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Lights, camera… wrong stage! Join us as we count down our picks for the actors who swapped the silver screen for the recording studio — with less-than-stellar results! From dramatic readings to forgotten albums, these Hollywood stars proved that talent in front of a camera doesn't always translate to chart-topping success. Which actor do you think had the most promising music career? Let us know in the comments!
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MusicTranscript
00:00Call me a thief, there's been a robbery, I've lived with a heart, tore it apart, made no apologies.
00:10Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for celebrities who attempted to pivot from acting to music.
00:16While some may have had a hit or two, they proved that star power on screen doesn't always translate to
00:21pop stardom.
00:22Smack those up!
00:27Number 27, Tyra Banks.
00:29Although the reality show host found success in film and television, the same unfortunately couldn't be said for the studio.
00:35In the early 2000s, Tyra Banks attempted to transition into pop stardom.
00:39Her first single was on the Lifesize soundtrack, with the family-friendly Be a Star.
00:47Her second and final release of the decade was 2004's Shake Ya Body.
00:51The party track was much more adult than her debut, but it failed to make an impact on the charts.
00:55Shake Ya Body, Shake Ya Body, Shake Ya Body, Shake Ya Body, Shake Ya Body, Shake Ya Body, Shake Ya
01:00Body, Shake Ya Body, Shake Ya Body.
01:00Tyra herself saw the writing on the wall, and pulled the plug on her career just as it was beginning.
01:04She's since admitted that she didn't have quite the right voice for pop stardom, and that her talents were better
01:08suited for the screen.
01:10Where you live, where you are, ESR!
01:16In the 2000s, she showed off her impressive singing skills in the High School Musical Trilogy.
01:21Shortly after the first film came out, Vanessa Hudgens decided to release music of her own.
01:25Both her 2006 debut album and 2008 follow-up charted high on the Billboard 200.
01:29Basically what we're gonna do is dance, basically what we're gonna do is dance.
01:34Unfortunately, her individual singles failed to replicate that success on the Hot 100.
01:39By the time she announced a hiatus from recording in 2009, her work with Disney had far outpaced her solo
01:44efforts.
01:44Since then, Hudgens has put all of her focus into her acting career.
01:48Baby, come back to me, in my heart I still believe.
01:53In 2024, she made it clear that she wouldn't be returning to the studio anytime soon, but ultimately was thankful
01:58she got to experience even a brief moment as a pop star.
02:01Will you try to make me feel better? Will you say all right?
02:08Number 25, Tori Spelling.
02:11Since childhood, she's been no stranger to the screen.
02:14Tori Spelling has appeared in plenty of films and television shows, from Beverly Hills 90210 to the Scary Movie franchise.
02:20Although acting was encouraged, she claimed that she was bullied for being tone-deaf.
02:24As such, her vocal stylings had been limited to her filmed work.
02:27Her first attempt was with the 1999 comedy, Trick, where her rendition of Enter You failed to impress both fictional
02:33and real-life audiences.
02:34Enter you, while it's showtime.
02:39She then tried her hand at modernized versions of Christmas classics in 2012's The Mistletones.
02:44On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
02:51Although she was finally able to overcome her insecurities by competing on The Masked Singer,
02:55all of her attempts make it clear why she never seriously pursued a career in music.
03:02Number 24, Ashley Tisdale.
03:05Vanessa Hudgens wasn't the only high school musical star to dabble in pop stardom.
03:08Ashley Tisdale embarked on her solo career with the release of 2007's Headstrong, which peaked at number 5.
03:14While the accompanying singles failed to find a similar high placement,
03:17she did snag a gold-certified track with He Said, She Said.
03:24Her follow-up release in 2009 saw similar success, but despite that, she pivoted away from music.
03:30She instead put her focus into acting, where she found success in animated and live-action roles.
03:34Suddenly, I feel so alive, in the blink of an eye.
03:43She attempted a comeback in 2019, but her third album failed to have the same impact her first two did.
