america meredith was born in 1972 to howard meredith, a cherokee author and american indian studies professor, and mary ellen meredith, a cherokee museum director and curator. meredith's maternal grandfather was william thomas milam, a cherokee photographer and aeronautical engineer from oklahoma. w. t. milam's uncle was j. b. milam, the principal chief of the cherokee nation, and his great-uncle was will rogers, a cherokee humorist, actor, and movie producer. meredith was named for will roger's mother, mary america schrimpsher rogers.