Many celebrities are trading coastal cities for the charm and culture of Tennessee, with Reese Witherspoon moves to Tennessee becoming one of the most notable relocations in recent years. Over the past decades, stars including Melissa Joan Hart, Steven Tyler, and Reese Witherspoon have settled in Music City and its surrounding areas, drawn by the state’s appealing lifestyle and creative atmosphere.
The Growing Celebrity Appeal of Tennessee’s Lifestyle
Kristin Cavallari, who has lived in Tennessee since 2017, shared why the state felt like the ideal place for her family. She explained that her then-husband, Jay Cutler, a former Vanderbilt student and NFL player, influenced their decision to settle in Nashville once his football career ended. Cavallari praised Nashville for blending advantages of a large city with the warmth and friendliness of a smaller community.
Jay went to Vanderbilt. And we just decided that this was where we wanted to be when he was done with football,
Cavallari said.
We just always knew this is where we wanted to raise our family. My favorite thing about Nashville is that it has everything that a big city has to offer, but it feels like a small town. And everyone’s so friendly, and warm, and there’s honestly nothing bad about Nashville.
—Kristin Cavallari, Television Personality
Similarly, Kathie Lee Gifford embraced the southern hospitality she encountered after relocating to Franklin, Tennessee, in 2018. She described Nashville’s culture as one filled with kindness, joy, and the sense of Americana reminiscent of her upbringing.
First of all, there is a different culture — completely different culture down there, and it’s a culture of kindness in Nashville,
Gifford told Hoda Kotb in 2019.
And they are authentically kind. They are joyful, they have so much fun. Music everywhere. There are barbecues. Everything is Americana, like when I was growing up.
—Kathie Lee Gifford, TV Host and Singer
Musicians Who Found a Home in Tennessee
Jack White, formerly of The White Stripes, moved from Detroit to Nashville in 2005 and quickly made the city his creative base. Although he considers Detroit his hometown, he felt his soul belonged to the South, a sentiment he shared in a 2014 interview.
I’ve always felt like Detroit is my home,
White explained.
But I’ve always felt like my soul came from some other place. And maybe it is from down South.
—Jack White, Musician
He expanded his musical ventures by opening a Nashville branch of Third Man Records in 2009, cementing his connection to Tennessee’s music scene.
Rock legend Steven Tyler also chose Tennessee as his full-time residence, expressing deep admiration for Nashville’s vibrant music community. He highlighted that despite the state’s growing entertainment industry, the passion for music remains genuine and undiluted by commercial influence.
I came to Nashville. I rented a house. Now I just bought a house, so I’m living here full-on. It’s a musical Mecca,
Tyler revealed in 2016.
I cowrote with everyone down here, and I think I’ve done some of my best work through this country head.
This town still has the passion for music. It hasn’t lost it through business and money, which may be big here, but the music aspect still has the passion. Artists come here from all over the world to be part of it, and there’s so much music dripping out of the honeycomb of this town that I’m in it. I’m in it neck-deep. I’m going to stay here. I’m going to live here. I love it here.
—Steven Tyler, Aerosmith Frontman
Actresses and Personalities Making Tennessee Their Base
Elisabeth Hasselbeck left Connecticut for the Nashville suburb of Belle Meade in 2016 after falling in love with the city while hosting a Christian music awards show. She highlighted the city’s empathy and welcoming spirit in interviews.
Nashville is a city that has eyes that see other people, the space for kindness and the hands to lift someone up when they need it,
Hasselbeck said in 2019. —Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Television Personality
Kristin Cavallari remained in Tennessee after her 2020 divorce from Jay Cutler, continuing to raise their children in Franklin. She recently moved to a new home within the area, describing the process during a podcast episode in 2024.
I am currently sitting in my half-empty kitchen, but actually there’s just boxes stacked everywhere,
Cavallari shared.
Just moved into my new house a couple days ago.
—Kristin Cavallari, TV Personality and Entrepreneur
Reese Witherspoon, born in New Orleans and raised in Nashville, has maintained strong ties to Tennessee despite periods of living in Los Angeles. The Legally Blonde star purchased her current Nashville home in 2014, reaffirming her connection to the city that shaped her early life.
More Stars Relocating for Family and Lifestyle
Melissa Joan Hart moved to Nashville from Connecticut in 2020 with her family, celebrating their time in Tennessee with a heartfelt social media post thanking neighbors, teachers, and friends for making it a welcoming place to raise their children.
Happy Nashville Anniversary to us … and a big hug to all the friends, neighbors, teachers and people who have made it such a wonderful place to raise our family,
she wrote in October 2023. —Melissa Joan Hart, Actress and Producer
Jana Kramer returned to Nashville in 2019, after living in Los Angeles with her former husband. She now resides in Music City with her current husband, Allan Russell, and their son Roman.
