Everybody wants to be a pop star. Even actors who are already plenty famous for their achievements in their own craft see the life and think, I want a piece of that.
Because of their status (and their finances), it’s always been a little bit easier for those folks to give it a go. The pop world, however, can be an unforgiving place, and not everyone who picks up a microphone hears cheers from the crowd.
Sure, J.Lo became a success in both acting and music; Germany loves the sound of David Hasselhoff’s voice, and Kevin Bacon has been touring with his brother Michael as The Bacon Brothers since 1995, but they’re the exceptions to the rule.
Even if you’re a big name actor, it’s tough to make it in music, as evidenced by this list of 25 stars of the silver and small screen who had varying degrees of success in the pop world.
Milla Jovovich
Although she could probably do Resident Evil movies for the rest of her life, there was a time before she was one of Hollywood’s top actresses that Milla Jovovich made a go at a music career.
Judging by the song “Gentleman Who Fell,” we’re guessing there are a couple hundred college radio DJs who tell their friends they discovered her.
Jada Pinkett Smith
Jada Pinkett Smith has fronted a nu metal band named Wicked Wisdom since 2002. I think that bears repeating. JADA PINKETT HAS A NU METAL BAND! Wicked Wisdom even opened for Britney Spears during an eight date European leg of Spears’ Onyx Hotel Tour back in 2004.
Brian Austin Green
In the middle of the height of Beverly Hills, 90210, Brian Austin Green released a rap album. He actually wasn’t half bad, but this was an era when the star of a show like 90210 was going to get clowned regardless. Now listeners celebrate Drake, a former Degrassi star, as a top hip-hop artist. Perhaps Brian Austin Green was just ahead of his time.
Nia Peeples
Her acting resume includes Fame, Walker, Texas Ranger and Pretty Little Liars, but back in 1988 Nia Peeples hit No. 1 on the US Dance chart with “Trouble.”
Vanessa Hudgens
While in the midst of all the High School Musical madness, the Powerless, Spring Breakers and Sucker Punch star released two albums. Oh, and if Vanessa happens to Google herself and finds this feature, I invite her – nay, I ENCOURAGE her – to hit me up on Twitter at @adamsworldblog, as I’m totally down for a “Sneakernight.”
Jennifer Love Hewitt
Jennifer Love Hewitt has four full-length albums to her name, including the interestingly titled Let’s Go Bang, but it was the song “How Do I Deal,” which was on the I Still Know What You Did Last Summer soundtrack, that was her biggest hit.
Chloe Bennet
In quasi Robin Sparkles fashion, before Chloe Bennet became known for her role as Daisy Johnson (formerly Skye) on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., she had a pop hit in China performing under her birth name, Chloe Wang.
Joey Lawrence
Whoa! Of course Joey Lawrence would make this list. The former Blossom star looked to capitalize on his fame with a couple of albums, and even reached the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 with the song “Nothing My Love Can’t Fix.”
Taryn Manning
Everyone knows Taryn Manning for her numerous movie roles, and her current role on Orange is the New Black, but she also has a career in music, both as a solo artist, and as one half of Boomkat (the other half of Boomkat being her brother, Kellin). Boomkat’s 2002 album, The Wreckoning, was actually pretty damned good.
Scott Baio
He was Chachi, he was the Charles who was in charge, but back in 1982, all Scott Baio wanted to know was “How Do You Talk To Girls.”
Steven Seagal
We’re not really sure why, at the height of his badassery, Steven Seagal decided it was the right time to strum on a guitar, and sing to folks, but he did it. Hey, are YOU gonna tell him he can’t?
Alyssa Milano
Apparently there was a boss who approved of this, but we’re guessing it wasn’t Tony Danza. The pre-Auto-Tune era wasn’t a kind place for many who picked up a microphone, but Alyssa Milano gave it a shot.
Jamie-Lynn Sigler
In 2001, smack dab in the middle of the height of The Sopranos, Jamie-Lynn Sigler tried her hand at music, releasing Here to Heaven. The pop star thing didn’t work out, and she later said she regretted releasing the album
Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan was originally thought of as potentially being a J.Lo type, as many expected her to have both a career in acting, and in music. After a myriad of missteps, we’re still waiting on either career to pan out.
David Faustino
Under the name D’ Lil, the Married… with Children star released one rap song, “I Told Ya.”
Corey Feldman
Corey Feldman has been working on music since the early ‘90s. Five albums deep, and with multiple, incredibly odd, performances on the TODAY show last year, he is showing no signs of slowing down.
Russell Crowe
Russell Crow has recorded under quite a few names, and whether it’s been as Russ le Roq, or as part of Roman Antix, which became 30 Odd Foot Grunts, or as a member of The Ordinary Fear of God, he’s been determined to make the music thing work … or at least have some fun doing it.
Scarlett Johansson
Featuring appearances by David Bowie, as well as members of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Celebration, Scarlett Johansson’s 2008 album, Anywhere I Lay My Head, had 10 Tom Waits covers, and one original song.
Jamie Walters
As a solo artist, Jamie Walters didn’t see much success in the US, but as the frontman for The Heights, the Beverly Hills, 90210 star had a number one hit with “How Do You Talk to an Angel.”
Carmen Electra
Carmen Electra was a pretty big deal in the ‘90s. Her 1993 self-titled album, however, didn’t exactly light up the charts despite three singles being released in support of it.
Rose McGowan
In 2015 Rose McGowan released a song titled “RM486,” and a very NSFW video for it (consider this your warning). If you have any idea what the heck is going on this clip you’re one up on us.
Robert Downey Jr.
This is the part of Ironman’s origin story that they leave out, and I think most of us are perfectly OK with that.
Don Johnson
Miami Vice had Don Johnson feeling on top of the world, so on top of the world that he made a foray into music. Releasing two albums in the ‘80s, one of his singles, “Heartbeat,” reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Bruce Willis
Not only did Bruce Willis have two albums released on Motown, his first, The Return of Bruno, featured Booker T. Jones, The Pointer Sister, and The Temptations.
Eddie Murphy
You didn’t think you were gonna get through this entire list and not hear “Party All the Time,” did you? Fun fact: Eddie Murphy also collaborated with Michael Jackson on the song “Whatzupwitu.”
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