Their accents might be gone, but their passports tell a different story.
Some musicians become so deeply woven into the fabric of American pop culture that we naturally assume they are one of our own. Their songs dominate our radio waves, their sound defines entire genres born in the USA, and their careers are centered in cities like Nashville or Los Angeles. It can be genuinely surprising to discover that these artists are not American at all.
This list isn’t about “gotcha” moments but is a fun celebration of music’s power to transcend borders. It’s a testament to how these talented individuals from around the globe have perfectly captured a sound we associate with home.
1. Shania Twain is the Canadian queen of country music.
With her blockbuster albums and a sound that defined 1990s country-pop, Shania Twain is a bona fide Nashville superstar. Her music is a staple at American barbecues, road trips, and country music stations from coast to coast. Everything about her career, from her collaborations to her massive success in the heartland, screams red, white, and blue.
It’s a huge shock to many fans to learn that this country icon is actually Canadian, hailing from Ontario. She broke into the Nashville scene and became one of the best-selling female artists in country music history, all while being one of Canada’s most famous musical exports, according to Rolling Stone. That don’t impress me much? Actually, it’s incredibly impressive.
2. The rapper Drake proudly represents “the 6” in Canada.
Drake has dominated the American hip-hop and pop charts for well over a decade. As one of the most commercially successful rappers of all time, his influence on American music and culture is undeniable. Hip-hop is a quintessentially American art form, and Drake’s fluency in its sounds and styles makes it easy to assume he’s from a major U.S. city like New York or Atlanta.
In reality, Aubrey “Drake” Graham is from Toronto, Canada, a city he famously nicknames “The 6.” He is a global ambassador for his hometown and the official ambassador for the Toronto Raptors basketball team, as mentioned in WatchMojo. Despite his deep integration into the American music scene, he remains fiercely proud of his Canadian roots.
3. The Weeknd is another massive pop star from Canada.
Following in Drake’s footsteps, The Weeknd, born Abel Tesfaye, is another global superstar who many assume is American. His dark, atmospheric R&B and pop music draws heavily from American icons like Michael Jackson and Prince. His massive success, including headlining the Super Bowl halftime show, has cemented him as a pillar of modern American pop culture.
Like his friend Drake, The Weeknd also hails from Toronto, Ontario. His journey from releasing anonymous mixtapes online to becoming one of the biggest musical acts in the world is a remarkable story, as per stacker.com. He has become a dominant force in the American market while still being one of Canada’s most celebrated artists.
4. Hozier’s soulful sound comes from the heart of Ireland.
When Hozier’s powerful anthem “Take Me to Church” was released, its sound felt deeply rooted in the American musical tradition. The song’s blend of gospel, blues, and soul evoked the sounds of the American South, leading many listeners to believe he was a singer-songwriter from a place like Mississippi or Georgia. His raw, soulful voice fit perfectly within that tradition.
This makes it all the more surprising to find out that Andrew Hozier-Byrne is from Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland. His musical education was steeped in the Chicago blues records his father played at home, which explains his incredible ability to channel that specific American art form. He is a testament to the global reach of the blues.
5. Keith Urban is a country icon from down under.
With his string of number-one hits, his role as a judge on American Idol, and his high-profile marriage to Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban seems like the ultimate Nashville insider. He is one of the most respected and successful artists in modern country music, a genre that is arguably the most American of all. His persona and career are completely intertwined with the USA.
This is why it’s stunning for many to discover he’s not American. Urban was born in New Zealand and grew up in Australia. He moved to Nashville in the 1990s to pursue his dream, eventually becoming one of the biggest names in the genre. He brings a bit of Aussie spirit to the heart of country music.
6. The Bee Gees defined an era of American music but were not from here.
The soaring falsettos of the Bee Gees provided the definitive soundtrack to the American disco era of the 1970s. The success of the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack made them one of the biggest bands in the world, and their sound is forever linked to that specific period of American cultural history. Their influence on American pop, R&B, and dance music is immeasurable.
The Gibb brothers, however, were not American. Barry, Robin, and Maurice were born on the Isle of Man, a British Crown Dependency, and grew up in Manchester, England, before moving to Australia as children. They were a truly international act who just happened to create the sound that defined a generation of Americans.
