Birminghamsouthern heartland

Actors Courtney Cox, Louise Fletcher and Wayne Rogers all hail from Birmingham, as well as author Daniel Wallace (best known for his novel, Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions, which was later adapted into a Tim Burton film of the same name). Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also grew up in the city. Perhaps inspired by shared success, the city is home to three American Idol contestants, including winners Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks and season four first runner-up Bo Bice. Hicks recently opened a new restaurant in the Crestline Park area of Birmingham called Ore.