The Southern Baptist church is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States. Among its millions of members are many celebrities you'll recognize. A number of celebs, including famous singers, actors, and politicians, are Southern Baptist. Whether they were raised in the church or adopted the faith later in life, these famous Southern Baptists all share the church in common.
Who will you find on this list of famous people who are Southern Baptist? Pop star Britney Spears was born into a Southern Baptist family. "I grew up going to church but I think you can have spiritual experiences without going to church," she has said of her upbringing. While Brad Pitt now considers himself an atheist, he was raised in a Southern Baptist home in Missouri.
Like her sister Elle, Dakota Fanning is a Southern Baptist. She said, "I definitely try to keep my faith and my religion and apply that to my personal life and be the best Dakota that I can be." Several United States Presidents including Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, and Harry S. Truman, were also raised as Southern Baptists.
Are you surprised that there are so many celebrity Southern Baptists? Take a look at this list and get in on the conversation in the comments section.
Britney Spears was born into a Southern Baptist family. "I grew up going to church but I think you can have spiritual experiences without going to church," she said.
As a child, former President Bill Clinton attended the First Baptist Church in Hope in Arkansas. After his daughter Chelsea was born, he joined the Immanuel Baptist Church with a renewed interest in the faith.
Elle Fanning has said, "I am a Southern Baptist, and I grew up in the south, so every Sunday I went to Sunday school. So I’ve grown up in a family where that’s really important."
Former President Jimmy Carter was a longtime follower of the Southern Baptist faith, but he left the religion in 2000 due to the church's rigid views on women. "I’m familiar with the verses they have quoted about wives being subjugated to their husbands,” he said. “In my opinion, this is a distortion of the meaning of Scripture. … I personally feel the Bible says all people are equal in the eyes of God. I personally feel that women should play an absolutely equal role in service of Christ in the church.”
Age: 98
Birthplace: Plains, Georgia, United States of America
