League Soccer player, Los Angeles Galaxy
- Robert Hoffman, actor
- Bill Holbrook, syndicated comic strip artist
- Mitch Holleman, actor, Reba
- Lonnie Holley, artist
- Polly Holliday, actress
- Fred Nall Hollis, artist
- Condredge Holloway, CFL player
- Hardcore Holly, WWE star
- Cliff Holman, television personality
- Evander Holyfield, World Heavyweight Championship boxer
- Perry O. Hooper, Jr., member of the Alabama House of Representatives 1984–2003
- Perry O. Hooper, Sr., former chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, first Republican to hold that office
- Robert Horry, basketball player
- Frank House, baseball player and legislator
- Brittany Howard, musician
- Jordan Howard, football player
- Linda Howard, romance writer
- Glenn Howerton, actor
- Freeman A. Hrabowski III, academic, university president
- Cooper Huckabee, actor
- William Bradford Huie, journalist, author
- Guy Hunt, governor
- Alan Hunter, original MTV VeeJay
- Zora Neale Hurston, author
I
- Osmond Kelly Ingram, Gunner's Mate First Class, U.S. Navy, WWI Medal of Honor recipient
J
- Bo Jackson, multi-sport athlete
- Kate Jackson, actress
- Katherine Jackson, mother of the Jackson 5
- Tarvaris Jackson, NFL player
- Henry James, former NBA player
- Sonny James, country music singer
- Mae C. Jemison, astronaut
- Desmond Jennings, MLB player, Tampa Bay Rays
- Jerrel Jernigan, NFL player, New York Giants
- Frank Minis Johnson, federal judge
- Jamey Johnson, country music singer
- Lonnie Johnson, inventor
- Michael Johnson, NFL player, Cincinnati Bengals
- Rashad Johnson, NFL defensive back, Arizona Cardinals
- Samuel E. Johnson, businessman
- Dean Jones, actor
- Don Jones, NFL player, San Francisco 49ers
- Julio Jones, NFL player, Atlanta Falcons
- Orlando Jones, actor
- Robbie Jones, NFL player, New York Giants
- Walter Jones, football player
- Lee Roy Jordan, football player, Alabama and NFL's Dallas Cowboys
- Ralph "Shug" Jordan, football coach, Auburn University
- Tom Joyner, radio personality
- Percy Lavon Julian, research chemist
K
- Helen Keller, author and activist
- Eddie Kendricks, soul music singer
- Jimmy Key, MLB pitcher
- Craig Kimbrel, MLB pitcher, Atlanta Braves
- Alveda King, minister, anti-abortion activist, author
- Brandon King, NFL safety, New England Patriots
- Coretta Scott King, civil rights leader
- Martin Luther King, Jr., civil rights activist, lived in Alabama in the mid-1950s
- Reggie King, former NBA player
- Troy King, state attorney general
- William R. King, United States Senator from Alabama,
- Woodie King, Jr., director, producer
- Dre Kirkpatrick, NFL cornerback, Cincinnati Bengals
- Freddie Kitchens, University of Alabama quarterback, NFL head coach of Cleveland Browns
- Corey Kluber, MLB pitcher, Cleveland Indians
- Mathew Knowles, father of Beyoncé and Solange
- David Koonce, rock musician, Within Reason
L
- Larry Langford, former mayor of Birmingham
- Adam Lazzara, singer, Taking Back Sunday
- Terry Leach, MLB pitcher
- Harper Lee, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer of To Kill a Mockingbird
- Lash LeRoux, professional wrestler, painter, artist
- Leon Lett, NFL defensive tackle
- Carl Lewis, track and field athlete, Olympic gold medalist
- David Peter Lewis, governor
- John Robert Lewis, U.S. Congressman, civil rights leader
- George Lindsey, actor
- Angela Little, model, actress, Playboy Playmate of the Month
- Tandy Little, Republican member of the Alabama House of Representatives, real estate developer
- Herman H. Long, college administrator
- Theodore Long, professional wrestling authority figure
- Sarah Ashley Longshore, painter
- Joe Louis, boxer, 12-year world heavyweight champion
- Fred L. Lowery, Southern Baptist clergyman and author
- Joseph Lowery, civil rights leader
- Theodore J. Lowi, political scientist
- Rebecca Luker, singer and actress
- Shelby Lynne, country music singer, born in Virginia
M
- Sunny Mabrey, model, actress
- Harry Mabry, television newscaster
- Everette Maddox "Rhett" Maddox, poet
- Anthony Madison, NFL player, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Boots Mallory, actress
- Alfred Malone, NFL player, Houston Texans
- Gucci Mane, musician
- William March, writer, World War I hero
- Sharon G. Markette, Illinois state representative, Montgomery
