7 Musicians Who Are Triple Threat Entertainers

In the world of entertainment, being a “triple threat” means that a particular person excels at acting, singing, and dancing. Though there are many musicians that have dabbled in the film industry, and many more who have learned to strategically place themselves in the middle of their backup dancers, there aren’t many who really excel in all three categories. So, we thought the select few that truly do fit the description of a triple threat deserved some attention!

Hugh Jackman

It goes without saying that Wolverine was the superhero we all loved and needed for so many years, but we love Hugh for many other reasons. Proving his acting chops in movies like ‘The Prestige‘, ‘Prisoners’, ‘Australia’, and practically every ‘X-Men’ movie created, his talent reaches far beyond the screen!

Having starred in multiple Broadway shows (including ‘The Boy From Oz’, The River, and a Steady Rain), Hugh has also hosted the Tony Awards 4 times.

But perhaps our favorite thing about Hugh is that he blends the screen with the stage in a way almost no one else can. It takes a rare talent to be able to transition seamlessly from live theatrical productions to films and soundstages. Not all triple threat celebrities have accomplished this feat, but Jackman is only one award away from the elusive EGOT. His first major award came in 2004 when he earned a Tony for “Best Leading Actor in a Musical” for his role as business magnate Peter Allen in ‘A Boy from Oz’. He then won an Emmy in 2005 for “Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety Program” for his performance at the 58th Tony Awards.

Later, his first Grammy came in 2019 with “Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Visual Media” from ‘The Greatest Showman’. He was narrowly defeated by Daniel Day-Lewis for Best Actor at the Academy Awards in 2013. His role that year as Jean Valjean (Les Miserables) was truly career-defining in both vocal prowess and his ability to portray a famous literary character with integrity and nuance. His unforgettable performances in ‘Les Misérables’ and ‘The Greatest Showman‘ have more than solidified his status as a triple threat, and we’re eternally grateful!

In this video, Hugh defies his doctor’s orders just to give a powerful performance of “From Now On” from ‘The Greatest Showman’.

Justin Timberlake

Initially stealing our hearts as a member of NSYNC, Justin Timberlake‘s music career was off to a promising start. Some of us will never be able to forget his role singing and dancing as a marionette puppet in the music video for “Bye Bye Bye” on NSYNC’s 2000 album ‘No Strings Attached’. Over the years he has continued to wow us as a solo artist with songs like “Cry Me A River,” “Suit & Tie,” “Mirrors,” “Rock Your Body,” and “Can’t Stop The Feeling!”

In addition to his skills as a musician, singer and songwriter, Justin has been known as an incredible dancer. He began dancing in classic boy band style with elaborate routines in NSYNC music videos, but has continued taking his signature dance moves with him throughout his solo career. Giving countless jaw-dropping performances to sold-out stadiums across the world, he’s also proved his singing and dancing chops as the 2017 Super Bowl Halftime Performer.

Like many triple threat celebrities, Timberlake has won numerous industry awards including ten Grammys, four Emmys, twelve MTV Music Awards, and nine Billboard Music Awards. He is perhaps most regaled as a singer and dancer, but his Emmy for acting roles on ‘Saturday Night Live’ includes “Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.”

To complete the trifecta, Justin has starred in ‘The Social Network’, ‘In Time’, and many Saturday Night Live and Jimmy Fallon Skits.

Neil Patrick Harris

In order to gauge whether or not Neil Patrick Harris can sing, dance, and act, all you really have to do is watch his 2011 Tony Awards opening number.

Besides having won our hearts as Barney Stinson from 2005-2014 in ‘How I Met Your Mother’, Neil Patrick Harris has also hosted the Tony Awards 4 times and is one of Broadway’s favorite performers, starring in ‘Cabaret’, ‘Assassins’, and ‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch’. His film credits include the dramatic film ‘Gone Girl’,  and Netflix’s ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’ as Count Olaf, plus many more.

Beyoncé

Rising to fame in the late 1990s as lead singer of the R&B girl-group Destiny’s Child, Beyoncé is now one of the world’s best-selling musical artists. Known for her versatile vocals and extensive dance routines, she is the most nominated woman in Grammy Awards history and has won 22 of those Grammy awards. She is also the most awarded artist at the MTV Video Music Awards, with 24 wins. Giving us timeless hits like “Irreplaceable,” “Halo,” “Love On Top,” “Crazy In Love,” and “Run The World,” Beyoncé has created a reputation that is undoubtedly unmatched.

