20 celebrities who went to high school in Detroit
Every city is proud of its successful residents, and Detroit is home to an especially talented group of people who are artistic, athletic, smart, and much more. Here's a list of celebs who not only lived here for a time, but also graduated from one of our high schools.
Scroll down to view images
Aaliyah
Singer, actress, model
Detroit High School for the Fine and Performing Arts
The young star sold millions of records in the 1990s and early 2000s, and starred in the films Romeo Must Die and Queen of the Damned before a plane crash in the Bahamas ended her life at age 22.
Photo via Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock
Aretha Franklin
Singer, songwriter, pianist, civil rights activist
Northern High School
R-E-S-P-E-C-T is all we have for the Queen of Soul. Aretha Franklin has 112 charted singles, along with dozens of awards. She was also a civil rights activist and philanthropist. In August 2018, she died of a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, and was given a heartfelt public funeral in Detroit.
Photo via JStone / Shutterstock
Black Milk
Rapper, songwriter, record producer
Cooley High School
Curtis Cross, also known as Black Milk, has been rapping for almost two decades. He has collaborated with artists such as Danny Brown, J Dilla, and RZA.
Photo via
Screengrab / YouTube
Alice Coltrane
Jazz musician/composer, harpist, swamini
Cass Technical High School
In the early '70s, Alice Coltrane was a bandleader for “Impulse!” She was also known for playing the harp and creating music with her husband, John Coltrane. Later in her life, she became a swami. In 2007, she died of respiratory failure at the age of 69.
Photo via
Screengrab / YouTube
Anita Baker
Singer and songwriter
Central High School
With many gold and platinum records as well as Grammy Awards, Anita Baker has won dozens of accolades for her contemporary R&B music.
Photo via DFree / Shutterstock
David Alan Grier
Actor and comedian
Cass Technical High School
Detroit native David Alan Grier is known for his sketch comedy show, In Living Color. He also played Jackie Robinson in the Broadway musical, The First.
Photo via Jamie Lamor Thompson / Shutterstock
Jack White
Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer
Cass Technical High School
After hitting it big with his band the White Stripes in the early 2000s, Jack White has become one of the most celebrated figures in rock.
Photo via MPH PHOTOS / Shutterstock
Dej Loaf
Rapper, singer, songwriter
Southeastern High School
Deja Trimble, also known as Dej Loaf, is known for her hit singles, “Try Me” and “Back Up” with Big Sean. She has released four mixtapes in the last eight years.
Photo via
Screengrab / YouTube
Diana Ross
Singer, actress, record producer
Cass Technical High School
Diana Ross is a Motown legacy. She was the lead singer of the Supremes, and released 12 No. 1 singles. After going solo, she has remained one of the most popular singers.
Photo via Tinseltown / Shutterstock
John Conyers
Politician, longest Black member serving in U.S. Congress, civil rights activist
Northwestern High School
Born and raised in Detroit, John Conyers served as a Michigan Representative for almost 40 years, co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus, and was a civil rights activist. He died of natural causes in October 2019.
Photo via
Screengrab / YouTube
