Actors With Hit Songs : Music Quiz

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?

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Comments: 22

Rick from GeorgiaGood quiz
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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More Songfacts:

TragedyBee Gees

The thunderclap sound heard in the Bee Gees song "Tragedy" was made by Barry Gibb with his mouth.

Run Like HellPink Floyd

Pink Floyd's "Run Like Hell" was released as a single in America because it has a catchy beat, but the lyrics describe a reign of terror instigated by the despot Pink, the main character in the concept album The Wall.

Forget YouCeeLo Green

The dirty version of Cee-Lo Green's "Forget You" contains 16 F-bombs. He recorded a clean version as an afterthought, "just in case."

Hot For TeacherVan Halen

The voice of Waldo in Van Halen's "Hot For Teacher" video was the late Phil Hartman of Saturday Night Live Fame.

Ziggy StardustDavid Bowie

David Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust" was likely based on various musicians in his ambit, including Iggy Pop (zIGGY), and Jimi Hendrix, who played guitar left-handed ("He played it left hand").

BurnEllie Goulding

Ellie Goulding's hit single "Burn" was originally demoed by Leona Lewis for her 2011 Glassheart album. She scrapped the tune when the project was retooled to include more ballads.