Ali Fedotowsky, known from The Bachelorette, found her dream home in Nashville in 2021 and was deeply involved in personalizing it. Despite selling it in 2025, she expressed gratitude for the opportunity to build a home customized to her family’s tastes.
My husband and I both feel so fortunate to live in this home. We found it when it was just a framed house and even though there wasn’t even drywall on the walls yet, we just knew it was the perfect home for us,
Fedotowsky explained.
I chose every light fixture, every piece of hardware, and all the little details. Really, the only thing I didn’t choose was the layout since that was already set when we found it. So, we really did get the opportunity to make it our dream home, even though we didn’t technically build it. I wake up grateful for this home every single morning.
—Ali Fedotowsky, Television Personality
In mid-2025, she announced plans to leave Nashville for an undisclosed new location, expressing excitement about the next chapter.
Actors and Creatives Embracing Tennessee for Family and Career
Kellan Lutz made the move to Nashville from the West Coast to be near his wife’s family, appreciating the support system while balancing acting commitments. He fondly recalled the value of family time from his childhood farm experiences.
The way the industry is right now, currently I can work and live wherever and then just fly to do movies,
Lutz stated.
And at least my wife has a support system here when I’m gone.
I remember growing up, my family had a farm in Iowa, and I saw my grandparents, and it was the best time. We spent a month or so on the farm. Cows, pigs, everything. But it’s fleeting. People aren’t living as long,
he continued.
You only have so much time with your grandparents. And we live a mile from my wife’s parents, and so we walk there. It’s just beautiful.
—Kellan Lutz, Actor
Kirk Cameron relocated his family from California to Tennessee in 2024, citing concerns about safety and shifting political climates. He noted a growing trend of creative professionals leaving California and praised Tennessee’s surge in film and television production jobs.
Certainly, there’s the concerns of politics and crime and the economy, but I’m finding California refugees all over Tennessee and Texas and Florida and places like this,
Cameron said.
There’s been a flood of talent and creatives who have left California. They’re frustrated that their values are not being represented in the projects that they’re working on.
Cameron emphasized Tennessee’s rise as the “Hollywood of the South,” contributing to the state’s expanding entertainment industry, especially in Christian media.
Other Notable Relocations and Lifestyle Changes
Chrissy Metz revealed in 2025 that she moved to Nashville seeking a better quality of life closer to her family in Florida. She credited Tennessee’s slower pace, reduced stress, and strong sense of community, especially welcome after years in Los Angeles.
There’s a lot going on. There’s obviously great music, great food. I grew up in the South, so I’m used to sort of that 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? What for?’ It was all very dog eat dog.
—Chrissy Metz, Actress and Singer
Kirsten Storms, star of General Hospital, chose to make Nashville her home in 2025, moving with her daughter from Los Angeles. She expressed excitement about settling into Tennessee and returning to her television work once settled.
I’m very excited to be making Tennessee my home! I can’t wait to return to GH, once Harper and I are settled in our new town,
Storms wrote.
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 really happening.
—Kirsten Storms, Actress
Why Tennessee Continues to Attract Stars Like Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon’s return to Nashville highlights a broader trend of celebrities seeking the balance of convenience, community, and cultural richness offered by Tennessee. Known for its strong music roots and friendly atmosphere, Tennessee provides an environment where stars can prioritize family life without sacrificing career opportunities.
The steady influx of talents in music, television, and film enriches the state’s creative landscape, expanding the entertainment industry within this southern hub. As production jobs increase and new projects emerge, Tennessee’s reputation as the “Hollywood of the South” is solidifying, attracting more artists and industry professionals alike.
For celebrities like Witherspoon, Cavallari, and Tyler, Tennessee offers a unique mix of southern charm, vibrant artistic communities, and a supportive environment for raising families. This collective energy ensures that Tennessee will remain a favored home for stars who want the comforts of home alongside a flourishing creative life.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What syndrome does Reese Witherspoon have?
A. Even though Reese Witherspoon’s fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is less noticeable, she still has it. Witherspoon is famous for her roles in “The Man in the Moon” and “Legally Blonde.” Many people would never suspect she has FAS because of her impressive acting skills.
Q. Did Reese Witherspoon have a baby at 22?
A. “I have been a mother since 1999,” she explained. “I became pregnant at 22 and gave birth at 23.” Witherspoon has two children, Ava Elizabeth, age 21, and Deacon Reese, age 16, with her former husband Ryan Phillippe. She also has a son, Tennessee James, who is 7, with her husband Jim Toth.