03:48Since then, she's made it clear that she wouldn't be returning to the studio for a long time.
03:52It's alright, okay, I'm so much better without you.
03:58Number 23, Paris Hilton.
04:00She may be known for her socialite status, but her work on screen ensured she was well-known by people
04:05around the nation.
04:06Paris Hilton wasn't just satisfied with TV and film, however.
04:09In 2006, she took to the music scene, with her eponymously named debut album and single, Stars Are Blind.
04:15Got a heart and soul and body, let's see what this love can do.
04:21They both charted high on charts around the world, which indicated the beginning of a successful singing career.
04:26Unfortunately, her momentum wouldn't last long.
04:29Her subsequent releases failed to make the same impact.
04:38She's continued to release new tracks, and has even collaborated with big names in the industry.
04:43She has yet to replicate her initial success, and it seems her one-hit wonder status won't be going away
04:47anytime soon.
04:51Number 22, Vin Diesel.
04:54Thanks to his work in some of the most popular franchises of the 21st century, he's become one of the
04:58most successful actors in the world.
05:00Unfortunately, Vin Diesel's immense success on screen didn't translate at all to the studio.
05:05He first tried his hand at a rap career, but it failed to launch almost immediately.
05:09And it was the beginning of hip-hop, and we were rapping, and that's where that passion started.
05:16He then retreated back into acting, and limited his musical endeavors to covers of hit songs.
05:21He made the official pivot to pop music in 2020.
05:26With film productions having been shut down thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic,
05:30Diesel instead poured his efforts into recording and releasing two original singles.
05:34They came and went with a little fanfare, making it clear that his talents were better suited for acting.
05:39Monday, Tuesday, I wonder where these days went.
05:43Wednesday, Thursday, time keeps steady racing.
05:46Number 21, Ansel Elgort.
05:49In the 2010s, his work in films like Baby Driver and The Fault in Our Stars solidified him as one
05:54of the biggest rising stars of his generation.
05:57Ansel Elgort set his sights on the music industry soon afterward.
06:00He started out with a short-lived stint as a DJ, before transitioning to pop towards the end of the
06:04decade.
06:05Your heart's in the ground frozen over, my heart's in the sky supernova.
06:12He released a collection of singles, some of which were met with mixed reactions from critics.
06:16He never quite took off as a musician, with his songs failing to chart, and his on-screen work garnering
06:20more attention.
06:21Call me a thief.
06:31Although he got to flex his vocal chops in the 2021 adaptation of West Side Story, it still wasn't enough
06:37to bring attention to his original work.
06:39I deliriously found myself in your feet.
06:42Number 20, Tom Hardy.
06:44Most people know Tom Hardy for his transformative acting performances.
06:48There's no point in order with Donnie, you understand?
06:51The way I see it, I'll save you life twice now, sir.
06:53From The Revenant to Mad Max Fury Road, his intensity jumps off the screen.
06:58People might not know that Hardy also tried out hip-hop as a younger man.
07:01This includes an apparent recording deal and some unreleased tracks.
07:05Not only that, the actor seems serious enough with his moniker Tommy Number One.
07:15Given some of his more verbose and broader roles, the performer isn't a long shot as an MC.
07:20Some of the work leaked online, but it hasn't inspired the man to go back to the rap world anytime
07:24soon.
07:33Number 19, Steven Seagal.
07:35As a martial artist and an actor, Steven Seagal made a name for himself as a tough guy.
07:40Watching him in Above the Law, you don't see the guy becoming a singer anytime soon.
07:53This didn't stop Seagal from releasing multiple albums.
07:56We'll let you make up your own mind, but it's fair to say that the world doesn't need more of
07:59his music.
08:00Some of his recordings need to be heard to be believed.
08:10It's strange to think that this actor collaborated with Stevie Wonder.
08:20He even tried his hand at blues, with his second record, Mojo Priest, exploring the genre to mix results.
08:26Given his reputation for being difficult, we'd rather move on than risk being beaten up.
