Kirk Cameron is yet another celebrity who has fled California in pursuit of more conservative policies. It was a big change for Cameron, who was born and raised in California, and raised his own family in the Golden State. That all changed in 2024, however, when Cameron and his family, including his six children, decided to leave the state. Speaking on the Adam Carolla Podcast, he said his adult children began to feel the pinch of rising costs in California.

“When you’re a kid in California it’s great because your parents are paying for everything. So, you go to the beach, you’re hanging out, you’re going snow skiing, you get to eat an In-N-Out burger, you get to get some, you know, hot dogs downtown in Hollywood. It’s great. You’re having a good time,” he said, reflecting on his children’s carefree childhood days. For his adult children, it made them realize that California politics was making it too difficult to raise a family. “So all of a sudden it’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, we got to move. We got to go someplace where we can actually thrive and maybe even just survive,’” Cameron said.

In Nashville, Cameron has been able to find more like-minded people and governance. He also spoke about the booming creative industry in the Nashville area, which has sometimes been referred to as “the Hollywood of the South.” “There’s so many creatives here that have good values,” he said. “They love their family. They’re proud of their country — and the whiskey is great. So, if you like whiskey and hot chicken, Nashville is the place to be.”

Cameron previously spoke to The Washington Examiner about his decision to move, saying“it’s pretty clear that California has been moving in a particular direction for a long time.” The Los Angeles mayoral race has gained national attention as registered Republican Spencer Pratt has gained traction against incumbent Karen Bass. Pratt’s platform has focused on the city’s rising costs, as well as its homelessness and drug problem. Cameron said many Californians are finding refuge in places like Tennessee. “It’s shocking how many Californians are here,” he told The Examiner. “And when I see them in the grocery store, I tell them, ‘Don’t California our Tennessee.’”

Cameron hasn’t completely written off California. He lamented how he missed the state’s weather. “Because pound-for-pound, I think California has just so much to offer,” he said. While he’s in Tennessee for now, he hopes he can return to the Golden State someday.