People from all walks of life visit Pigeon Forge everyday: You never know who’ll you meet! Sometimes celebrity guests blend into the crowds; sometimes they stand out. In the case of 7-foot-1 NBA great Shaquille O’Neal, it’s nearly impossible to go unnoticed.



The super-sized hoops star was in town this week, celebrating his 41st birthday watching the old-fashioned family feud at the Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Show on March 6. Knoxville.com blogger Terry Morrow broke the story about Shaq's appearance.

According to the report, the basketball legend kept a low-profile at the show and didn’t have a souvenir photo made at the door as other guests do. O’Neal and girlfriend Nicole “Hoopz” Alexander took in the show and dined on favorites including chicken, barbeque and soup. The couple also celebrated with four house birthday cakes.

Shaq and Alexander have a home in Maryville, according to reports. Though the star is often away on business, he's occasionally spotted roaming the aisles at Lowe's and other Blount County spots.  The former pro baller considers himself a local and has told Knoxville's News Sentinel that the public has always been gracious to him.

Right now, the self-proclaimed “world’s tallest geek” is making the rounds at SXSW in Austin, Texas. Keep up with O’Neal and his “random acts of Shaqness” by following him on Twitter, @SHAQ.

Have you ever spotted a celeb in Pigeon Forge? Tell us about your meeting in the comments or e-mail laura@pigeonforge.com. We’ll share your stories in an upcoming post!