Beyoncé has also been a Super Bowl Halftime Performer, proving on a worldwide stage that she can sing and dance.

In terms of her acting legacy, starring on the screen in ‘Austin Powers in Goldmember’, ‘Obsessed’, and ‘Dreamgirls‘ officially established Beyoncé as a triple threat entertainer. One of her most intense performances came in ‘Cadillac Records’ where she played Etta James. Having to tap into dark and complex emotions seemed to stretch the performer typically known for her powerful positivity.

Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez started her multi-faceted career as a dancer, initially starring in Fox’s ‘A Living Color‘ and later dancing for Janet Jackson. She went on to star in ‘Selena’ and ‘Anaconda‘, establishing herself as the highest-paid Latin actress in Hollywood. She has since starred in many other classic films, including ‘Maid in Manhattan‘, ‘The Wedding Planner‘, ‘Monster-In-Law‘, ‘Gigli‘, ‘The Boy Next Door‘, and so many others!

Jennifer Lopez‘s music career has been equally exciting, especially for the Latin community, producing hits like “On The Floor,” “Jenny From The Block,” “I’m Real,” and “Ain’t It Funny.” Her diverse portfolio landed her a position as a judge on American Idol from 2010 – 2012.

John Travolta

Danny Zu…oops, we mean John Travolta…has been one of our favorite singers, actors, and dancers for a long time now! Starring in many popular movies such as ‘Pulp Fiction‘, ‘Saturday Night Fever‘, ‘Staying Alive‘, ‘Wild Hogs‘, and of course, ‘Grease‘, John Travolta has established himself as an incredible triple threat entertainer.

Travolta is now 64 years old, but he was only 23 when he delivered his legendary 1978 performance as Danny Zuko. Two years prior, he had wowed audiences and critics through his role as Tony Manero in ‘Saturday Night Fever’. For this, he earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. His dialogue and disco dancing created a phenomenon that cemented Travolta’s cultural status as a triple threat artist.

It wasn’t until Grease, however, that Travolta’s chops as a singer were on full display. His unbridled vocal energy in “Greased Lightnin’” and sensual, playful duetting with Olivia Newton-John in “You’re the One That I Want” were both featured in the official motion picture soundtrack album for the film. No amount of hip-shaking or come-hither looks could account for the Grammy nomination he received for these tracks. His voice carried the day.

If you’re still not convinced that John Travolta is truly a triple threat, he certainly made his point in the movie-musical ‘Hairspray‘, starring as Edna Turnblad. He sang, danced, and acted in a 30-pound fat suit and went through 5 hours of makeup daily for the role!

Zac Efron

Zac Efron won the hearts of teenage girls everywhere in his debut performance of ‘High School Musical‘. The Disney Channel hit went so well that it resulted in ‘High School Musical 2‘ and ‘High School Musical 3‘, in which Zac continued to demonstrate his acting, singing, and dancing. Seriously, we will never forget his epic performance of “Bet On It.”

Zac went on to appear in ‘17 Again‘, ‘Hairspray‘, and ‘The Lorax‘ before dropping his Disney image and taking on more mature roles in films such as ‘The Lucky One‘, ‘Charlie St. Cloud‘, and ‘Neighbors‘. He eventually returned to movie-musicals, starring in the P.T. Barnum biopic ‘The Greatest Showman‘; the film officially solidified his role as a mature triple threat entertainer.

‘The Greatest Showman’, in particular, helped Efron become a bonafide triple threat artist in the eyes of critics and fans alike. According to Life and Style Magazine, Efron’s vocals in ‘High School Musical‘ were overdubbed in post-production. The voice we all heard was from a singer named Drew Seeley. But in ‘The Greatest Showman’, all of Efron’s vocals were his own. Efron also won three Teen Choice Awards for this role, including “Choice Music Collaboration” and “Choice Drama Movie Actor” for which his counterpart Hugh Jackman was also nominated.

Being a triple threat entertainer is no joke, and these performers have given a lifetime to perfecting song, dance, and acting! And who knows: if you do the same, you could be next!