Alice Hegan Rice, also known as Alice Caldwell Hegan, was an American novelist. Born Alice Caldwell Hegan in Shelbyville, Kentucky, she wrote over two dozen books, the most famous of which is Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch. The book was a best seller in 1902 and is set in Louisville, Kentucky where she then lived. It was made into a successful play in 1903, and there were three Hollywood movie versions of it. The best known is the 1934 film that starred Pauline Lord and W.C. Fields.

Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch (1901), The Inky Way (1940) and Happiness Road (1942) were autobiographical works.

She was born Alice Caldwell Hegan in Shelbyville, Kentucky on 11 January 1870, and died in Louisville, Kentucky on 10 February 1942. She was granted two honorary Litt.D. degrees, the first from from Rollins College in 1928, and the second from the University of Louisville in 1937.

She was married to poet and dramatist Cale Young Rice. They had no children. The house they lived in at 1444 St. James Court is still standing. She was a niece of Frances Little .