08:31How can your love for me be so far away?
08:38Number 18, Russell Crowe.
08:40Things have got to change.
08:46He might be an Oscar winner, but he also likes to sing.
08:49This goes back to his days in Australia, under the name Russ La Rock, or with his band 30-odd
08:54foot of grunts.
08:55From bliss to self-confidence, all the prejudice grows, all the prejudice grows.
09:02He's even done some collaborations with the likes of Chrissy Hynde.
09:06That you love me, makes me strong.
09:12As Javerin Les Miserables, Crowe showed off his voice to a wider audience.
09:17His performance received mixed reviews, just like some of his recording catalogue.
09:21He hasn't received the same kind of attention for his music, but Crowe still likes to occasionally sing and perform
09:26live.
09:26It's safe to say that he'll be better remembered for playing Maximus or starring in A Beautiful Mind.
09:31Number 17, Jada Pinkett Smith.
09:33While she's been known for her work in film and television, in the early 21st century, she set out on
09:38a musical side quest.
09:40Jada Pinkett Smith served as the lead singer of the new metal band Wicked Wisdom, and together, they dropped two
09:45albums.
09:45And I love the way your anger sits in my heart seat.
09:55Although they didn't see much traction on the charts, they did open for Britney Spears after their debut record was
10:00released.
10:01It seemed they were on the precipice of mainstream success, with them even being offered the opportunity to tour with
10:06Guns N' Roses.
10:12However, at that point, Pinkett Smith stepped back from the group, so that she could prioritize her family instead.
10:18While it was a noble choice, it marked the end of her short-lived recording career.
10:27Number 16, Bruce Willis.
10:29Before he was known as one of the most prolific actors of his generation, he was known as Bruno Radolini.
10:35Under that pseudonym, Bruce Willis released his debut album in 1987.
10:39It consisted of several pop-blues recordings, which allowed him to show off his vocal stylings.
10:49Although his efforts resulted in a top-10 single on the Billboard 100, those who knew him for his acting
10:54were less than impressed.
10:55You tell me how hard you think you're working.
11:00Said your nine-to-five done got you down.
11:02His subsequent work as his alter ego failed to find the same chart success, and by the end of the
11:071980s, Bruno was no more.
11:09Luckily, Willis had already hit his stride as an actor by then, and soon, his career on screen greatly outpaced
11:14that of his short-lived musical one.
11:16Please, darling, save the last dance for me.
11:21Number 15, Leighton Meester.
11:24As a core member of the Gossip Girl cast, Leighton Meester became a TV star in 2007.
11:30She's also released music and been featured as a guest on tracks.
11:33This includes the hit song Good Girls Go Bad by Cobra Starship.
11:36I know you're tired.
11:38You're tired.
11:39Boy, you're dangerous.
11:41Yeah, you're that guy.
11:42You're that guy.
11:43It's a catchy track full of late-2000s charm, with Meester adding to a fun performance.
11:47After other work with the likes of Robin Thicke, she put out her solo debut, Heartstrings, in 2014.
12:00The record appeared at 139 on the Billboard 200, and included a concert tour.
12:05She has yet to release another album, maintaining focus on her television and film ventures.
12:09When she lost her home in the 2025 California wildfires, the artist received support from fans, and streamed her music
12:15catalog.
12:23Number 14, Corey Feldman.
12:26Starring in The Goonies and Stand By Me, Corey Feldman was among the best child actors of his day.
12:31You guys can go around if you want to.
12:32I'm crossing here.
12:34And while you guys are dragging your candy asses halfway across the state and back,
12:38I'll be waiting for you on the other side, relaxing with my thoughts.
12:43He made classics during the 1980s before trying out music.
12:46Some of his output could be compared to the pop stylings of Michael Jackson.
12:501994 saw the release of his debut album, Love Left, but this record didn't reinvigorate his career.
12:56It's a brand of love left in the universe.
13:03People like Howard Stern made fun of him, making him out to be more of a novelty act.
