10 Celebrities Who Failed in the World of Music

Celebrities Who Tried and Failed to Have Music Careers

Breaking into the music industry can be a daunting task, even for celebrities who've already found success in other fields. While some have managed to make a smooth transition, others have tried their hand at music with less-than-stellar results. Here, we take a closer look at 10 celebrities who once ventured into the world of music, only to have their musical aspirations fizzle out. From actors to athletes, these stars gave it their all, but their music careers ultimately fell flat.

1. Jennifer Love Hewitt

Jennifer Love Hewitt, known for her roles in "I Know What You Did Last Summer" and "Ghost Whisperer," initially chased a music career. She kicked things off with Atlantic Records in the mid-'90s, releasing two albums, but they didn't quite hit the mark, leading to her departure from the label. Fast forward to 2002, and she gave music another shot with Jive Records, dropping "BareNaked." It turned out to be her only charting album, peaking at No. 37, with her song "How Do I Deal" making it to No. 59 on the Billboard charts. Although she's released a few more songs, music hasn't been her main focus since then.

2. Kobe Bryant

Besides his legendary basketball career, Kobe Bryant once dabbled in the music scene. He was part of the hip-hop group CHEIZAW, signed to Sony Entertainment. They had big plans, including an album called "Visions." Kobe even debuted his single "K.O.B.E." at the 2000 NBA All-Star Game alongside Tyra Banks. Unfortunately, the music venture didn't quite slam dunk. The song didn't catch fire, the album got shelved, and Kobe found himself without a record deal. He even tried his hand at an independent label, but that didn't last long either.

3. Tyra Banks

Tyra Banks, the supermodel, briefly dipped her toes into the music scene with tracks like "K.O.B.E" alongside the legendary Kobe Bryant and "Be a Star" from Disney's "Life-Size." But the real spotlight was on "Shake Ya Body," complete with a music video featuring contestants from "America's Next Top Model" cycle two. While the song was catchy, it didn't quite propel her into a full-fledged music career. Sometimes, even with star power, the music industry can be a tough nut to crack.

4. Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Lohan showcased her musical talents in movies like "Freaky Friday" and "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen" by contributing to their soundtracks. Encouraged by these early successes, she released her debut album, "Speak," which reached a respectable No. 4 on the Billboard charts and featured some catchy tunes. However, her second album, "A Little More Personal (Raw)," didn't fare as well, peaking at No. 20. Despite releasing a single in 2008, Lindsay's music career eventually hit a roadblock, and her musical journey took a back seat.

5. Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson's music journey took an interesting turn between 2008 and 2009. She dropped not one but two albums during that time. Her debut album, "Anywhere I Lay My Head," was a unique blend of Tom Waits covers, featuring collaborations with legends like David Bowie and members of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Since then, Scarlett hasn't released any solo albums, but her melodic voice has graced various soundtracks, including "The Jungle Book" and "Sing." She even ventured into forming a group called the Singles with Este Haim from HAIM, but a legal curveball in the form of a cease-and-desist halted that musical adventure.

6.  Robert Downey Jr. 

While Robert Downey Jr. definitely had some musical moments, like his cover of Joni Mitchell's "River" on "Ally McBeal," it seems his debut album, "The Futurist," didn't quite hit the right note with listeners. Despite having a knack for tunes on soundtracks like "Chaplin," "The Singing Detective," and "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang," his solo music career didn't take off as expected. Perhaps it was just another case of his acting talents shining brighter than his singing ones, leading him back to the big screen.

7. Heidi Montag

The reality TV personality invested nearly $2 million over a span of three years to bring her debut album, "Superficial," to fruition. She showcased her musical ambitions with a performance at the 2009 Miss Universe pageant, albeit receiving substantial criticism. In 2010, she expressed grand expectations for her music career, even with modest initial sales of 1,000 copies of "Superficial" in its first week. Regrettably, despite her optimism and a substantial Twitter following, subsequent albums never materialized, leaving her music career unfulfilled.

8. Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian West's foray into the music world with "Jam (Turn It Up)" wasn't exactly planned. In 2010, she surprised fans with the song and an accompanying music video, with all proceeds going to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital—a noble cause. However, in a candid moment on "Watch What Happens Live" in 2014, Kim expressed her regret, admitting, "I don't like it when people kind of dabble into things they shouldn't be. And that I don't think I should have. Like, what gave me the right to think I could be a singer? Like, I don't have a good voice."

9. Tom Hardy

Back in 2011, the "Dunkirk" star, Tom Hardy, surprised everyone by revealing his teenage rap skills. He spilled the beans to the BBC, saying, "I started rapping when I was 14 or 15." But here's the twist: he hails from a pretty posh neighborhood, so breaking into the rap game wasn't a cakewalk. Tom worked with some big names in the music biz, like the manager of Lauryn Hill and Pras from the Fugees. He even recorded many tracks, but they never saw the light of day. A Reddit gem briefly resurfaced in 2018 – an old mixtape featuring DJ Eddie Too Tall and a rapper known as Tommy No. 1. Sadly, it's since vanished into the digital ether.

10. Ryan Gosling

Despite their promising debut album in 2009, Ryan Gosling and his friend Zach Shields, collectively known as Dead Man's Bones, didn't manage to build a lasting music career. While their spooky self-titled album showcased their talents, it failed to catapult them into musical stardom. The duo did embark on tours, but surprisingly, they never released another album. However, Gosling did get to display his musical chops on the big screen in the Academy Award-winning film, "La La Land," in 2016, proving that his musical talents were not entirely forgotten.