Top 10 Moments We Found Out a Child Actor Could Sing

Today, when you hear the name Taylor Momsen, you might think of “Gossip Girl.” Or perhaps you’ve rocked out to the band “The Pretty Reckless,” where she’s the lead singer. They’ve released multiple albums and EPs. Did you know we first heard her sing in her debut movie role as Cindy Lou Who in “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”? In a sweet and touching scene, young Cindy Lou wonders why she’s not feeling the festive spirit like everyone else. She sings “Where Are You, Christmas?” a song you may not know was co-written by Mariah Carey. While it doesn’t fully showcase Momsen’s vocal talents, it’s pretty darn adorable.

This actor is probably best known for playing Dustin Henderson in Netflix’s “Stranger Things.” You might remember his duet with Suzie, played by Gabriella Pizzolo, in the season three episode “The Battle of Starcourt.” But did you know that before he ever entered The Upside Down, he was already a Broadway star? He debuted in “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” in 2011 and later appeared in “Les Misérables” and “Into the Woods.” For many of us, it was his return to Broadway in “Dear Evan Hansen” that made us realize, wow, this kid can sing! He has since starred in “Parade” and “Sweeney Todd,” and we can’t wait to hear more from him. Sincerely, us.

If you’ve watched the 1999 TV movie adaptation of “Annie,” that might be the first time you heard this child actress sing. She’s had a pretty impressive career since then and has even covered some popular tracks. Many of us were reintroduced to her as the teenaged Haley Dunphy in “Modern Family.” Haley might not have been the smartest or most responsible Dunphy child, but boy, can she sing! We hear her impressive talents in the season five episode “The Late Show,” where a chaotic night for the adults, turns into a joyous sing-a-long for the kids. Honestly, for a fun ‘bit’ chucked into a sitcom episode, it’s far better than it has any right to be.

We first heard Miranda Cosgrove sing in “School of Rock,” and, well, it was memorable for sure. But that’s not the moment we’re talking about today. Many of us followed her career from “Drake & Josh” to “iCarly,” where we realized her “bad” singing in the movie was just an act. In actuality, Cosgrove has a fantastic voice! She released “Leave It All to Me” as a single, marking her music debut. Her first album, “Sparks Fly,” dropped in 2010, followed by the EP “High Maintenance,” featuring “Dancing Crazy,” a song co-penned by Avril Lavigne. Though her music career didn’t take off, the “iCarly” reboot gave us another nostalgic spin on the iconic theme track!

True or false: Mayim Bialik can be heard singing in the 1988 dramedy “Beaches.” False. Although Bialik had the perfect look to play a young Bette Midler, she didn’t quite have the right sound. However, she can definitely belt with the best of them. So, when TV host Arsenio Hall asked to hear her sing, she obliged, and wow, can she carry a tune! Today, audiences know Bialik best as Blossom or Amy from “The Big Bang Theory,” where we occasionally hear her sing as well. For those curious to listen to her sing today, her YouTube channel tends to be the place to experience it in all its glory.

Growing up, we knew him as “The Boy Who Lived,” “The Chosen One,” and even “Scarhead.” But in 2011, he took on a new role: “The Boy Who Could Really Sing.” He showcased his musical talents as J. Pierrepont Finch in the Broadway revival of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” Perhaps you were lucky enough to catch his run, but most of us first heard him at the “65th Tony Awards,” where he led the ensemble in a spirited performance of “Brotherhood of Man.” Who knew Harry Potter had such pipes? Does the Accio spell work on dropped jaws? In 2024, he won his first Tony for Best Featured Actor in a Musical as Charley Kringas in “Merrily We Roll Along.”

LiLo has been a fixture on our screens practically since she was a tot, but she made her big screen debut in the 1998 remake of “The Parent Trap.” Surprisingly, many of us didn’t hear her sing until she played Anna Coleman in the 2003 remake of “Freaky Friday.” While “Take Me Away” is catchy, Lohan’s vocal talent comes to the forefront during her mom’s wedding scene at the end, where she sings lead on “Ultimate.” The song was also used for promotional purposes. Anyway, she continued to showcase her musical talents in films like “Mean Girls” and “Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen.” Beyond acting, LiLo ventured into music, releasing two albums and numerous singles.

These days, Selena Gomez is known as a versatile artist. However, she started showing off her singing chops early on in “Barney & Friends,” where she starred alongside fellow future Disney star Demi Lovato. After outgrowing the show, Gomez became part of the Disney Channel family with roles in “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody” and “Hannah Montana.” Soon after, she got her own show, “Wizards of Waverly Place,” where she played the feisty Alex Russo and even sang the show’s theme song. While she never completely left acting behind, Gomez shifted her focus to music, dropping hits like “Love You Like a Love Song,” “Same Old Love,” and “Lose You to Love Me.”

If you were part of the “Shake It Up” Disney Channel generation, you probably knew Zendaya could sing. For the rest of us, she was the girl who definitely should have won “Dancing with the Stars.” Then, in 2017, she blew us all away in the movie musical “The Greatest Showman.” Sure, we knew she could dance, but who knew she had such an incredible voice too? Zendaya shines in the love duet “Rewrite the Stars” alongside Zac Efron. She hits some impressive notes that showcase her vocal range and power. But what’s even more incredible is that she did many of her own stunts, too! Talk about “The Greatest Show(woman)!”

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Michael Cera, “Juno” (2007)
We First Learned of This Actor’s Musical Prowess When He Sang “Anyone Else but You” with His “Juno” Co-star

Macaulay Culkin, “The Pizza Underground”
When Did You First Find Out the “Home Alone” Actor Was Part of a Pizza-Themed Parody Band?

Hailee Steinfeld, “Pitch Perfect 2” (2015)
From One of the Youngest Oscar Nominees Ever to a “Pitch Perfect” Star!

Neil Patrick Harris, “Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog” (2008)
Before “Nothing Suits Me like a Suit” & “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” NPH Impressed with His Singing Chops As Dr. Horrible

Hilary Duff, “The Lizzie McGuire Movie” (2003)
While Not Her First Foray into Music, It’s Perhaps the Moment That Many of Us Learned That Her Vocal Talents Are “What Dreams Are Made Of”

Shirley Temple became a huge star in Hollywood during the Great Depression. People loved her for her charming singing and dancing, and adorable personality. She was discovered by songwriter Jay Gorney when she was very young and got her big break in the 1934 movie musical “Stand Up and Cheer!” This launched her career as an all-singing, all-dancing sensation, quickly becoming Hollywood’s darling. Temple continued to showcase her triple-threat talents in films like “Baby Take a Bow” and “Bright Eyes,” the latter was specifically crafted with her in mind. It also featured the song that defined Temple in popular memory. In 1935, she was honored with a special Juvenile Oscar.

Which child actor were you surprised to learn could sing? Share it with us in the comments!