Today’s leading musicians are former teen TV stars. Some of the biggest names in music today first became known through TV. From teen dramas to iconic sitcoms, these starlets used their early TV success to springboard into impressive music careers. Moving from acting to music doesn’t just prove versatility but also the value they hold with the public in reaching them through different genres of entertainment.
The early TV exposure served as a launching pad into the music business. This not only makes them successful actors but also successful musicians. Below are the top 10 musicians who started as TV Stars.
1. Justin Timberlake – ‘The All-New Mickey Mouse Club’
Long before Justin Timberlake was a global pop superstar and member of NSYNC, he was just a regular on ‘The All-New Mickey Mouse Club.’ He joined the show in the early ’90s with other future stars like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Ryan Gosling.
During his time on the show, Timberlake honed his singing and performing skills, which helped lay the foundation for his future success in music. Even as NSYNC rose to meteoric fame, Justin Timberlake moved on to solo success that brought such great works as ‘Cry Me a River’ and ‘Can’t Stop the Feeling,’ cementing him as one of the most respected artists in the business.
2. Miley Cyrus – ‘Hannah Montana’
Miley Cyrus captured the world’s heart for the first time while playing the title character in Disney Channel’s ‘Hannah Montana’. The show, which began in 2006, followed a teenager living her life in double shifts as a regular girl and a famous pop star. Of course, with young Cyrus on the show, she was able to use her talent in singing—a talent rewarded by the enormous success of the “Hannah Montana” soundtracks.
After the show went off the air, Cyrus moved on to a successful music career where she shed her Disney image and took to a more mature sound. Her hits, such as ‘Wrecking Ball’ and ‘Party in the U.S.A’, easily put her on the map of the music industry.
3. Drake- ‘Degrassi – The Next Generation’
Aubrey Graham, better known by his artistic name, Drake, was first discovered as the character of Jimmy Brooks in the teen drama series from Canada, ‘Degrassi: The Next Generation.’ His character was that of a basketball-playing teenager who became wheelchair-bound due to a school shooting which made Drake a household name in Canada and with viewers of that show.
However, he always had bigger plans for a music career. While still on Degrassi, he started releasing mixtapes, which eventually led to his breakout single ‘Best I Ever Had.’ Today, Drake is one of the most influential and successful rappers in the world who has had a number of chart-topping albums and hits.
4. Ariana Grande – ‘Victorious’
Ariana Grande made her first appearance in Nickelodeon’s ‘Victorious’ as that quirky and lovable role, Cat Valentine. Although this role underlined Grande’s acting abilities, her incredible vocals were really noticed by music producers. As soon as the show came to an end, Grande focused all her energies on music. In 2013 she released her debut album “Yours Truly”, met with critical acclaim.
Although her acting days were behind her, it’s her vocal range and ability to shift seamlessly between pop and R&B that have groomed her into one of this generation’s most popular pop stars, with such hits as “Thank U, Next” and “7 Rings.”
5. Selena Gomez – ‘Barney & Friends’
Selena Gomez was an infant actor on ‘Barney & Friends’ and then went on to win the lead role of Disney Channel’s ‘Wizards of Waverly Place.’ The show, which followed the life of a wizard family residing in New York City, became a huge hit and launched Gomez into stardom. Though acting was her first passion, Gomez soon began to dabble in music, forming the band Selena Gomez & the Scene.
Even though the band made a few successful albums, she would eventually go solo, netting even more success, including ‘Come & Get It’ and ‘Bad Liar.’ Now, she has become a successful musician, producer, and mental health awareness advocate.
6. Jennifer Lopez – ‘In Living Color’
Jennifer Lopez, often by her nickname J.Lo, rose to the limelight first as a dancer for the sketch comedy ‘In Living Color’ and ‘Fly Girl.’ Thereafter, she began an acting career; in 1997, she broke out in the film “Selena,” where she played the late Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla.
The role brought up front both Lopez’s acting talent and her vocals. Not long after, Lopez released her first album “On the 6,” to the success of the hit single “If You Had My Love.” Starting out in dance and acting, she continued giving her best in acting and singing, which made Lopez one of the most successful entertainers in the world.
7. Britney Spears – ‘The All-New Mickey Mouse Club’
Like Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears began on “The All-New Mickey Mouse Club.” When the show wrapped up in 1995, Spears focused on her music career and released her debut album entitled ‘Baby One More Time’ in 1999.
The title track of the album became worldwide hit material that propelled Spears to superstardom. Although the television career was short, it had a very important role in building up the confidence and performance skills she needed in the music industry. Spears went on to become one of the best-selling music artists of all time and has had many chart-toppers, leaving her mark in pop culture history.
8. Demi Lovato – ‘Barney & Friends’
Demi Lovato initiated her career with the children’s TV show ‘Barney & Friends,’ and then took a lead role in the Disney Channel movie ‘Camp Rock.’ The success of that film, which also launched the careers of the Jonas Brothers, propelled Lovato into music.
They released their first album, “Don’t Forget,” in 2008 to critical acclaim. After early hardships, Lovato has gone on to release hit albums and singles, including ‘Skyscraper’ and ‘Sorry Not Sorry.’ She has also since been an outspoken advocate for mental health awareness and LGBTQ+ rights.
9. Olivia Rodrigo- ‘Bizaardvark’
Olivia Rodrigo was first recognized through the Disney Channel series ‘Bizaardvark’ and then ‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.’ Her role as Nini Salazar-Roberts in the latter series put her clearly in the limelight both as an actress and a singer by the original songs in the show. Still, it was truly her debut single, “drivers license,” that really shot her up in music quite fast.
Although she was rather new to the scene, the song, released in 2021, broke streaming records and became a worldwide phenomenon. Rodrigo has further solidified her reign on the music charts with the premier album, ‘SOUR,’ including hits such as ‘good 4 u’ and ‘deja vu.’ Lyrically raw and explicitly relatable, she has been able to capture the attention of this new generation of listeners unlike most young talent in music today.
10. Hailee Steinfeld- ‘True Grit’
Hailee Steinfeld made her mark in Hollywood before transitioning into the music industry. She first gained widespread attention for her acting talents, earning an Academy Award nomination for her role as Mattie Ross in the 2010 film ‘True Grit’ at just 14 years old. Steinfeld continued to build her acting career with roles in the Pitch Perfect series and The Edge of Seventeen, where her performances garnered critical acclaim.
However, Steinfeld’s artistic ambitions extended beyond acting; she ventured into music, debuting with the empowering single ‘Love Myself’ in 2015. The song’s success led to more hits like “Starving” and ‘Most Girls,’ solidifying her place in the pop music scene. With her distinctive voice and relatable lyrics, Steinfeld has managed to create a successful dual career in both acting and music, proving her versatility and dedication to her craft.
Further Reading
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