13:07At the end of the day, Feldman kept trying music throughout the years as one of his passion projects.
13:12Unless you're a superfan, you'll likely prefer his work in any number of nostalgic favorites.
13:17It's a comeback.
13:18I'm the comeback.
13:19Comeback King.
13:21I ain't missing, missing nothing.
13:37You know him best as a movie star across multiple decades.
13:41From westerns to dramas, Clint Eastwood is one of the more identifiable men of the 20th century.
13:46He became better known after his work on Rawhide.
13:49Around the same time, he made a record serving up some cowboy favorites.
13:53Oh, give me land, lots of land, under starry skies above.
13:59Don't fence me in.
14:01With his interest in music, Eastwood was able to sing standards in his earlier career.
14:04He ended up with big opportunities in cinema rather than becoming a renowned crooner.
14:08That isn't to say he didn't sing on screen either.
14:11On top of that, the filmmaker contributes more than acting or directing to his projects.
14:15This includes writing music for Unforgiven or composing his Oscar-winning films like Million Dollar Baby.
14:20Don't let me lie here till I can't hear those people chanting in the war.
14:30I can't.
14:34Please.
14:38Please don't ask me.
14:42I'm asking.
14:44Number 12.
14:46Brie Larson.
14:47As a child actor, Brie Larson started her career trying out a mix of music and films.
14:52Her teenage years included songs like She Said.
15:01With work at Disney and a solo album, it looked like she might head towards a more musical life.
15:06In the 2010s, she even got to play a musician in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.
15:10Send you my love on the wire.
15:15Lift you up every time.
15:17The actress ultimately found more interest and long-term success in movies.
15:22Her acting work quickly skyrocketed as she drew praise for indie films and won an Oscar for Room.
15:27Here.
15:28Room is the shed.
15:30He's locked the door.
15:32He's the only one that knows the code.
15:33You know the secret numbers that open the door?
15:35He's the only one that knows.
15:36And I've been locked in here for seven years.
15:38I've been in here for seven years.
15:40Do you understand?
15:41This story's boring!
15:42Larson then entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Captain Marvel.
15:46Between her work as a superhero or in the Fast franchise, she's traded singles for blockbusters.
15:52There she is!
15:55Fashionably late.
15:56Number 11.
15:57Eddie Murphy
15:58From SNL to big screen comedies, Eddie Murphy blew up in the 1980s.
16:02He even teamed up with Rick James for Party All the Time.
16:05My girl wants to party all the time, party all the time, party all the time.
16:12While there was a hit single, Murphy's music career took a backseat to his comedy specials
16:17and movies like Beverly Hills Cop.
16:19He later collaborated with Michael Jackson on What's Up With You.
16:29Along with attempts at reggae, the comedian kept his musical projects eclectic and minimal.
16:34He also had a talent for singing and mimicking other artists.
16:52Evening his popularity on TV and in films, it was nearly impossible to ever match his Hollywood
16:58stardom as a musician.
16:59Oh, we should have known it was you.
17:01We should have known it was you.
17:02We should have known it was you.
17:03Number 10.
17:04Alyssa Milano
17:05In both TV and movies, Alyssa Milano made her mark as an actress.
17:09Oh, I'm very pleased to meet you, Miss Bowers.
17:12You have a lovely home and you're so pretty.
17:15Oh, thank you.
17:16I'm very flattered.
17:17That's the idea.
17:19If you know her from Who's the Boss, you might still not know about her work in music.
17:23She's not the only actress to try out a pop career, but few try one in a different country
17:27like Japan.
17:36A younger mulatto released several records far away from the American market.
17:40This might be why you have trouble remembering her songs.
17:42Between 1989 and 1992, she released four albums on the label Pony Canyon Inc.
17:54She had a hold on Japanese audiences until returning to her acting work.
17:58Instead of making another record, she went on to work on series like Charmed.
18:12Number 9.
