It's quite often that we see celebrities start out their careers on the big screen. However, these celebrities shifted their focus from acting to primarily music! With the occasional re-appearance on the big-screen, let's take a look at which celebrities are excelling as musical artists...
These Celebs Left the Big Screen to Pursue a Career in Music
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Steve Martin
At 73 years old today, Steve Martin has had an incredibly successful career. Starting with small roles in the film industry as well as starring roles in films like Planes, Trains and Automobiles, The Pink Panther and Cheaper By The Dozen, Steve Martin was very successful in the world of comedy as well. Since the 2000's, he has shifted his focus more towards his musical career of playing the banjo and singing. He now has recorded a total of 12 albums.
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Donald Glover
With his stage name of Childish Gambino, Donald Glover started his career on screen at the age of 23 in the sitcom Community. Since then, he signed his first record deal in 2011 and has continued to focus his career in the music industry! However, we are lucky that he still makes some appearances on the big screen in films like The Martian and Spider-Man: Homecoming.
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Jared Leto
Jared Leto is known in all realms of Hollywood. The 47-year-old started his career in television on the series My So-Called-Life. He progressed through to film, which he still dabbles in today. In 1998, he formed the band 30 Seconds to Mars with his brother and has been highly successful with that. You can still find Jared rocking out on stage!
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Selena Gomez
Selena Gomez started her career at a very young age starring in Barney & Friends and then in Disney Channel's Wizards of Waverly Place. After her time on the Disney Channel, she shifted her focus more to the music industry and since then has been touring, writing and recording. She continues to make music today along with some appearances on the big screen.
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Drake
Drake is a Canadian rapper, singer and songwriter who had his first debut as an actor on the teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation in the early 2000s. Since then, he has become wildly famous as a rapper and continues to focus on the music industry today!
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Jenny Lewis
Jenny Lewis is an American singer-songwriter who began her career in films such as Troop Beverly Hills, The Wizard and the television series Brooklyn Bridge. After that, she shifted her focus to her music career and and formed the duo Rilo Kiley. She has also had a successful solo career and has been a member of the bands The Postal Service, Jenny & Johnny and Nice As F**k.
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Taylor Momsen
Taylor Momsen started her career in the spotlight at a very early age playing 'Cindy Lou Who' in How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000). She is also known for her starring role in the hit series Gossip Girl. Since then, she has focused her career on her successful rock band, The Pretty Reckless.
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Juliette Lewis
Juliette Lewis started her career on the big screen in films such as Husbands and Wives, Natural Born Killers, Old School, Starsky & Hutch, Whip It and Conviction. In 2004, she launched a career in music leading the American rock band Juliette and the Licks. Since then, she has embarked on a solo career.
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Demi Lovato
Similar to our friend Selena Gomez, Demi got her early start on Barney & Friends before getting her breakthrough role on Disney Channel's television film Camp Rock and its sequel in 2008 and 2010. Since then, Demi Lovato has shifted her focus to the music industry where she has released 6 studio albums up to date.
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Jeff Daniels
Jeff Daniels started his career back in 1981 in the film debut Ragtime. Some of his more well-known films include Speed, 101 Dalmations, Infamous, Steve Jobs and of course the Dumb and Dumber movies. Daniels has focused on recording numerous songs that he has written about key moments in his life. He recently went on tour with his son just last year!