Woody Guthrie
Born and raised in Okemah
The Dust Bowl songwriter whose storytelling helped shape American folk music. Start here for Oklahoma roots and songs about working people.
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Why did the pillow win employee of the month? It supported everyone.
The Local Way / Oklahoma culture
Oklahoma.
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Meet artists with Oklahoma roots, then explore songs from and about the state.
Close & back to menu ↑The sound of Oklahoma.
A statewide collection, available in every city view.
Artists with Oklahoma roots
Born here, raised here or formed here
Leon Russell
Born in Lawton; grew up in Tulsa
A pianist, songwriter and bandleader at the heart of the Tulsa Sound. His Church Studio connects that musical history to a place visitors can explore.
JJ Cale
Born in Oklahoma City; raised in Tulsa
Understated vocals and an easy guitar groove made Cale a defining Tulsa Sound musician. His songs also became signature recordings for other major artists.
The Gap Band
Formed in Tulsa
The Wilson brothers brought Tulsa to dance floors worldwide. The band’s name honors Greenwood, Archer and Pine, three streets in their hometown.
The Flaming Lips
Formed in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City’s adventurous rock band pairs melodic songs with unusual sounds and spectacular performances. Their hometown club beginnings are part of the state’s independent-music story.
Garth Brooks
Born in Tulsa; raised in Yukon; performed in Stillwater
Before the arena shows, Brooks played Stillwater bars while attending Oklahoma State. His path links Yukon family roots with the college town’s live-music scene.
Reba McEntire
Born in McAlester; raised near Chockie
Rodeos, school performances and a southeast Oklahoma ranch came before Nashville. Reba’s voice and storytelling carry those Oklahoma beginnings into a long country-music career.
Vince Gill
Born in Norman
A singer, songwriter and guitarist whose country recordings draw on bluegrass musicianship. His Oklahoma connections include a duet with fellow Oklahoman Reba McEntire.
Carrie Underwood
Grew up in Checotah; studied in Tahlequah
From church singing in Checotah to American Idol and country stages, Underwood’s story keeps a clear eastern Oklahoma connection. Her debut album includes a song about her hometown.
Wanda Jackson
Born in Maud; began her career in Oklahoma City
A rockabilly pioneer with country roots, Jackson developed her early career through Oklahoma City radio and performances before taking her distinctive voice to international audiences.
Samantha Crain
Born and raised in Shawnee; Choctaw Nation citizen
The Choctaw singer-songwriter brings intimate storytelling to folk, Americana and indie music. Her Shawnee upbringing offers another thread in Oklahoma’s broad musical landscape.
John Moreland
Tulsa-raised; born in Texas
A Tulsa songwriter known for direct, reflective songs. His recordings connect intimate acoustic writing with the city’s roots and independent-rock scenes.
Oklahoma in song
Places, people and a sense of home
Tulsa Time
A song about leaving Oklahoma and looking back toward Tulsa
Danny Flowers wrote this country favorite recorded by Don Williams. Its narrator’s westward trip keeps Tulsa as the point of return.
Take Me Back to Tulsa
Tulsa-centered western swing
A lively western-swing standard connected to the Tulsa bandleader and his Texas Playboys. Hear the label-issued 1941 recording.
Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa
Tulsa is the destination in a fictional road story
Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s dramatic pop song uses the distance from Tulsa to frame a traveler’s change of heart. Pitney is not presented as an Oklahoma native.
Oklahoma Hills
An Oklahoma landscape song by Woody and Jack Guthrie
This country-folk standard evokes Oklahoma’s hills and homeward longing. The Oklahoma Historical Society documents its connection to Woody Guthrie and Jack Guthrie.
Oklahoma
Title song from the musical Oklahoma!
The musical’s title song imagines a celebration of Oklahoma’s future. Explore the song through its official publisher; the stage story and its filming locations are separate subjects.
My Oklahoma Home
A Dust Bowl story about an Oklahoma farmer
Springsteen’s Seeger Sessions recording revisits a comic, windblown Dust Bowl story. This is an Oklahoma-connected song by an artist from elsewhere.
Home Sweet Oklahoma
A return-to-Tulsa song by an Oklahoma musician
Russell turns memories of leaving Oklahoma into a song about coming back. It makes a natural companion to a visit to Tulsa’s Church Studio.
Oklahoma Swing
An Oklahoma-themed duet by two Oklahoma-born singers
Gill and McEntire share a spirited country duet. The official recording credits Gill and Tim DuBois as its writers.
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Oklahoma roots and songs about the state are different connections. Each card explains which applies. Song titles are listed for discovery; lyrics and recordings belong to their owners.
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From the source
Each entry links to a source for its Oklahoma connection. Watch and listen links open official artist, studio or publisher pages where available. Availability, tickets and subscriptions may change; no purchase or subscription happens here.