20 musicians who have starred in Christmas movies

This global superstar has starred in the Christmas movie franchise Merry Liddle Christmas since its debut in 2019. She plays a snappy tech entrepreneur who falls in love with her dreamy neighbor while trying to keep her life from imploding. 

Many consider Dolly Parton the Queen of Country, but we call her the Queen of Christmas with her slew of holiday films filling up her resume. 

Toni Braxton is another musical legend who starred in the 2018 Lifetime holiday film Every Day Is Christmas. If you want to feel more Braxton cheer during this time of year, stream her and her sister's holiday album, Braxton Family Christmas. 

If there’s one musician who would play the heck out of the divorced mom who returns to town for the local charity concert, it’s Reba. 

In addition to his expansive music career, this country singer starred in the holiday films Christmas in Canaan and Christmas in Paradise. 

She’s a Spice Girls legend and an established actress, with holiday credits, Twelve Trees of Christmas and A New Diva's Christmas Carol under her belt. 

There’s no surprise here that this country music star took a role in the Hallmark movie It’s Christmas, Eve, playing a school superintendent who rediscovers her passion for music when she falls in love with a single father who works as a music teacher.  

Outside of Luda’s smash hits like “My Chick Bad” and “How Low,” the star-studded rapper has credits in feature films, including the Fast franchise and the 2020 thriller John Henry. He shifted gears in 2023 when he joined the cast of Disney+’s Dashing Through The Snow. 

Mariah Carey does more than belt out whistle tones and create chart-topping singles. She occasionally acts, like in the 2015 film A Christmas Melody.  

Queen Latifah has appeared in a few Christmas flicks, like The Perfect Holiday , which starred Gabrielle Union and Morris Chestnut, and Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas. 

When we think of Christmas and Patti LaBelle, two things come to mind: the time she forgot the lyrics to the holiday classic “This Christmas” and her two winter-themed films, Christmas Everlasting and A Family Christmas Gift. 

Do you remember this guy from the former boy band Big Time Rush? When he’s not pouring out his heart in love declarations like “Boyfriend,” he’s starring alongside his wife, Alexa, in Hallmark movies, including Enchanted Christmas. 

JT Hodges graced fans worldwide with his appearance and musical performance in the 2013 project Finding Christmas. 

Not only does he sing the popular holiday song, “This Christmas,” he starred in the 2007 movie of the same name. 

Like other performers on this list, Randy Travis has had a long career in the film and entertainment industry. In 2013, he joined the cast of Christmas on the Bayou, a short movie in which the country singer played a local store owner. 

Who do you get when you promise a Motown icon will show up for a Christmas pageant the town will never forget? Smokey Robinson, that’s who! This Grammy Award-winning artist appeared in the 2021 Christmas movie Miracle in Motor City. 

Ashanti has many bangers, including some from her holiday album, Ashanti’s Christmas. But we have to highlight her performances in the festive films Christmas in the City and A New Diva’s Christmas Carol. 

Like Smokey, The Jonas Brothers appear in the Netflix holiday original Dash & Lily as musical guests; however, Nick’s character dives deeper with one of the characters — offering advice and wisdom.

Since American Idol, Jordin Sparks has released critically acclaimed songs, including “No Air” and “Battlefield.” She’s also starred in two Christmas films, Dear Secret Santa and A Christmas Treasure, in 2013 and 2021, respectively. 

2013 saw the release of Kasi Lemmons' movie, Black Nativity, which tells the nativity story with an all-Black cast. This film featured some iconic superstars, from Angela Bassett and Tyrese Gibson to Mary J. Blige.