- Sen'Derrick Marks, NFL player, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Debra Marshall, WWE wrestler
- Kerry James Marshall, artist
- Chris Martin, NFL player
- Harold E. Martin, newspaperman
- Hugh Martin, songwriter
- James D. Martin, U.S. representative from Alabama's 7th congressional district
- Sonequa Martin-Green, actress
- F. David Mathews, educator
- Evan Mathis, NFL player, Denver Broncos
- Jordan Matthews, NFL player, Philadelphia Eagles
- Bruce Maxwell, MLB player
- Willie Mays, Hall of Fame center fielder
- Lewis McAllister, businessman and Republican former member of the Mississippi House of Representatives
- Robert R. McCammon, horror writer
- AJ McCarron, football quarterback
- Elvin McCary, politician
- Rolando McClain, NFL player, Dallas Cowboys
- Mitch McConnell, politician, long-time U.S. Senator from Kentucky since 1985, and Republican Leader of the United States Senate since 2015
- Willie McCovey, Hall of Fame first baseman
- Michael McCullers, screenwriter
- K. J. McDaniels, NBA player
- Alexander McGillivray, Creek Indian Chief
- Lachlan McGillivray, Scots-Indian trader
- Garnie W. McGinty, Louisiana historian
- Joe McInnes, corporate and state executive
- Frank McIntyre, U.S. Army general
- Ronald McKinnon, NFL player, Arizona Cardinals
- Steve McLendon, NFL player, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Gertrude Michael, actress
- Don Mincher, MLB player
- Grover Mitchell, jazz trombonist
- John Mitchell, NFL coach, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Anthony Mix, NFL player
- Wilmer Mizell, U.S. representative from North Carolina, Major League Baseball pitcher
- Jamario Moon, basketball player
- Charles Moore, civil rights photojournalist
- Mal Moore, University of Alabama athletic director, former quarterback and offensive coordinator
- Roy Moore, chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court
- Thomas Hinman Moorer, admiral, U.S. Navy, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
- Kathryn Morgan, ballet dancer, former soloist with New York City Ballet
- C. J. Mosley, NFL player, Baltimore Ravens
- Eric Motley, public administrator
- Morgan Murphy, humorist and author
- Roger Murrah, songwriter, recording artist
- Albert Murray, writer
- Johnny Musso, football player
- Pete Myers, basketball player and coach
N
- Jim Nabors, actor and singer
- Joe Namath, Hall of Fame quarterback, Alabama and NFL player, born in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
- Larry Nelson, PGA golfer
- Bert Nettles, politician and lawyer, formerly from Monroeville and Mobile
- Elijah Nevett, NFL player
- Ozzie Newsome, football player, Alabama and NFL's Cleveland Browns, executive for Baltimore Ravens
- Matthew Newton, conductor, professional railroader
- Jimmy Nolen, guitarist
O
- Philip Ober, stage and screen actor
- Benjamin Obomanu, NFL player, Seattle Seahawks
- Scott Oden, writer
- Cathy O'Donnell, actress
- Spooner Oldham, songwriter, keyboardist
- Stan O'Neal, chairman and CEO of Merrill Lynch
- Osceola, Seminole leader
- Victoria Osteen, co-pastor of Lakewood Church
- Randy Owen, lead singer for band Alabama
- Jesse Owens, iconic track and field athlete, Olympic gold medalist
- Terrell Owens, NFL player
P
- Satchel Paige, baseball player
- Michael Papajohn, actor, stuntman
- Rosa Parks, civil rights activist
- Gail Patrick, actress and television producer
- Albert Patterson, Attorney General of Alabama
- John Malcolm Patterson, Governor of Alabama
- Jake Peavy, baseball pitcher
- Charley Pell, head football coach at Clemson and Florida
- Dan Penn, singer, songwriter, record producer
- Blake Percival, Whistleblower
- Walker Percy, author
- Wayne Perkins musician
- Chuck Person, NBA player
- Wesley Person, NBA player
- Jesse Lee Peterson, minister, author
- Sidney Phillips, World War II veteran, physician
- Wilson Pickett, R&B and soul singer
- Juan Pierre, MLB outfielder
- Charles Redding Pitt, attorney, politician
- Chris Porter, NBA player
- Paula Poundstone, comedian
- Alma Powell, audiologist, children's author
- Michael Powell, attorney and politician
- Jerraud Powers, NFL player, Arizona Cardinals
- Tyrone Prothro, football player, Alabama
R
- Sun Ra, jazz musician
- Sam Raben, soccer player