18:13Lindsay Lohan
18:14She was a massively successful star in her younger days, starring in everything from
18:18The Parent Trap to Mean Girls.
18:20Why don't I know you?
18:22I'm new.
18:23I just moved here from Africa.
18:25What?
18:26I used to be homeschooled.
18:28Lindsay Lohan also made a momentary splash with her music.
18:38Her album, Speak, did platinum numbers, and her follow-up, a little more personal, raw,
18:43went gold.
18:44She carried her screen stardom into the recording industry, but it wasn't meant to last.
18:48The actress mentioned that she took a break to leave room for her sister's music.
18:52Lohan's personal struggles didn't help either, with her professional career taking a turn.
18:56More recently, she's put out rom-coms and even recorded covers like Jingle Bell Rock.
19:01Can't jingle or speak up your feet, jingle around the clock.
19:07Number 8.
19:08Leonard Nimoy
19:09For decades, he was known and beloved for his work as Spock in the Star Trek franchise.
19:14Although his brilliant rendition of the character was widely known, what was less prominent was his brief stint as a
19:19recording artist.
19:20Leonard Nimoy first took to the recording industry in the late 1960s, with a Spock-themed album that required him
19:26to stay in character.
19:27He lives in a hobbit hole and everybody knows him.
19:30Bilbo, Bilbo Baggins, he's only three feet tall.
19:35It was popular enough that he had the opportunity to release music as himself.
19:39He shifted away from sci-fi themed pieces to a more folk sound, where he covered popular songs and penned
19:44strange singles of his own.
19:46And the only thing you know is good vibrations have begun.
19:52He released five records before his recording career fizzled out in 1970, and his continued work on screen soon overshadowed
19:59it completely.
19:59And I'd love making love to you.
20:06Number 7.
20:07Scarlett Johansson
20:09After working as a young actor, Scarlett Johansson became a leading star in the 2000s.
20:14Her role in Lost in Translation garnered her further acclaim, while films like Matchpoint showed her range.
20:19Have you done many movies?
20:21It was a commercial, not a movie.
20:23But your eyes went straight to it, if you know what I mean.
20:25I don't think my career has really gone as planned.
20:30Johansson was no stranger to music either, with her appearance in a Justin Timberlake video.
20:40In 2008, she released her debut, Anywhere I Lay My Head.
20:44It charted in several countries and featured covers of Tom Waits songs.
20:48She followed that up with an album alongside Pete Yorn.
20:51When I met you, I didn't know what to do.
20:55I was tired, I was hungry.
20:58In both cases, the artist showed promise regardless of reviews or record sales.
21:02The performer then became Black Widow, and churned out a prolific decade of acting.
21:06Even if she isn't a pop idol, she sang on soundtracks like The Jungle Book.
21:10Trust in me.
21:15You can sleep.
21:18Number 6.
21:19Joe Pesci
21:27Before his great work as a mainstream actor, Joe Pesci was a musician and singer.
21:32He even knew members of the Four Seasons, but he was much more talented as a screen performer.
21:36Pesci connected with Martin Scorsese and started a fruitful partnership that lasted multiple films.
21:41The actor had another album in the 1990s, with some entertaining attempts at rapping.
21:52He didn't act much in the 2000s, but he also seemed prepared to make something of a comeback.
21:57He eventually released a third record in 2019 that went largely under the radar.
22:08That same year, he returned to work with Scorsese and received an Oscar nomination for The Irishman.
22:14Only three people in the world have one of these, and only one of them is Irish.
22:19I have one.
22:21Angelo has one.
22:24Now you have one.
22:26Number 5.
22:27Jennifer Love Hewitt
22:28For most of her life, Jennifer Love Hewitt has been on one screen or another.
22:32This includes TV shows like Party of Five, or cult classics like Can't Hardly Wait.
22:37There she is.
22:44As a kid, the actress made a record for Japanese company Meldach.
22:48She then started an American recording career, as her acting took off even further.
22:59Going from pure pop to a more mature sound, she released three more studio albums, including the moderately successful Bare
23:05Naked.
