Television and film are full of actors who suddenly step up to the microphone and reveal another layer of artistry. Sometimes it’s a single on a chart, sometimes it’s a song tucked inside a forgotten soundtrack. These moments live at the fascinating crossroads of Hollywood and the music industry—where charisma meets melody, and audiences discover a different voice from familiar faces.
Ewan McGregor
In Moulin Rouge! (2001), McGregor performs “Your Song” with heartfelt clarity. Known then for Trainspotting and Star Wars, he shifts seamlessly into Baz Luhrmann’s musical spectacle, embodying a bohemian spirit through Elton John’s classic.
Kristy and Jimmy McNichol
The brother-sister duo records the album Kristy and Jimmy McNichol in 1978, at the height of Kristy’s run on Family and Jimmy’s TV guest star years. Their version of “He’s So Fine” finds teen idol charm wrapped in late-’70s pop gloss.
Mandy Moore
Before This Is Us, Moore releases “Candy” in 1999, launching her as both a charting pop singer and a rising film star in A Walk to Remember (2002). The dual career cements her as one of the era’s crossover figures.
William Shatner
In 1968, Shatner records The Transformed Man, blending Shakespeare monologues with pop songs like “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.” The album becomes a cult artifact, illustrating how performance art collides with pop culture.
Katey Sagal
Long before Married… with Children (1987–1997), Sagal tours as a backing vocalist for Bob Dylan and Bette Midler. In 1994, her debut album Well… arrives, a rootsy collection that echoes her family’s folk background.
David Soul
The Starsky & Hutch actor climbs to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1977 with “Don’t Give Up on Us.” Soul also appears on The Muppet Show the same year, singing with an ease that mirrors his television persona.
Emma Stone
Stone showcases her vocals in La La Land (2016), particularly with “Audition (The Fools Who Dream).” The number captures the fragility and fire of a character chasing possibility, delivered with a lived-in intimacy that feels cinematic.
John Travolta
Travolta’s 1976 single “Let Her In” peaks at #10 on Billboard, just before Saturday Night Fever (1977). The track positions him as both teen idol and leading man, threading disco-era romance through pop radio.
Reese Witherspoon
Witherspoon wins an Academy Award in 2006 for Walk the Line, where she performs June Carter’s repertoire live on set. Her voice carries both theatrical polish and a sense of Southern storytelling.
Zendaya
Before Euphoria, Zendaya records her self-titled debut album in 2013. Tracks like “Replay” show her balancing Disney Channel stardom with R&B-influenced pop, foreshadowing her multi-platform career to come.