Billy Bob Thornton, Adia Victoria, Jericho Brown, David Joy and Mary Steenburgen reveal their bonds with the South and the imprint the region has made on their lives and work.

Six of the South’s most influential creators take us home to the places that define them: author Angie Thomas, singer/songwriters Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires, author Michael Twitty, country legend Lyle Lovett, and screenwriter Qui Nguyen.

Some of the South’s most influential creators take us to the places that feed their imaginations: author Jesmyn Ward, screenwriter Michael Waldron, poet Natasha Trethewey, and songwriters Justin Moore, Tarriona “Tank” Ball and Thao Nguyen.