7 Midwest-Born Stars with Amazing Bodies

The Midwest is home to more genres of music you might think, from Motown originating in Detroit, to the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame being located in Cleveland. Also, a slew of iconic musicians are from the Midwest. Madonna is from Detroit, Elle King is from Ohio, and Janelle Monae is from Kansas City. How do these stars stay so fit? Read on to see all the ways singers from the Midwest stay in shape and the photos that prove they work.

1. Madonna

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Madonna is originally from Detroit. She works with personal trainer, Craig Smith, to help her stay in shape. "Madonna does five to six workouts weekly that vary on a daily basis and focus on a variety of methods and training modalities,” Smith revealed in an interview with Glamour. “Her workouts include dance, resistance training, interval training, yoga, barre workouts, Pilates, aerobics, athletic conditioning, and circuit training."

2. Haley Reinhart

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Haley Reinhart is originally from Wheeling, Illinois. She tells Forbes that she wants to be a source of positivity for others. “I feel like I have several callings and one of them is to be a light warrior for whoever I can reach. There's a lot of people out there who are told even to feel sadder than they have to be. Like s**t's bad enough. So I'm trying to overcome what I'm dealing with, spread love and peace however cliche it sounds. That is the bottom line message for everything that I've put out. So I'd rather focus on that; help people reach their higher selves, their higher consciousness, and just focus on that especially at the shows. When we're together, I feel that energy bouncing back and forth. It depends what kind of energy you want to put out there, but I'd rather be uplifting powerfully.”

3. Sheryl Crow

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Sheryl Crow is originally from Missouri. She shared some of her wellness secrets in an interview with Shape Magazine. Crow likes to practice meditation. "One of the things that has changed my life—and this comes from someone who was highly self-critical and a type-A personality—is meditating. The simple act of making my brain shut off for 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes at night may not seem like much, but what ends up happening, besides creating space in your day, is your awake posture begins to replicate your meditative posture.”

4. Jennifer Hudson

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Jennifer Hudson is from Illinois. She shared her favorite skincare products with The Strategist. “Skincare is one of the most important things to me,” Hudson said. “This Olay moisturizer takes care of everything: It moisturizes and delivers retinol, so it keeps skin hydrated and plump. It’s a great price, too, for everything you’re getting. It’s been a huge part of my regimen. I started using retinol a few years ago — I can’t remember exactly when — and have been very consistent with it. I haven’t stopped because it really makes a big difference in my skin.”

5. Janelle Monae

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Janelle Monae is originally from Kansas. She shared how her performance schedule affects what she needs to eat to Bon Appetit. “Because our shows are so high energy, if I eat too close to performing I can get a cramp. So I try to eat maybe three hours before. I used to eat the same meal before every show: chicken, rice, and green beans. People were like, You really are some sort of android robot.”

6. Da Brat

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Rapper Da Brat is from Chicago originally. She is a member of the LGBTQ community, and talked about coming out in an interview with Buzzfeed. “I didn't care what people thought, and I came out no matter what the consequences were gonna be. And then, after I did, it was as if a weight lifted, and the world was just a better place. It was just more colorful and more love, and so many people supported me. I feel like they love me even more, which was great because I was scared. But you know, I met somebody that inspired me to not give a fuck, actually. I wanted the world to know [that] I'm in love with this woman — like, I want to hold her hand in public. I had never been able to be publicly affectionate with anybody or anything like that. So it was just a good, good feeling. I felt like a snake that shed his skin and got some new skin.”

7. Sara Evans

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Sara Evans is originally from Missouri. She revealed that she loves to cook for her family in an interview with Redbook. "We're kind of food snobs — not in the sense that we eat fancy food, but just that we don't like restaurant food that much," says Evans. "So I like to try to cook at least three nights a week, just to feel better about myself as a mom. And it's much less expensive, you know what you're getting, you know what you're feeding them."