- Max Rafferty, California Superintendent of Public Instruction, education dean at Troy University
- Howell Raines, former New York Times editor
- Albert Rains, representative of Alabama's 7th congressional district
- Geoff Ramsey, voice actor and producer for Rooster Teeth Productions
- Theo Ratliff, center for the Charlotte Bobcats
- Ray Reach, jazz pianist, vocalist, arranger, composer, music producer, Director of Student Jazz Programs for the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
- Gary Redus, baseball player
- Scottie Reynolds, basketball player at Villanova
- Condoleezza Rice, former United States Secretary of State
- Rich Boy, rapper
- Tony Richardson, NFL player, New York Jets
- Lionel Richie, singer, composer, instrumentalist, producer, and four-time Grammy award winner
- Bob Riley, Governor of Alabama
- Alex Ríos, MLB outfielder
- Philip Rivers, quarterback for North Carolina State and NFL's San Diego Chargers
- David Robertson, pitcher for the New York Yankees
- Denard Robinson, NFL player, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Martha Roby, representative from Alabama's 2nd congressional district
- Jim Rogers, businessman, investor
- Roy Rogers, former NBA player, assistant coach for the Houston Rockets
- Wayne Rogers, actor
- Michael Rooker, actor
- Frank Rose, educator, former President of the University of Alabama
- Marie Rudisill, a.k.a. "The Fruitcake Lady," Truman Capote's aunt
- Jeff Rutledge, NFL quarterback
- Josh Rutledge, MLB infielder
- Debby Ryan, actress
- DeMeco Ryans, NFL player, Philadelphia Eagles
S
- Warren St. John, author, journalist
- Ed Salem, football player, born in Tucson, Arizona
- Chris Samuels, former NFL player for Washington Redskins
- Sonia Sanchez, poet
- John Solomon Sandridge, painter, sculptor, author, born in Gadsden, Alabama
- David Satcher, Surgeon General of the United States, second ever and first African-America four-star admiral in United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps
- Eugene Sawyer, 53rd mayor of Chicago
- Richard M. Scrushy, founder and former CEO of HealthSouth
- Doc Scurlock, a.k.a. Josiah Gordon Scurlock, a founding member of the Lincoln County New Mexico Regulators, member of Billy the Kid's gang
- Jay Sebring, hair stylist, Charles Manson murder victim
- Waldo Semon, inventor of vinyl
- David Sessions, member of the Alabama Legislature
- Jeff Sessions, longtime Alabama Senator since 1996; U.S. Attorney General
- Joe Sewell, baseball player
- Luke Sewell, baseball player
- Rip Sewell, baseball player
- Glenn Shadix, actor
- Earnie Shavers, former heavyweight boxer
- Tommy Shaw, rock musician
- Richard C. Shelby, United States Senator
- Ashton Shepherd, country singer
- Danny Sheridan, sports broadcaster and prognosticator
- Fred Shuttlesworth, civil rights activist
- George Siebels, mayor of Birmingham, state representative
- Don Siegelman, former governor of Alabama
- Eugene Sledge, World War II veteran, teacher, writer
- Percy Sledge, soul singer
- Kirby Smart, football coach, defensive coordinator University of Alabama
- Rickey Smiley, comedian
- Albert Lee Smith, Jr., representative from Alabama's 6th congressional district
- Andre Smith, NFL offensive lineman, Cincinnati Bengals
- Ella Gaunt Smith, doll manufacturer
- Holland Smith, general, United States Marine Corps during World War II, father of amphibious warfare
- Johnny Smith, jazz guitarist
- Leighton W. Smith, Jr., admiral, United States Navy
- Ozzie Smith, Hall of Fame baseball player
- Zeke Smith, football player
- Les Snead, general manager of the St. Louis Rams
- Dylan Riley Snyder, actor, singer
- John Sparkman, United States Senator
- Chauncey Sparks, governor
- Mark Spencer, president/CEO of Digium
- Octavia Spencer, Academy Awards and Golden Globes award-winning actress
- The Springs, band
- Ken Stabler, NFL player, The University of Alabama and Oakland Raiders
- Zac Stacy, NFL player, St. Louis Rams
- John Stallworth, NFL player, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Bart Starr, Hall of Fame football player, Alabama and Green Bay Packers
- Darian Stewart, NFL player, Denver Broncos
- Donald W. Stewart, United States Senator
- Mike Stewart, author
- Dwight Stone, former NFL player
- Luther Strange, Attorney General of Alabama
- J. Curry Street, physicist