23:13Each step of the way, her acting work won out in terms of attention and popularity.
23:17She's released songs for some of her projects, but Hewitt has merely dabbled in music since her last album.
23:22Somebody knows, Helen.
23:24How?
23:26I don't know.
23:29Julie, we were so careful.
23:30Were we?
23:32Were we?
23:32What if somebody saw us?
23:33What if somebody else was there that night?
23:36Number 4.
23:38Don Johnson
23:45You know him for Miami Vice, but Don Johnson has much more up his sleeve.
23:49This includes an attempt as a pop singer.
23:51His single, Heartbeat, has an energy that's reminiscent of other hits from the decade.
24:04Johnson has a share of charisma, but he's always seemed more at home on TV.
24:07The artist even did a duet with the one and only Barbra Streisand.
24:18He might have had some wins as a vocalist, but they've mostly taken a backseat to his acting.
24:22You're now more likely to find him in a film rather than worrying about his singing.
24:26Looking back, his two solo albums feel more like relics from the 1980s pop and rock genres.
24:31Tell it like it is
24:36Don't be ashamed
24:38Number 3.
24:39Gwyneth Paltrow
24:40In the 1990s, Gwyneth Paltrow climbed the entertainment ladder with a wide range of roles.
24:46Her Oscar win for Shakespeare in Love made her a major Hollywood A-lister, while Iron Man landed her in
24:51the MCU.
24:52Her brief foray into music was sandwiched between multiple successes.
24:55Duets gave her a chance to partner with Huey Lewis.
25:07But years later, Country Strong gave her an opportunity to try out country music.
25:26Not only did she star in blockbusters, she also did well with businesses like Goop.
25:30Her singing didn't last, but she was clearly busy earning money elsewhere.
25:44No matter how many ways you look at it, William Shatner will always be Captain Kirk.
25:49Come on, you bloodsucker.
25:51You're gonna have to do your own dirty work now, do you hear me?
25:54Do you!
25:55The Star Trek actor has made a name for himself across several mediums, but music is not necessarily his best.
26:01Shatner doesn't sing so much as he delivers a dramatic reading of the lyrics.
26:05Are you sure you want to live like common people?
26:09You want to see whatever common people see?
26:11He put out The Transformed Man in the late 60s, starting a trend of strange recordings.
26:17After Star Trek films and other TV work, the performer returns to the studio.
26:21He's been prolific during the 21st century, but his work behind the microphone doesn't hold a candle to his acting.
26:26This doesn't mean that his version of Rocket Man is any less entertaining, though.
26:31And I think it's going to be a long, long time.
26:34The touchdown brings me around again to find.
26:37I'm not the man they think I am.
26:40Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no,
26:45no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
26:51Before we continue, check out this single from Sound Mojo's album Balance, classical
26:56music reimagined as rock, hard rock, and metal.
26:59Check out the full track and album below.
27:03Born in the sunlight, born in the rain, life is a rhythm, running through veins.
27:16Number 1.
27:18Robert Downey Jr.
27:19Through all of his ups and downs, Robert Downey Jr. came out the other side as a bonafide
27:24star.
27:24He continues to prove that he's a versatile performer.
27:27While attempting a career comeback, Downey Jr. also put out one solo album in 2004.
27:32It wasn't the first time he'd sung, but he mostly did so on movie and TV soundtracks.
27:44His song, Man Like Me, reached number 39 on the Billboard US Adult Contemporary charts.
27:57The single and album didn't resonate as much as one might have hoped.
28:00Within a few years, the actor was well on his way to Hollywood royalty.
28:03His roles in Iron Man and an Oscar for Oppenheimer surely lessened the blow.
28:20Which of these actors do you think had the most promising music career?
28:23Let us know in the comments below.
28:25Let us know in the comments below.
28:25Let us know in the comments below.
28:26Let us know in the comments below.
28:30Good luck.
28:30Let us know in the comments below.
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