8. Ava Max

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Ava Max was born in Milwaukee. She shared her favorite essentials in an interview with GQ. Max loves pistachios as a healthy snack option. “I feel like I'm always hungry. And lately I've been trying like the whole gluten free diet. And so I don't have crackers anymore on me. So I always have some kind of nuts. That sounds so weird. Some kind of nut, but pistachios in my bag. Unshelled, unsalted. If they're too salty then my cheeks go from like left to right. Like I just look like, you know. Pistachios are my jam.”

9. SZA

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SZA is from St. Louis, Missouri. She revealed to Refinery29 that she likes to use natural skincare products. “I have to choose products that I can find in nature. I have cystic acne, so I use a Manuka honey mask to combat it and hemp oil to smooth out the surface of my skin. I also use a Vitamin C serum and black soap, and that's it. If I go to the dermatologist and get a peel, she prescribes me shit after, but I don't use it. My skin goes crazy, and I break out."

10. Betty Who

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Betty Who spent a portion of her childhood in Michigan. In an interview with Schon Magazine, she talked about her life and career. “I think I spent a lot of time in the early years of my career trying to learn how to be in the business. I always knew how to write songs and sing – that’s never been the thing I needed help with. I’ve gotten better as I’ve honed my craft, but the thing I had no idea how to do was be a successful business person. How could I have? I was 21 when I signed my record deal with Sony. There has been a lot of trial and error, and a lot of that had to do with my identity: I was writing music to serve this greater entity that was my business as opposed to trying to be an artist and lean into the creative part of me.”

11. Taylor Momsen

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Taylor Momsen is originally from Missouri. In an interview with Buzzfeed, the Pretty Reckless frontwoman talked about how music helped with her depression. “I know it sounds really cliché, but it was rock ’n’ roll and music that pulled me out of it, and I eventually got to a place where I could start listening to records again.”

12. Tatiana Hazel

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Tatiana Hazel is originally from Chicago. She shared where her inspirations come from in an interview with Alt Press. “I am super inspired and impacted creatively just by traveling in general, so any time I would visit a place for a couple of weeks, it would change my perspective. So definitely moving and just being surrounded by different things every day and meeting new people who listen to different kinds of music, I know that it’s had a huge influence just based on the things I’m writing about and the things I see every day.”

13. Janet Jackson

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Janet Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana. She works with trainer, Paulette Sybliss, to help her stay in shape. Sybliss talked about getting Jackson in shape for her tour to E! News. “We had a very vigorous training schedule. We were training a minimum of four times a week and the sessions were never less than 45 minutes, no more than an hour. Very intense, though. Very intense training."

14. Michelle Williams

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The Destiny’s Child member is from Illinois. Williams likes to work out for her mental health. She talked about this in the caption of this Instagram post. “May is Mental Health Awareness Month. A part of taking care of your mental health is fitness/working out! I know there will be at least one comment that says ‘Michelle, you’re slim so you don’t need to work out.’ I actually work out because of how I feel afterwards.”

15. Hailey Whitters

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Hailey Whitters is originally from Iowa. She talked about writing her album The Dream to Parkrecord.com. “I wanted to show that process from me being a broken-hearted waitress to where I am now with all the bucket-list moments that I had originally given up on,” she said. “So I collaborated with some key artists who have had a big hand in my success these last two years. I wanted to show fans this is what can happen if you don’t give up, stay on course and follow that dream.”

16. Jana Kramer

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Country star, actress, and podcast host, Jana Kramer, is originally from Michigan. She opened up about her approach to fitness in an interview with Us Weekly. “Working out has always helped my mood and energy. When I don’t, I’m crabbier. I like this pregnancy so much better than the first one just because I feel healthier. It really does help the mind.”

17. Anastacia

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The “I’m Outta Love” singer was born in Chicago. Anastacia shared her favorite workout secrets in an interview with Express. “Yoga has been a lifesaver because I have two herniated discs in my spine and it really helps me to stay flexible. I’m quite active on stage, so that’s my workout rather than going to a gym. I only enjoy the gym when I have a trainer and a schedule.”