7. The rock band AC/DC is famously from Australia.
AC/DC’s loud, blues-driven hard rock is pure, uncut rebel music. Their songs are staples at American sporting events, military bases, and dive bars. They are a foundational pillar of rock and roll, a genre born and bred in the USA. Their no-frills, high-voltage sound feels completely at home in the American rock landscape.
Despite their deep integration into American rock culture, the band was famously formed in Sydney, Australia, by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young, who were originally from Scotland. The band’s raw power and international appeal made them global superstars, but their roots will always be firmly planted down under.
8. The singer Lorde is a proud product of New Zealand.
When Lorde burst onto the scene with her mega-hit “Royals,” her minimalist, intelligent pop was a breath of fresh air. She quickly became a global phenomenon and a major voice in alternative pop music, a space often dominated by American and British artists. Her sound and lyrical themes resonated deeply with an American audience.
At just 16 years old when she became a star, many were surprised to learn that Ella Yelich-O’Connor, known professionally as Lorde, is from Auckland, New Zealand. She wrote and recorded her groundbreaking debut album in her home country, proving that a world-changing sound can come from anywhere.
9. Olivia Newton-John was an icon of American pop culture.
From her role as the wholesome Sandy in the classic American musical Grease to her string of country-pop and soft-rock hits, Olivia Newton-John was a beloved icon in the United States for decades. She seamlessly transitioned between genres, won multiple Grammy Awards, and became a symbol of 70s and 80s American pop culture.
It’s easy to forget that she wasn’t American. Olivia was born in Cambridge, England, and moved to Melbourne, Australia, with her family at the age of six. It was from Australia that she launched her international career, eventually becoming an adopted daughter of the American music and film industries.
10. The soulful singer James Bay is from England.
With his signature hat, emotional lyrics, and folk-rock sound, James Bay fits right in with the American singer-songwriter tradition. His music, including hits like “Hold Back the River,” has a raw, heartfelt quality that aligns with artists like Ray LaMontagne or Amos Lee. His style and sound feel perfectly suited for an intimate coffeehouse in Nashville or Austin.
This is why many listeners are surprised to find out he is from Hitchin, a historic market town in Hertfordshire, England. Like many British artists before him, he grew up soaking in American blues, soul, and folk music, which he then reinterpreted with his own unique voice to great international success.
11. Gotye’s smash hit came from a Belgian-Australian artist.
The song “Somebody That I Used to Know” was an inescapable global phenomenon. The haunting duet, with its quirky xylophone hook and raw emotional vulnerability, took over American radio and became one of the best-selling digital singles of all time. The artist, Gotye, became a household name overnight.
Given the song’s massive success in the U.S., many assumed he was American. In reality, Gotye’s name is Wouter “Wally” De Backer. He was born in Bruges, Belgium, and moved to Australia with his family when he was two years old. His unique sound is a product of his diverse background and independent music spirit.
12. Bad Bunny represents the proud nation of Puerto Rico.
As one of the biggest music stars on the planet, Bad Bunny has brought Latin trap and reggaeton to the forefront of global pop music. He sells out stadiums across the United States and dominates American streaming charts. His deep integration into the U.S. market might lead some to categorize him simply as an American artist.
However, Benito Martínez Ocasio is fiercely proud of his identity as a Puerto Rican. While Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, the island has a distinct national and cultural identity. Bad Bunny records his music entirely in Spanish and is a vocal advocate for Puerto Rican issues, representing his island’s unique culture on the world stage.
13. The pop star Ellie Goulding hails from England.
Ellie Goulding’s brand of electropop and her distinctive, breathy voice have made her a mainstay on American Top 40 radio for years. With massive hits like “Lights” and “Love Me Like You Do,” her music blends perfectly with the landscape of American pop music. She has collaborated with numerous American artists and has become a familiar voice to millions of listeners.
This seamless integration makes it easy to assume she is American, but she is actually from Hereford, England. Her success is a great example of how the British pop sound has become so intertwined with the American market that the lines have become beautifully blurred for many listeners.