Musicians That Began As Disney Stars
The journey from Disney actor to musician has become a popular path. Most began as child actors, starring in some of the millennial and Gen Z favorites. Wizards of Waverly Place, Hannah Montana, and Camp Rock are just a few that have created some of the most successful musicians in the industry right now. Here is a list of 6 musicians that began their careers as Disney Stars.
1. Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus rose to fame in 2006 during her role as Hannah Montana. She captivated young viewers with her fictional double life, as well as her very real vocal talents. After her days as a child star, she has released eight studio albums and is releasing a new album, Something Beautiful, on May 30th. She has also won 3 Grammys, including Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance for her 2023 song “Flowers.”
2. Selena Gomez
Selena Gomez began her career with an appearance on Barney and Friends and then entered her teenage years as Alex Russo on Wizards of Waverly Place. She has created a successful acting career and continues to enchant the world through the big screen.
In 2009, she formed a band called Selena Gomez & the Scene, which released three albums before they split in 2012. This was the beginning of her solo career. She has since released four studio albums, including Revival, which featured “Hands to Myself,” and “Good for You (featuring A$AP Rocky).” Her album Rare produced one of her biggest hits, “Lose You to Love Me.” Last month, Selena Gomez released a collaborative album with her fiancé Benny Blanco, called I Said I Love You First.
3. Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato got their career start as an actor on the children’s show Barney and Friends. They were later cast as the lead character, Mitchie Torres, in the Disney film series Camp Rock, which featured the Jonas Brothers. Demi Lovato also played Sonny Munroe in the two-season sitcom Sonny with a Chance.
They have since released eight studio albums with hits like “Heart Attack,” “Cool for the Summer,” and “Tell Me You Love Me.” Their album Confident was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards.
4. Hayley Kiyoko
Hayley Kiyoko is a Japanese American singer-songwriter and actress. She began her career on Disney channel projects including, Wizards of Waverly Place and Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins. She also played Stella Yamada in the Disney original movie Lemonade Mouth.
Since her career at Disney, she has become an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community as a lesbian actress and musician. Her songs, “Girls Like Girls” and “Curious,” tell stories of lesbian relationships and bring representation to a group that hasn’t previously been shown this way in music.
5. Olivia Rodrigo
One of Olivia Rodrigo’s earliest roles was Grace in An American Girl: Grace Stirs Up Success. In 2016, she began her Disney career in the show Bizaardvark and later in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. This is where the world began to take an interest in her talents as a singer. In 2021, Olivia Rodrigo released her debut single, “Driver’s License,” which took the world by storm. The single, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks, launched her into mainstream success. That year, Time Magazine named Olivia Rodrigo the 2021 Entertainer of the Year.
As her fanbase grew, she released her album Sour, and in 2023, she released her album Guts. Both albums were massive successes. She won three Grammys for her debut album, including Best Pop Vocal Album, Best New Artist, and Best Pop Solo Performance.
Olivia Rodrigo is adored by her fanbase. Her GUTS World Tour has been a big hit, with attendees posting thousands of videos from the tour to social media showcasing her mesmerizing stage presence.
6. Sabrina Carpenter
At age 11, Sabrina Carpenter was featured in episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. When she entered the Disney franchise in 2014, she was cast as Maya Hart on the well-known series Girl Meets World. She appeared in many other Disney projects, including the Disney original movie Adventures in Babysitting and as a voice actor in Sofia the First.
Sabrina Carpenter was always a passionate musician. At age 10, she began posting videos of her singing on YouTube and participating in singing contests, including “The Next Miley Cyrus Project,” where she placed third. At age 12, she signed a record deal with Hollywood Records.
In 2014, she released her debut single, “Can’t Blame A Girl For Trying.”
As she grew and evolved her sound, she signed to Universal Music Group’s Island Records, where she has released albums emails I can’t send and Short n’ Sweet. These two albums have been the catalyst to her rapidly growing fame. Short n’ Sweet features her biggest hits, including “Espresso,” “Please Please Please,” and “Bed Chem.”
Now, why do Disney stars end up with successful music careers? One possibility is that before their roles on the children’s network, they were aspiring musicians, and the roles on Disney projects allowed them the opportunity to grow their talents and gain exposure. Another explanation may be that some of these Disney stars were cast in roles that required them to sing, allowing them to realize their potential and talents as musicians. Many of these stars are multitalented and have successful careers as actors and musicians, but also as dancers, entrepreneurs, and more. While their journeys began on the Disney channel, their careers are not defined by their beginning but the success they have made for themselves since, and the things they will do in the future.