18. Keke Palmer

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Keke Palmer was born and raised in Illinois. Her trainer, Corey Calliet, tells E! News that she does a lot of weight training. "A lot of women run away from weight training. But when [Keke] comes to the gym, we do 20 minutes of warming up, then we go into functional training, such as doing a back and a leg workout."

19. Sutton Foster

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Actress, singer, and Broadway star, Sutton Foster was raised in Troy, Michigan. In an interview with Parade, she described her daily routine. Foster typically works out in the morning “I do Body by Simone, a dance-based workout. I do one-on-one trainings with a trainer there named Beth Nicely, but I also take classes. I also love to spin at Soul Cycle. Those are my go-tos!”

20. Elle King

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Elle King is originally from Ohio. She talked about opening up and finding support for her mental health on social media to Vogue. “I was really just reaching out for anything—any kind of response. What I got was this beautiful flush of connection and people saying, ‘I hear you,’ and sharing their stories with me. I realized then that when you’re honest and vulnerable and genuine, people will accept you.”

The hit series "FBI" showcases not only gripping crime narratives but also a cast of stars with incredible bodies and unique fitness approaches. From Missy Peregrym's love for athletic roles to Alana de la Garza's trust in her creative process, these actors bring more than just their acting chops to the screen. Sela Ward's poolside laps, Zeeko Zaki's protein-powered transformation, Vedette Lim's desert hikes, and Ebonee Noel's technical dialogue mastery all contribute to their on-screen personas. Even Connie Nielsen's thoughtfully curated diet reflects her commitment to holistic well-being. Join us in exploring the inspiring physical journeys of these "FBI" stars.

1. Missy Peregrym

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2. Alana de la Garza

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Alana de la Garza talked about what she likes about starring in FBIin an interview. “There is something really relaxing about that creative process when you trust the people you work with and you’re able to perform. If you’re able to take words off a page and, luckily, the words that are on our pages are just incredible. The storytellers that we have that are writing these scripts are so good that you can trust that and you’re able to feel creatively complete by trusting the other characters on the show who are also your friends. There is something relaxing about that.”

3. Sela Ward

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Sela Ward loves to swim to stay in shape. She shared this photo on Facebook of herself in the pool after doing laps. She captioned the photo, “Got my laps in for the day! Can someone hand me a towel, please?”

4. Zeeko Zaki

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Zeeko Zaki talked about his weight loss in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. "The craziest part was just being kind of a different person every year. You get like 10 lbs. a year, I wanted to do it slow," Zaki explained. "But my biggest tip and the thing that I walked away from was a little trick I learned from The 4-Hour Body by Timothy Ferriss — 30 grams of protein within 30 minutes of waking up. So give it a shot."

5. Vedette Lim

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Vedette Lim spends a lot of time outside. Naturally, she likes to do outdoor workouts to keep herself in shape. Lim posted this photo on Instagram of herself going on a hike in the deserts of Arizona. She captioned it, “A visit to my birth state.”

6. Ebonee Noel

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Ebonee Noel has worked with Dick Wolf in both FBI and Law & Order SVU. She talked about her process with playing her roles in an interview with One Chicago. “I tried to make the technical dialogue be as interesting as possible when delivering it, because I know some of the stuff, I got the script and it’s like what am I talking about here? If I don’t know what I’m talking about, the audience is going to have no idea what I’m talking about. So it’s just fleshing out that jargon and trying to find her joy in figuring these things out.”

7. Connie Nielsen

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In a 2014 interview with Parade, Connie Nielsen talked about her diet. “For breakfast, I eat organic food with high fat content, such as whole milk yogurt, nuts, seeds, fresh fruit and a scrambled egg. I cook it in organic grape seed oil for its high omega content. I drink a cappuccino for its dose of milk and the coffee for its taste, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. At lunch, I might eat smoked salmon with a slice of Mozzarella di Bufala, made from the milk of domestic water buffalo, along with avocado.”