- T. S. Stribling, author
- Gail Strickland, actress
- Hut Stricklin, NASCAR driver
- Ruben Studdard, 2003 American Idol winner
- Jimmy Lee Sudduth, artist and blues musician
- Pat Sullivan, football player
- Kevin Sumlin, football head coach, Texas A&M
- Don Sutton, Hall of Fame baseball player
- Barret Swatek, actress and comedian
- Ward Swingle, jazz arranger and composer
- Dabo Swinney, football head coach, Clemson
T
- Jaquiski Tartt, NFL football player
- Channing Tatum, actor
- Toni Tennille, singer of the duo Captain and Tennille
- Adalius Thomas, NFL football player
- Bryan Thomas, football player
- Fred Thompson, former United States senator from Tennessee, actor
- Fresco Thompson, former major league baseball player and executive
- Myron Herbert Thompson, Senior United States District Judge
- Neil Thrasher, country singer-songwriter
- Carson Tinker, NFL player, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Frank Tipler, mathematical physicist and cosmologist
- Andre Tippett, NFL Hall of Fame football player
- Mose Tolliver, artist
- Harry Townes, actor
- Pat Trammell, Alabama Crimson Tide football player, physician
- William Barret Travis, Commander of the Alamo at San Antonio, Texas
- Justin Tuck, NFL football player
- Cynthia Tucker, columnist and editor
- Joe Turnham, chairman of the Alabama Democratic Party
- Tom Turnipseed, Democratic political activist
- Chief Tuskaloosa, Creek Indian chief and leader
- Richard Tyson, actor
U
- Courtney Upshaw, NFL player, Atlanta Falcons
V
- Robert J. Van de Graaff, engineer, physicist
- Robert Smith Vance, federal judge
- Ned Vaughn, actor
- Mack Vickery, singer, songwriter
- Wernher von Braun, engineer, physicist born in Wirsitz, Province of Posen, Poland
- Hans A. von Spakovsky, attorney
W
- Mark Waid, writer
- Jimmy Wales, co-founder of Wikipedia
- Frank Walker, NFL player, Dallas Cowboys
- Margaret Walker, poet, author
- Ben Wallace, NBA player
- Cornelia Wallace, second wife of George C. Wallace, First Lady of Alabama
- Daniel Wallace, writer
- George C. Wallace, four-term governor and four-time presidential candidate
- George Wallace, Jr., former Alabama Public Service Commission member
- Gerald Wallace, basketball player
- Lurleen Burns Wallace, governor
- Eugene Walter, writer-actor
- Jimmie Ward, NFL player, San Francisco 49ers
- DeMarcus Ware, NFL player, Denver Broncos
- Adam Warren, MLB pitcher, New York Yankees
- Mervyn Warren, musician
- Dinah Washington, singer
- Mary Burke Washington, economist
- Ken Watters, jazz trumpeter
- William Weatherford, a.k.a. Red Eagle, Creek Indian leader
- Joe Webb, NFL player, Carolina Panthers
- Katherine Webb, model, Miss Alabama USA
- Lardarius Webb, NFL player, Baltimore Ravens
- Fred Wesley, musician
- Mario West, NBA player, Atlanta Hawks
- Joseph Wheeler, Confederate and US General, US Congressman, namesake of Wheeler State Park and Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, author
- Chris White, NFL player, Buffalo Bills
- D. J. White, NBA player, Charlotte Bobcats
- Pat White, NFL player, Miami Dolphins
- Heather Whitestone, 1995 Miss America
- Chase Whitley, MLB player, New York Yankees
- Joe Whitt, Jr., NFL coach, Green Bay Packers
- Barbara Wiedemann, poet and English professor
- Deontay Wilder, professional boxer
- Mark Wilkerson, musician
- Billy Williams, Hall of Fame baseball player
- Carnell Williams, NFL player, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Cootie Williams, jazz trumpeter
- Hank Williams, country musician
- Hank Williams, Jr., country musician
- Holly Williams, country musician
- Nick Williams, NFL player, Kansas City Chiefs
- Paul Williams, soul singer
- Josh Willingham, MLB left fielder, Kansas City Royals
- James Willis, former NFL linebacker
- E. O. Wilson, biologist and writer
- Kathryn Tucker Windham, storyteller and author
- Tobias Wolff, author
- Roy Wood, Jr., stand-up comedian
- Ray Woodard, "Father of soccer in Alabama"
- Mark Woodyard, MLB pitcher, Detroit Tigers
- Wesley Wright, MLB pitcher, Baltimore Orioles
- Tammy Wynette, country singer
Y
- YBN Nahmir, rapper
- Yelawolf, rapper
- T. J. Yeldon, running back
- Byron York, conservative political columnist
- Tom York, television personality
- Coleman Young, former mayor of Detroit, Michigan
- Delmon Young, baseball player