5. CHRISTINA AGUILERA
Aguilera was already singing in talent shows by age 6 and finally made a national appearance on the show Star Search. Disney found her and enrolled her in the New Mickey Mouse Club, a show that lasted two years. But it was enough to launch her, along with Britney Spears, JC Chasez, Justin Timberlake and Ryan Gosling. In 1998, she was again tapped by Disney to sing “Reflection” for its movie soundtrack for Mulan. From there she got a contract with RCA records. Hot singles followed, including “Genie in a Bottle” and “What a Girl Wants.”
Adding to her fame were a performance at the Super Bowl halftime show and then winning a Grammy for “Best New Artist” with her song “Come on Over Baby.”
With a lull in her recording career, Aguilera joined the judging group of the TV series “The Voice” and released a duet single with Adam Levine, “Moves Like Jagger.”
4. SELENA GOMEZ
Gomez began her celebrity career as a child actress on the Barney and Friends TV show as a child. From that point, she landed small roles in other television shows but it was Disney that really launched her. She was first given parts in Disney channel shows, Hannah Montana and The Suite Life of Zach and Cody but her talents in both acting and singing resulted in her own Disney show, The Wizards of Waverly Place.
Her singing career began with Disney but graduated into her own band and a recording contract with Hollywood Records. Two albums went gold. Additional acting and albums continued, while she ended her relationship with Hollywood Records and fired her manager (who were also her parents). Several hit singles have since followed and Gomez remains a singing sensation today.
3. BRITNEY SPEARS
When Britney Spears first audition for the New Mickey Mouse Club, she was rejected as being too young. Undaunted, she continued with voice and dance lessons until finally being cast. When the show closed, she moved on and sought a recording contract, which she got. From that point forward, she was determined to make her name in the music business. Her first two albums, Baby One More Time and Oops!...I Did it Again were huge hits and earned her the title, “Princess of Pop.”
Spears’ rise to fame resulted in a career production of eight albums, concert tours, and lots of personal issues. She was highly criticized by Christian groups for her racy outfits and magazine photos; she married and then had that marriage annulled within 60 hours; she ultimately married dancer Justin Federline, had two children and then divorced.
Spears’ erratic behavior and obvious substance abuse brought her to family court on a number of occasions, and Federline was ultimately awarded full custody of the kids. She underwent rehab, one session court ordered and involuntary, and her father and an attorney were put in charge of her affairs.
Still, Britney Spears is a musical wonder and worldwide hit. She has now confirmed that she is recording her 9th album and in May of this year performed a medley of her greatest hits at the Billboard Music Awards.
2. ASHLEY TISDALE
Tisdale began her acting career with TV commercials and performances at a local Jewish Community Center. At age 8, she was cast as Cosette in Les Miserables and then a role in a traveling production of Annie.
Disney picked her up for a role in The Suite Life of Zack and Cody which she played for three years. She then assumed a starring role in High School Musical and began work on her debut album, Headstrong with Warner Bros. Records.
She continued her relationship with Disney for a long time, returning for High School Musical 2 and then High School Musical: Senior Year in 2007 and 2008. Awards began to pour in. In 2010, Disney again cast her for a High School Musical spin-off. Another album, Guilty Pleasure was released in 2009.
Another collaboration with Disney occurred in 2014 in the television film Cloud 9, but this time, Tisdale was the executive producer. She also produced Young and Hungry, an ABC Family comedy series. She is currently working on additional series for Internet release.
Tisdale is involved in several charities and in 2013 announced that 30% of the revenue from her latest single, “You’re Always Here,” would be donated to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
1. HAYDEN PANETTIERE
At age 11 months, Panettiere began her career in TV commercials. She moved on to child roles on daytime soap operas and then starred in the Disney film Remember the Titans at age 10, in 2000. Since then, she has starred in an NBC science fiction series (Heroes), and is still currently starring in the musical drama series, Nashville. Another notable role was that of Amanda Knox in the true story Amanda Know: Murder on Trial in Italy.
Other films have included A Bug’s Life, The Object of My Affection, and a small role in Message in a Bottle. In 2011 she appeared in Scream 4 and received great reviews. Other credits include voices for characters in animated films.
In 2015, Panettiere began another role in Custody.
Most of Panettiere's singing career has been connected to her acting roles. She was nominated for a Grammy for the title song of A Bug’s Life and since then has recorded other singles for Disney features, Tiger Cruise, The Dust Factory, Ice Princess and the cover for Cruella De Vil. She has also recorded several singles for the TV series Nashville.
Engaged to the heavyweight boxer, Vladimir Klitschko, Panettiere gave birth to their daughter. Suffer from post-partum depression she checked herself into a facility, and returned for treatment this past May.
Panettiere's life has also involved a lot of activism – social and political. She is huge animal rights activist, a supporter of Ronald McDonald charities, and joined her husband in a protest in Kiev against the Russians in 2013.