Most Google-Searched Personalities In Texas Revealed

AUSTIN, TX — What do Willie Nelson, Kat von D, J.J. Watt and Ted Cruz have in common? They are the most searched public figures searched on Google in the state of Texas, according to a new survey.

Dana Rebecca Designs assembled the most-searched people on the search engine per state. Among celebrities, music icon Willie Nelson still holds sway as one of the most searched celebs. The results yield a portal into the collective mind of a state's denizens and what piques their interest. In short, it's a snapshot of a particular region's zeitgeist.

With that as a barometer, it's somewhat fascinating stuff. I mean, who knew that Kirstie Alley would emerge as the most-searched name in Kansas? What to make of fashion model/actress Amber Valletta being the most-searched name in Oklahoma? What's the deal with Arizonians furious search for all things David Spade?

In Texas, the most popular search name among celebrities is Katherine von Drachenberg, better known as Kat von D. It's somewhat understandable than others given the varied interests she embodies: Entrepreneurship, model, musician, television personality and tattoo artist. Nationwide, Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Bella Thorne took the top five spots in terms of Google searches.

In the realm of athletics, Justine James (J.J.) Watt was the most-searched sports figure in Texas. A defensive end for the Houston Texans, Watt has made recent headlines after breaking his leg in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs. It's the second year in a row Watt has been on the injury reserve list after having back surgery in 2016.

Nationally, the most computer-aided searches among athletes were: Conor McGregor, Lebron James, Tom Brady, Stephen Curry and Kryie Irving.

Searches for musicians were also surveyed, yielding the top five nationally: Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez, Beyonce and Justin Bieber the top five, respectively. In Texas, it's no young whippersnapper commanding the most searches, but 84-year-old Willie Nelson who's practically become the patron saint of Texas by this point. He's the most-searched because, well, he's Willie Nelson. Who doesn't love Willie Nelson?

In a nation where Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Bernie Sanders and Mike Pence are the most popular search subjects across the political landscape, Rafael Edward "Ted" Cruz clinched the top spot in Texas. No stranger to making headlines, Cruz lately has been the subject of news given a fortified effort to unseat him in the U.S. Senate.

Youthful Robert Francis "Beto" O'Rourke, congressman for Texas's 16th congressional district in his native El Paso, Texas, has announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate held by Cruz in the 2018 U.S. federal midterm election. Supporters of O'Rourke, a Democrat, were buoyed by the recent senatorial election in Alabama that saw one from their own party elected to the U.S. Senate for the first time in 25 years. Like Alabama, Texas is a deeply red state with a Legislature controlled by member of the GOP. The imminent Cruz-O'Rourke contest is already being viewed as a potential barometer of political shifts in the Lone Star State.

>>> Top image via Shutterstock, graphics courtesy of Dana Rebecca Designs