Actors With Hit Songs

by Amanda Flinner

No one was more shocked than Jennifer Lawrence when the actress suddenly became a pop star in 2014. Claiming her voice sounded "like a deer that has been caught in a fence," she reluctantly recorded the song "Hanging Tree" for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part I, the third installment in the film franchise, only for it to become a surprise hit on the pop charts. But don't expect her to make a career out of it.

"I cried the day that I did that," Lawrence, who plays Katniss Everdeen, told HitFix. "I was shaking. I was like, 'I want my mom.' I've never listened to it. When that scene comes on, I plug my ears."

Lawrence is certainly not the first actor to take a musical leap, but few have landed on the charts. Can you guess which actors sang their way onto the Hot 100?

More Music Quiz

Comments: 21

  • Ell from Porter Ranch CaYou should add a question about how the actor who played Creed was a founding member of the Grass Roots.
  • Terry Valentine from Columbus OhLoved this fun trivia contest.
  • Keith G from JohannesburgGot lucky here and there!
  • Kevmac from Melbourne, AustraliaI surprised myself with a combination of intuition and guessing
  • Roadrunneralf from Hamilton, Ontario, CanadaGreat quiz. Vicky Lawrence of Mama's Family had a hit single in the 70s. "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia"
  • Ali from SingaporeHey, what about David Soul and Keith Caradine?
  • Bob T from Durban - South AfricaKojak's song was called 'If', not 'IT'.
    Dumbledore actor Richard Harris had a massive hit with 'McArthur Park' and Bruce Willis had a couple of hits that I recall - 'Under The Boardwalk' with The Four Tops(?) and 'Respect Youself' solo.
  • Uncle Ray from Lancaster, Pa60% right. Weak effort on my part
  • Jim from North Billerica, MaI got them all right, but I will admit I guessed on a few
  • Rick from Essex Ukdon't forget Tely Savalas {kojak) big hit with "IT"
  • Deb from Lincs. UkGreat stuff!!
  • Jeff K from L.a.Um, not a Stevie Wonder song, but Vicki Lawrence did have an early 70's hit with "The Night the Lights went out in Georgia." Just sayin'...
  • Jodi from HoustonJohn Travolt had a hit song in 1976 called "Let Her In".
  • Howard from Levittown And don't forget John Travolta (w/Olivia Newton-John) with "You're the One That I Want" and Rick Springfield with "Jessie's Girl." What multiple choices there are is the question.
  • Tamera from Champaign, IlWell done, that was fun! I missed 3 and definitely learned a few things. For the fun of adding to the list: Anna Kendrick ("Into the Woods") had a hit with "Cups" (remake of the bluegrass tune "When I'm Gone", written by A.P. Carter of the Carter Family). Also, Jack Wagner ("General Hospital") had the hit "All I Need". Patrick Swayze had "She's Like the Wind".
  • Dave A. Y. from Riverside, CaWhat about Jennifer Lopez? She's an actress who has had several hits, right? And I think a little known actor by the name of Patrick Swayze had a hit too. But what do I know?
  • Jacob from Hollandhad them all, missed none!!!
  • Val Edwards from Asheville NcYou forgot David Soul (Don't give up on us baby) and George Maharis from Route 66 (Teach me tonight) both had monster hits with those songs
  • Renda from Ocala, FlMissed 2!
  • Jim from North Billerica, MaI missed three. I forgot all about Bill Cosby's silver throat record.
  • Gretel from Nederlandlike it
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