Survey Results

Below are the top 100 sorted according to who received the most votes.

 

Key Findings

Some interesting patterns emerged when analyzing the data.

 

Famous artists take the lead

Demonstrating the power of music and literature and how artistry touches people’s imaginations and souls, the top 10 celebrities identified in the survey as leading choices to be buried next to included four famous artists.

As the number one survey choice, the music of Elvis Presley continues to inspire fans long after his death because of his unforgettable voice and iconic style.

Johnny Cash held the fourth spot due to his rebel spirit and resonant music.

Fans also paid homage to Whitney Houston as the number five choice, as her powerful voice and music live on in the hearts and minds of many.

Musicians were not the only artists people wanted to be buried by. Edgar Allen Poe, the famous horror writer, cinched the seventh spot in the top-10 list.

 

Select politicians continue to inspire

While politicians today might generally not have strong reputations, Americans continue to be inspired by some of the political greats of our collective past.

Abraham Lincoln, the much-revered 16th President of the United States who fearlessly led the nation through the Civil War and ended slavery, secured the second spot in the top-10 list of who respondents wanted to be buried next to.

George Washington, the nation’s first U.S. President and hero of the American Revolutionary War, came in right behind Lincoln to take third.

John F. Kennedy, the 35th President who brought a hopeful and enduring vision for America’s future before he was tragically assassinated, was named the sixth top celebrity people want to be buried beside.

 

Americans show respect to civil rights icons

Americans gave a nod to those who fought for their civil rights and identified three leaders whose work to end injustice for minorities has left an indelible mark on civil society.

Civil rights icons rounded out the top 10 list of celebrities people want to be buried by, taking the eighth, ninth, and 10th spots.

Martin Luther King, Jr., was named eighth on the list because of his work to achieve equal rights for Black people and a world where unity and justice prevail.

MLK, Jr. was followed by Rosa Parks, another icon from the civil rights era, for her quiet courage and dignity in advocating for the rights of Black Americans.

Finally, Susan B. Anthony, who fought for women’s voting rights, took the 10th spot.

 

Final Thoughts

Our survey shows the enduring legacy of celebrities from the arts, politics, and civil rights.

Americans continue to draw inspiration from those who made significant contributions to the cultural environment in the U.S. long after they have been gone.

These findings demonstrate the qualities Americans value and what they want current leaders to emulate going forward.

 

Methodology

We conducted an online panel survey of 3,128 adults based on age, gender, and geography. We used a two-step process to ensure representativeness through stratified sampling and post-stratification weighting.

Respondents are carefully chosen from a geographically representative online panel of double opt-in members. This selection is further tailored to meet the precise criteria required for each unique survey. Throughout the survey, we design questions to screen and authenticate respondents carefully, guaranteeing the alignment of the study with the ideal participants.

We employ an array of data quality methods to ensure the integrity of our data collection. Alongside conventional measures like digital fingerprinting, bot checks, geo-verification, speeding detection, etc., each response undergoes a thorough review by a dedicated team member to ensure quality and contextual accuracy. Our commitment extends to open-ended responses, subjecting them to scrutiny for gibberish answers and plagiarism detection.