20 Musicians Often Assumed To Be American And Their Actual Nationalities
Think you can guess where your favorite artists are from just by how they sound? Think again.
Plenty of chart-topping performers we hear on American radio actually grew up oceans away. Familiar accents and hit songs can make them feel homegrown, but their roots tell a different story.
Get ready to meet the global stars hiding in plain sight on your playlists.
Important: Nationalities, citizenship status, and residency can be complex, and some artists hold dual citizenship or live in multiple countries, so details may change over time. This article is provided for general informational and entertainment purposes and is not legal, financial, or professional advice.
1. Céline Dion
If you’ve ever belted out “My Heart Will Go On” in the shower, you were channeling pure Canadian power.
Céline grew up in Charlemagne, Quebec, speaking French as her first language. Her voice became the soundtrack to countless American movies and weddings, making people forget she’s from north of the border.
Despite living in Las Vegas for years and dominating American charts, she remains proudly Canadian. Her success proves that talent transcends borders, even when your accent doesn’t always give away your roots.
2. Drake
Toronto’s biggest musical export began at the bottom before becoming a constant presence on American radio. Connections to U.S. hip hop culture run deep, shaped by Atlanta influences and even a Miami condo purchase early in his career.
However, Canadian identity has always remained central to his story. Born Aubrey Graham, he grew up in Toronto’s Forest Hill neighborhood and frequently nods to those roots in his lyrics.
Success as a Toronto native topping American charts highlights how smoothly Canadian artists can thrive in the U.S. music scene while still honoring their heritage.
3. The Weeknd
His music screams Los Angeles nights and American R&B vibes. The Weeknd’s dark, atmospheric sound feels like it was born in California studios, but Abel Tesfaye actually grew up in Scarborough, Ontario.
Toronto shaped his musical identity more than Hollywood ever could. His Ethiopian-Canadian background adds layers to his artistry that pure American experiences couldn’t provide.
When he sings about city lights, he’s often thinking of Toronto’s skyline, not just the Hollywood Hills that fans imagine.
4. Justin Bieber
Maybe the most surprising Canadian on this list, considering how thoroughly American his career feels!
Bieber was discovered on YouTube as a kid from Stratford, Ontario, a small town far from the glitz of Los Angeles. His manager Scooter Braun brought him to Atlanta, where he recorded his first hits, creating the illusion of American origins.
Though he lives in the U.S. now and married an American, Justin still holds Canadian citizenship. His small-town Canadian upbringing shaped the polite, hockey-loving guy beneath the pop star persona.
5. Shania Twain
Country music feels as American as apple pie, right?
Shania Twain’s massive success in Nashville made everyone assume she was born in Tennessee or Texas. Actually, she hails from Windsor, Ontario, and grew up in Timmins, a mining town in northern Ontario.
Her crossover appeal brought country music to pop audiences worldwide. Despite becoming country royalty in America, Shania’s Canadian roots influenced her sound, blending traditional country with a more international pop sensibility that made her a global superstar.
6. Avril Lavigne
Skateboard vibes and punk rock attitude made Avril seem like she had rolled straight out of California. Her debut album “Let Go” took over American airwaves with “Sk8er Boi” and “Complicated,” building a persona that felt unmistakably American.
In reality, she grew up in Belleville, Ontario, singing in church and performing at local country fairs. That Canadian upbringing gave her a fresh perspective on American youth culture, which she transformed into catchy pop punk anthems.
Those songs helped define the early 2000s for teenagers everywhere.
7. Alanis Morissette
When “Jagged Little Pill” exploded onto the scene, many listeners assumed the voice behind those raw, confessional songs must be American.
Alanis grew up in Ottawa, Canada’s capital, before moving to Los Angeles to record her breakthrough album. Her raw, confessional style felt like it came from the heart of American alternative rock.
However, she started as a Canadian pop star before reinventing herself. That transformation from Canadian teen idol to American alternative icon shows how artists can bridge cultures while maintaining their original identity beneath the surface.
8. Bryan Adams
Anthems like “Summer of ’69” feel as if they were written about long American teenage summers. Bryan Adams’ raspy voice and no frills rock sound turned him into a fixture on American classic rock radio.
Birth in Kingston, Ontario, followed by a childhood in Vancouver, ties him firmly to Canada’s music scene despite frequent confusion.
Stories about youth and rebellion travel easily across borders, yet many grew from Canadian experiences.
Global success followed, with millions of records sold while he consistently held onto his Canadian identity.
9. Adele
Absolutely everyone knows Adele’s powerful voice, but not everyone realizes she’s British, not American!
Her soulful sound draws heavily from American R&B and blues traditions, making the confusion understandable. Born in Tottenham, London, Adele grew up listening to Etta James and Ella Fitzgerald, absorbing American soul music.
Her London accent comes through in interviews, but when she sings, the influence of American genres dominates. That blend of British authenticity and American musical tradition created a sound that conquered charts on both sides of the Atlantic.
10. Ed Sheeran
Acoustic pop melodies and constant collaborations with U.S. artists make Ed seem almost homegrown to American listeners. Far from that scene, Sheeran actually grew up in Framlingham, Suffolk, England, well outside the American music industry.
Even so, his songs play everywhere on American radio.
