If we were going to try to have celebrity sighting, there are some obvious places to go, right? We'd probably think we need to head to Hollywood, New York City, and maybe London (or Calabasas, California, if we are especially eager to see a Kardashian). But it turns out that we could also head to places such as Traverse City, Michigan, or Mound, Minnesota, or Austin, Texas, and have a fairly decent chance of seeing a famous face or two.
Whether it is to escape the paparazzi or to have the chance to raise their kids with a slower or simpler pace of life, a surprising number of celebrities are choosing to live all or part of the time outside of the main celebrity hubs on the West and East coasts. From small towns to ranches to quiet suburbs, these 15 celebrities are showing that they don't need the bright lights and big cities to stay happy!
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Jessica Simpson: Nashville, Tennessee
Though they still call Los Angeles their home base, Jessica Simpson and her family opted for a simpler life for a little while and chose to spend summer 2023 in Nashville.
The singer shared that the move was a great experience for her family, saying "Being in Nashville, even my kids are like, 'You laugh the whole time. You’re so happy'. It’s because I’m not on guard. I’m with a lot of like-minded people. It’s not about the celebrities — it’s really about the music and the heart and the conversation."
Kris Humphries: Mound, Minnesota
Former NBA player, reality TV star, and very short-term second husband of Kim Kardashian, Kris Humphries is now happily living in Mound. Since moving out of the spotlight, he's started a new life as a restaurant owner and has 10 chicken restaurants to his name.
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Amy Smart: Traverse City, Michigan
Actress Amy Smart and her husband, Trading Spaces star Carter Oosterhouse, live at least part of every year in their charming farmhouse in Traverse City. They also run a winery in Michigan, which is Carter's home state.
James Van Der Beek: Austin, Texas
Dawson's Creek star James Van Der Beek and his big family (six kids!) left Los Angeles for Austin three years ago. According to the star, the move has been "really centering and I feel like for the kids, it's been grounding, and a different kind of education that we never could have offered them in a classroom."
Brandon Flowers: Park City, Utah
Brandon Flowers, lead singer of The Killers, was born and raised in rural Utah (in a city called Nephi). After years in Las Vegas, the singer and his family have relocated to Park City. He has said the move to a quieter environment was driven partially by mental health reasons.
Steve Martin: Brevard, North Carolina
Steve Martin has multiple homes, which makes sense because he has multiple jobs! The actor version of Steve can stay in his Cali house, but the banjo superstar version of Steve can enjoy the quieter live in the small town of Brevard.
Josh Lucas: Bali, Indonesia
Sweet Home Alabama star Josh Lucas recently spent a year in Bali so his son could have the opportunity to experience going to an environmentally focused elementary school. Lucas described the year as "every day is an adventure. I loved it. I really loved it. Politics faded from my daily media intake. Movies and entertainment faded away. Life became much more in the moment. It felt more alive and honest."
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Ryan Reynolds: Pound Ridge, New York
Ryan Reynolds has famously invested in the small town of Wrexham in Wales as part owner of its football team. He also enjoys the smaller town life with wife Blake Lively, as the two share a home in the town of Pound Ridge, which is in upstate New York.
Morgan Freeman: Charleston, Mississippi
Morgan Freeman, who has literally been the voice of God in movies such as Bruce Almighty, has found his piece of heaven on a 24-acre ranch in rural Mississippi. He's lived in the tiny town of Charleston, which has less than 3,000 residents, for many years.
Nicole Kidman: Nashville, Tennessee
Although they own homes in California and Sydney, Australia, Nicole Kidman and husband Keith Urban spend most of their time with their daughters in their mansion in Nashville. The pair live in a gated community with plenty of other big country stars to keep them company!
John Mayer: Paradise Valley, Montana
When he wants to take a break from the limelight (or maybe just from Swifties yelling at him), John Mayer retreats to his part-time home in the beautiful area of Paradise Valley.
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Oprah: Maui, Hawaii
After years of surviving cold winters in Chicago, Oprah is now living her best life in on a massive piece of property in Maui. When she's not in Hawaii, she's living down the street from Harry and Meghan in California. Not a bad life!
Julia Roberts: Taos, New Mexico
Julia Roberts, husband Danny Moder, and their kids spend a lot of time on their property in Taos. The property has a special place in Julia's heart because that is where she and Moder married in 2002. The pair also has homes in San Francisco, Malibu, and Hawaii.
Tyler Perry: Atlanta
Tyler Perry is a very, very wealthy man. In addition to owning an island and property in California (that he famously lent to Harry and Meghan when they were looking for a safe place to land), he owns a mega mansion, said to be worth $100 million, as his primary home in Georgia.
John Goodman: New Orleans
John Goodman, who was born in Missouri, has made New Orleans home base for his family since 1989 and has even shared that his home there might be a little bit haunted, like all good New Orleans houses should be, right?
