7 Claim to Fame
No. 1 MO’ MONEY - Low Cost of Living
Cookeville is rated as having the seventh least expensive cost of living in the nation by The Council for Community and Economic Research Cost of Living Index.
No. 2 UP-AND-COMERS - Claiming the Spotlight
Judah & the Lion, whose lead singer, Judah Akers, was born and raised in Cookeville, has had a hit CMT video and has played on the Late Show with David Letterman. Their debut album, “Kids These Days,” has broken into the Billboard Top 20 in two categories and counting.
No. 3 I SAW THE SIGN - Cream City is a National Neon Delight
The iconic Cream City sign was chosen and featured in American Road Magazine as one of the top 100 Favorite Neon Signs in the country.
No. 4 GOING PUBLIC - WCTE-TV
Cookeville is also one of the smallest cities in the nation to have its own PBS station, WCTE-TV, which has produced nationally distributed shows, including “Jammin at Hippie Jack’s,” “Tree Safari” and the Emmy Award winning “Bluegrass Underground.”
No. 5 DOWN BY THE SWIMMING HOLE - Cummins Falls
Cummins Falls, located on the border of Putnam and Jackson counties, was listed as one of the 12 top “secret swimming holes” in North America by USA Today. In addition, it scored Travel + Leisure magazine’s list of 20 “America’s Best Swimming Holes,” made The Adrenalist’s list of the “Best Wild Swimming Holes in the World” and was named by Fox News among the “13 Beautiful Natural Swimming Holes Around the U.S.”
No. 6 SURVIVAL OF ‘THE FITTEST’ - Rich Froning, CrossFit Champion
Cookeville is home to Rich Froning, four-time Reebok CrossFit “Fittest Man on Earth.” Recognized across the globe, Froning continues to put Cookeville on the map as a sports and fitness destination.
No. 7 WINNER, WINNER - Jake Hoot, Winner of The Voice 2019
In 2019, Hoot entered the 17th season of The Voice. In his blind audition, He sang "When It Rains, It Pours" by Luke Combs. Only Kelly Clarkson turned her chair and Jake was defaulted to Team Kelly. He made it to the finale and won the competition on December 17, 2019. Jake has moved into Nashville, TN to continue his music career.
*Information courtesy of Cookeville THE SOURCEBOOK 19th EDITION
