40 Actors You Definitely Forgot Released Albums Or Songs
Some of these are truly mind-blowing.

In the entertainment industry, it’s not uncommon to have a successful acting and music career. (Beyoncé, Hilary Duff, Mandy Moore, I’m looking at you.) But when it comes to some actors, say Scarlett Johansson and Idris Elba, it’s nearly impossible to imagine them as recording artists. If you’re looking to add some new jams to your playlist or just want to have a "wait, whaaaat?" moment, definitely check out these actors’ long-forgotten albums or songs.
Brie Larson

Brie Larson may be one the world’s most popular actresses right now. Before she was winning Oscars for Room and playing Captain Marvel, Brie was gracing people with her pop-punk vocals. Her debut album, Finally Out of P.E., was about as angsty as a 15-year-old Brie could get. (Think of a less biting Avril Lavigne). Her single “She Said” peaked at No. 31 on Billboard’s Hot Singles chart.
Naomi Campbell

Actress and model Naomi Campbell dropped her only studio album in 1995. The U.K. pop album Baby Woman was a shock to the world.
Michael Cera

Michael Cera stole people’s hearts in Juno, but the actor is also a bassist and singer. Michael is one part of indie band The Long Goodbye and toured with Mister Heavenly for Passion Pit. He released his debut album, True That, via his verified Bandcamp in 2014 and also collaborated with Beck on the iconic Scott Pilgrim vs. The World soundtrack. NBD.
Jackie Chan

In the U.S., Jackie Chan is known for his martial arts and role in the Rush Hour franchise. In Hong Kong, Jackie is known as a pop star who has released more than 20 (!!!) albums. Jackie started singing professionally in 1980 and often sang the theme songs for the closing credits of his films. He has sung in Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese, Taiwanese, and English.
Robert Downey Jr.

Iron Man has one of the most recognizable theme songs of all time, so it’s only fitting that Robert Downey Jr. is a musician in his own right. After being featured on movie soundtracks, Robert released his album The Futurist in 2004.
Ryan Gosling

The world heard a little bit of Ryan Gosling’s vocal chops in his Oscar-nominated role in La La Land. Prior to that, Ryan and his friend Zach Shields created rock band Dead Man’s Bones. Its self-titled (and last) album was released around Halloween in 2009. Ryan and Zach insisted on playing the instruments themselves, but the backup vocals feature L.A.’s Silverlake Conservatory Children’s Choir.
Leighton Meester

Maybe you remember a little 2009 song called “Good Girls Go Bad.” The Cobra Starship track kickstarted Leighton Meeter’s music career. The Gossip Girl had a featured verse, which led to a collaboration with Robin Thicke. She also sang in the 2010 movie Country Strong with Gwyneth Paltrow and Garrett Hedlund.
Leighton didn’t release her first full-length album, Heartstrings, until 2014.
Jamie Foxx

Jamie Foxx has many talents, and music is definitely one of them. Perhaps you’ve heard of a little Kanye West song called “Gold Digger?" Well, Jamie was featured. But Jamie didn’t have to piggyback off Kanye’s success. Shortly after winning an Oscar for his portrayal of Ray Charles in Ray, Jamie released his debut album, Unpredictable. Throughout his music career, Jamie has earned four top 10 albums and four top 10 hits.
Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson had nearly 15 years of acting experience when she released Anywhere I Lay My Head. Her beautifully haunting alto voice is accompanied by impressive instrumentals, but it was her subsequent projects that really caught the music world’s attention. In 2009, she teamed up with her former manager’s son, musician Pete Yorn, on Break Up. They reunited nine years later for Apart.
Jennifer Love Hewitt

When Jennifer Love Hewitt was 10, she didn’t move to L.A. to pursue an acting career—she moved there for a music career. Jennifer released her first studio album, Love Songs, at 13. In 1995, Let’s Go Bang was released, followed by her self-titled album in 1996. Of her four studio albums, 2002’s BareNaked was the only one to chart.
Keanu Reeves

Heartthrob Keanu Reeves played bass in his garage band Dogstar. Though the band released two albums and opened for David Bowie once, Dogstar never achieved critical acclaim. Keanu shared his thoughts on that with GQ: “I guess it would have helped if our band was better.”
Hugh Laurie

House lead Hugh Laurie has played the piano since age 6, but he didn’t stop his musical journey at the 88 keys. Hugh sings and plays harmonica, guitar, drums, and saxophone. Put those talents together, and you have a well-rounded jazz player. Hugh’s debut album, Let Them Talk, peaked at No. 16 on Billboard’s Hot 200 and his sophomore album, Didn’t It Rain, peaked at 21.
Idris Elba

Idris Elba may be known for his role on The Wire, but the actor’s obsession with DJing traces back to his childhood. Idris spun records around London before moving to New York CIty and becoming an actor. In the last 10 years, he has made his DJ persona known and even played at Coachella in 2019.
Toni Collette

Toni Collette fronted the pop group Toni Collette and The Finish in her native Australia. Her husband, Dave Galafassi, was also in the group. Toni wrote and composed all 11 tracks for the band’s album, Beautiful Awkward Pictures.
Tatyana Ali

Tatyana Ali was already an established actress when she released her only full-length album in 1998. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star made her music debut with Kiss The Sky. “Daydreamin’” was her biggest hit, peaking at No. 6 on Billboard’s Hot 100.
Alyssa Milano

If you haven’t heard about Alyssa Milano’s music career, you’re not alone. The Who’s The Boss? actress wasn’t an American pop star—she was a star in Japan. Alyssa has a whopping four studio albums, two video and compilation albums, and one reissued album to her name. She told Jimmy Kimmel she never wanted it to be released in the U.S. “I’d much rather have it released where it’s appreciated than laughed at,” she said.
Bruce Willis

Bruce Willis had the kind of music career only he can have. The Die Hard actor created an alter ego, Bruno, which served as inspiration for his first album title, The Return of Bruno. The 1987 rock album earned itself an HBO mockumentary. Bruce released his second album, If It Don’t Kill You, It Just Makes You Stronger, in 1989.
Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow released two singles in the early 2000s, one of which was a cover of “Cruisin’” with Huey Lewis. After that, she showed her chops on several episodes of Glee. She was also cast as the lead in the 2010 musical movie Country Strong and provided vocals for the film’s soundtrack.
Eddie Murphy

In the ’80s, Eddie Murphy released a slew of comedy albums. After that, he ventured into music. His 1985 album, How Could It Be, features incredibly funky beats. In 2015, he had a top 10 reggae hit with “Oh Jah Jah.” Talk about a true icon.
Terrence Howard

Before he was lending his talents to Empire as Lucious Lyon, Terrence Howard released Shine Through It in 2008. His record label thought it would be a rap album, according to The New York Times. Instead, he produced a soulful album on which he plays an acoustic guitar.


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