Top 10 Sitcom Stars Who Are Surprisingly Good Singers
#10: Debra Messing
Poor Grace Adler was often silenced when she tried to sing — usually rightfully so. But in reality, Messing has a great voice that she’s been honing since she was a kid. Yet for some reason, she doesn’t flex her vocal cords that often. But when she does, the sheer beauty of her voice never fails to impress us. We only got a small glimpse into her skill when she starred in the musical drama “Smash.” You can also hear her sing “They Can’t Take That Away” as Marjorie Houseman in the 2017 “Dirty Dancing” remake. Plus, she’s set to play the mom in the upcoming stage-to-screen adaptation of “13: The Musical,” so the best is surely yet to come.
#9: Jim Parsons
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Parsons once sang a whole song differentiating himself from his “Big Bang” character. However, one quality the pair share is their musical talent. As Sheldon, we heard Parsons sing tunes from various genres throughout the show’s 12 season run. His booze-fueled “L’Chaim” from “Fiddler on the Roof” will always stand out as a particular favorite. And in 2014, the actor provided the voice of Buddy in “Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas,” further demonstrating his vocal prowess. Parsons has yet to add a Broadway musical to his resume, but it’s probably only a matter of time! We’re secretly hoping this hypothetical production would involve “The Elements” song, because can you imagine?
#8: Hayley Orrantia
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You know her as the musically gifted Erica Goldberg, but did you know she also has a music career? Orrantia first started singing when she was a young kid, and boy are we glad she did. The star even provided backing vocals for two of the biggest Disney Channel legends, Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato. She was also briefly part of country-pop group Lakoda Rayne on “The X Factor.” We were further treated to a lovely selection of singles by the solo star in the mid-2010s. And in 2019, she released her first official EP, “The Way Out.” Ever since, she’s continued pursuing her passion for music and has released several tracks. We have no doubt we’ll hear plenty more from her in the future.
#7: Jason Segel
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We know Marshall Eriksen loves to sing, and what would "How I Met Your Mother" be without the Slapsgiving song? But if you ask us, Jason Segel’s iconic musical talents and beautiful voice were seriously underutilized. He co-wrote some tunes for "Get Him to the Greek," and his singing was notably heard in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and the 2011 “Muppets” movie. Josh Radnor, who played Ted Mosby on “How I Met Your Mother,” is also a skilled singer whose voice we didn't get to hear enough. After all, he’s released music and starred in “Little Shop of Horrors.” We want a joint Segel/Radnor album and we want it now!
#6: Joseph Gordon-Levitt
This former “3rd Rock from the Sun” actor is pretty much the definition of a triple threat. He acts, dances, and can pretty much sing any song you throw his way. Oh, and if that’s not enough, he also plays guitar. Gordon-Levitt never passes up the opportunity to showcase his singing chops. And it gives us as much joy to hear him as he seemingly gets from performing. The actor has also recorded music for HitRecord, an online platform where creatives can work together that he founded. In 2021, he divulged that he’d like to potentially make his debut as a solo recording artist “one day”, so watch this space!
#5: Stephanie Beatriz
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Beatriz’s arguably best known for playing the 99th Precinct’s most badass detective, Rosa Diaz. But in 2021, she blew us away with her portrayal of Carla in the film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In The Heights”. Suddenly we were treated to a whole other side to the actress, one that included a seriously captivating singing voice. Later that same year, we heard her belt again as the lovable protagonist Mirabel in Disney’s “Encanto”. We’re still gushing over that movie, and it’s largely thanks to Beatriz’s performance. We can’t wait to see what else she can do, and hopefully, we won’t be “Waiting on a Miracle” to find out soon.
#4: Melissa McCarthy
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McCarthy made us laugh as Dena in “Samantha Who?” and Molly in “Mike & Molly.” And now, she’s set to slither into the tentacles of Disney’s biggest and baddest diva Ursula in the upcoming “The Little Mermaid” live-action remake. We simply can’t wait to see what she does with the part – and what spin she puts on “Poor Unfortunate Souls”! But this wasn’t her first venture into the music world. She was actually selected by Barbra Streisand to collaborate on her 2016 album, “Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway.” They sang “Anything You Can Do” from “Annie Get Your Gun,” and it was delightful. What more could you want?
#3: Sarah Hyland
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Do you recognize that cute kid singing “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile” in the 1999 “Annie” movie? You might know her better as Haley Dunphy from “Modern Family.” Hyland’s vocal talents flew under the radar for far too long, but it’s clear she has a lot of range. Some were fortunate to see her in certain musicals, while others enjoyed her voice in the “Dirty Dancing” remake. She also went viral for her cover of The Chainsmokers’ “Closer”. However, many only discovered her talent in 2019 when she performed “Met at a Party” with Jordan McGraw at the Teen Choice Awards. No matter where you first heard her sing though, we can all agree she’s got pipes.
#2: Michael Cera
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We bet you didn’t expect to see this name here. But as well as being the endearingly awkward George Michael —no, not that one — Cera’s a super talented guy. Indeed, he knows how to play the guitar, and has a remarkable voice. He even sang a cover of “Anyone Else But You” alongside Elliot Page in “Juno.” He also reportedly lent his voice to – and showcased his mandolin skills on – Weezer’s “Hang On.” And in 2014, Cera surprised us by dropping his debut album “True That.” Then in 2017, the song “Best I Can,” which he wrote for the docu-film “Dina,” was nominated for a Critics’ Choice Documentary Award. Needless to say, Cera knows what he’s doing.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
David Hyde Pierce
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Sarah Levy
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Nick Offerman
His Comedic Tunes & Powerful Voice Will Make You Smile
John Stamos
Who Wouldn’t Want to Be Serenaded by Uncle Jesse?
Taran Killam
He’s Notably Showcased His Chops in ”Little Shop of Horrors” & ”Hamilton”
#1: Jennifer Aniston
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Rachel Green taught us when there’s nothing more to say, just sing. But we’ve since discovered that Aniston’s vocal talents are far more impressive than she ever let on. She sang “Believe in Me” in the 2001 movie “Rock Star,” showed off her vocal chops on “Ellen,” and even nailed Sondheim on “The Morning Show.” Are you impressed? We are too, but there’s more! In 2018 she provided backing vocals for the one and only Dolly Parton on “Push and Pull'' for the “Dumplin’” soundtrack. Apparently, the experience was so emotional that she “burst into tears” at the end, but Parton thought she was quite good. An icon in her own right, Aniston never stops proving that she’s capable of anything.
