Louisville has a rich history and heritage, dating all the way back to 1778 when Colonel George Rogers Clark formed a settlement on Corn Island. In its more recent history, it has become famed across the world for legendary sons such as Colonel Harland Sanders, the chicken restaurateur and, of course, the one and only Muhammad Ali. Louisville not only has a golden past, however, it is also home to some of the most acclaimed superstars in the world today.
Jennifer Lawrence
Jennifer Lawrence is possibly the most celebrated film actress in the world today. Born in the Louisville suburb of Indian Hills in 1990, she has already won an Academy Award as Best Leading Actress for her performance in 2012’s ‘Silver Linings Playbook’, making her the second youngest ever winner of that award. Jennifer has also received acclaim for her work in other films including ‘American Hustle’, as well as starring in the box office smash series of ‘Hunger Games’ films. There’s little doubt that Jennifer Lawrence will become renowned as an all-time Hollywood great, and her formative acting days were in church plays and school musicals in Louisville.
Marshall Allen
Now aged 93, Marshall Allen is still a name and a force to be reckoned with in the world of free jazz, and he will forever be associated with the legendary Sun Ra with whom he first worked in 1953. Allen was a supremely talented alto saxophonist, but he could also play many other instruments to a very high level. After Sun Ra’s death in 1993, Allen took over as the lead of the famous Arkestra that bore his name. He became known for his fluid yet avant-garde improvisational playing, and also for his colorful and extravagant outfits, both on and off stage. Marshall Allen may not have reached the level of a Michael Jackson or Madonna net worth, but to modern jazz fans, he is just as important a figure in the history of twentieth-century music.
Jennifer Carpenter
Louisville has not one but two famous acting Jennifers, as Jennifer Carpenter was born there in 1979. She has starred in a number of hit films including ‘White Chicks’ and ‘The Exorcism of Emily Rose’, but she is perhaps most famous for her long-time role as Debra Morgan in the celebrated television show ‘Dexter’. Carpenter is also an accomplished marathon runner who completed the 2012 New York Marathon in a time of just over three and a half hours, but then Louisville and Kentucky as a whole have always been known for their sporting prowess.
Louisville is a city that inspires you, whether you were born there, live there, or are merely passing through, which is one reason that so many of its citizens go on to achieve great things in their careers. Jennifer Carpenter, Marshall Allen, and Jennifer Lawrence also share one other quality: they are all confident and outspoken individuals who are prepared to stand up for what they believe in. That’s a trait shared by people right across Kentucky, whether they’re famous or not, and it’s why the future of the bluegrass state will continue to shine brightly.