Storytelling lyrics and guitar driven arrangements fit neatly with American tastes, giving him effortless crossover appeal.
While splitting time between England and the United States today, he still carries strong British roots, showing how artists can conquer American pop without losing their original identity or accent.
11. Dua Lipa
Dance-pop perfection with a voice that commands attention – Dua Lipa sounds like she could be from anywhere.
Born in London to Kosovar-Albanian parents, Dua was born in London and spent part of her childhood in Pristina, Kosovo, before returning to London as a teenager. Her international background gives her music a global feel that transcends any single nationality.
American audiences embraced her disco-influenced pop sound without realizing she’s thoroughly British. Her success proves that modern pop music is truly international, with artists drawing from multiple cultures to create something universally appealing and fresh.
12. Sia
That powerhouse voice behind hits like “Chandelier” belongs to an Australian, not an American.
Sia Furler started her career in Adelaide, Australia, singing in local bands before moving to England and eventually Los Angeles. Her distinctive voice and songwriting talents made her a behind-the-scenes hitmaker before her own stardom.
Many assume she’s American because she writes for so many American pop stars. Her face-hiding persona with the blonde wig adds mystery, making her nationality even less obvious to casual fans who just know her incredible vocal performances.
13. Kylie Minogue
Pop royalty from down under began as an Australian soap opera actress before taking over music charts worldwide. A bubbly pop sound and infectious dance tracks made her a star in Europe and America, even if many listeners never realized she was Australian.
Born and raised in Melbourne, Kylie stands as a proud example of Australian pop success.
Decades in the spotlight brought constant reinvention that kept her relevant across multiple generations.
Although she enjoys greater fame in Europe than in the United States, her impact on pop remains undeniable, and her Australian accent still surprises some American fans who only know the music.
14. Iggy Azalea
Perhaps the most confusing case on this list – an Australian rapper who sounds completely American! Iggy moved from Mullumbimby, New South Wales, to the United States at sixteen to pursue hip-hop.
Her adopted Southern American accent in her raps fooled everyone.
Critics debated whether her accent was authentic or appropriation, but few questioned whether she was American at all. Her story shows how thoroughly artists can adopt American hip-hop culture, even when they’re from the other side of the world, creating fascinating questions about authenticity and cultural exchange.
15. Lorde
“Royals” criticized American consumerism so effectively that everyone assumed she must be American herself.
Lorde grew up in Auckland, New Zealand, observing American culture from the outside. Her outsider perspective gave her lyrics a unique critical edge that resonated with American teenagers tired of mainstream excess.
Ella Yelich-O’Connor was only sixteen when “Royals” topped American charts. Her New Zealand upbringing provided the distance needed to comment on American culture authentically, making her critique more powerful than if she’d been born in the States.
16. Shakira
Those hips don’t lie, and neither does her Colombian passport!
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll hails from Barranquilla, Colombia, where she started performing as a child. Her crossover from Latin music to English-language pop made her a global superstar, especially in America.
Many Americans discovered her through English hits without realizing her Spanish-language career came first. Her blend of Latin rhythms, Middle Eastern influences from her Lebanese heritage, and pop sensibilities created a sound that feels international rather than specifically Colombian or American.
17. Enrique Iglesias
Born in Madrid, Spain, Enrique moved to Miami as a child after a family security scare and built his career while living in the U.S. His father, Julio Iglesias, is Spanish music royalty, giving Enrique an international upbringing.
Miami’s Latin music scene shaped his sound perfectly.
His English-language crossover hits dominated American radio, making people forget his Spanish origins. Living in Miami for decades and singing in both English and Spanish created the perfect illusion of American identity, but he remains proudly Spanish throughout his massively successful international career.
18. Björk
Icelandic experimental artist Björk creates music so unique it transcends nationality entirely. Reykjavik’s tiny music scene couldn’t contain her creativity, pushing her toward international recognition.
Her avant-garde approach to pop music influenced countless American artists.
While she’s clearly not American to anyone paying attention, her presence in American alternative music is so strong that casual fans might not think about her origins. Iceland’s isolation and natural beauty deeply influence her artistic vision, creating soundscapes that feel otherworldly rather than tied to any specific country or culture.
19. Stromae
Belgian artist Stromae first dominated French speaking markets before gaining wider international recognition, including more visibility in the U.S. Born Paul Van Haver in Brussels, he mixes electronic music with hip hop and elements of chanson française.
His breakout hit “Alors on danse” went on to become a global phenomenon.
Listeners who found him through international collaborations may not realize he is Belgian rather than French or American.
A bilingual background and distinctive sound highlight modern European pop at its strongest, proving artists from smaller countries can earn worldwide acclaim while preserving cultural identity and language.
20. Calvin Harris
Electronic dance music’s biggest name is Scottish, not American, despite dominating Las Vegas residencies. Born Adam Wiles in Dumfries, Scotland, Calvin moved to London before conquering American dance floors.
His productions for American pop stars made him seem homegrown.
Collaborations with Rihanna, Dua Lipa, and countless others cemented his place in American pop culture. However, he’s Scottish through and through, representing the UK’s massive influence on electronic dance music worldwide and proving that DJs and producers can shape American music from across the Atlantic.
