Top 10 Best Musician Cameos on TV Shows
#10: “Weird Al” Yankovic
“30 Rock” (2006-13)
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In the words of Homer Simpson: “he who is tired of Weird Al is tired of life”. In this “30 Rock” episode, Jenna is furious when she discovers that Weird Al has covered her emotional new single “Kidnapped” with a parody called “Knapsack”. After an attempt to write an “un-parody-able” song which turns out as silly as a Weird Al cover, the king of parody flips the script by writing a serious, patriotic song to the same tune. This cameo plays perfectly into the satirical tone of the show, doing what both 30 Rock and Weird Al do best: poking fun at pop culture.
#9: The Flaming Lips
“Yo Gabba Gabba!” (2007-15)
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The Flaming Lips and Nickelodeon’s “Yo Gabba Gabba!” were a match made in heaven. The band makes a kaleidoscopic cameo on Season 3, performing the dress-up inspired tune “A Fairytale Song”. With their oversized rainbow instruments and charismatic backup dancers, this performance brings out the kid in everyone. While five friendly monsters and their pal DJ Lance Rock prompt viewers to dance and sing along, this chill jam preaches that you can be anything you want to be - including monkeys, monsters, and helicopters, oh my!
#8: Britney Spears
“How I Met Your Mother” (2005-14)
In season 3 of “How I Met Your Mother”, Britney took on the role of Abby, a kooky receptionist with the hots for protagonist Ted. When she’s unable to catch his eye, she goes home with womanizer Barney, later pledging to sabotage his future romantic pursuits after he fails to call her back. While some cast members were reportedly hesitant about having such a big star cameo on the show, Britney’s hilarious characterization and knack for comedic timing helped boost the show’s ratings and expand its fanbase. Beyond her scene-stealing performance, this cameo also helped put Britney back on the map after her years-long hiatus.
#7: Cyndi Lauper
“Bones” (2005-17)
Girls Just Wanna… communicate with the dead! As psychic Avalon Harmonia, Lauper first appears in the season 5 episode “Harbingers in the Fountain”, later becoming a recurring (though minor) character. In contrast to the pop icon’s rebellious music and style, Harmonia is more classic and subdued, making this cameo a cool departure for the singer. And while her presence on the show revolves around chatting up wayward spirits, her powerhouse singing voice also makes a memorable appearance. In the season 9 episode “The Woman in White”, she belts out an epic rendition of Etta James’ “At Last”, as haunting as it is romantic.
#6: Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders
“Friends” (1994-2004)
In “Friends’” second season, rock legend Chrissie Hynde cameos as professional singer Stephanie, who’s hired to replace Phoebe as Central Perk’s (more skilled) in-house musician. While she and Phoebe get off on the wrong foot, they come together in the end as Phoebe teaches her how to play “Smelly Cat” in all its off-key glory. While Hynde’s role in the episode is relatively small, as the real-life co-writer of “Smelly Cat”, her influence on the show was far-reaching. The song first appears in Hynde’s cameo episode “The One with the Baby on the Bus” but reappears throughout the sitcom’s ten seasons as one of its most beloved running gags.
#5: Stevie Wonder
“The Cosby Show” (1984-92)
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After Denise and Theo get into a fender-bender with Stevie’s limousine, the whole Huxtable clan is invited to tour his studio and cut some original tracks. After using his sampler to mix their voices, the scene culminates with the whole gang singing "I Just Called To Say I Love You". Beyond his entertaining performance, this cameo has gone down in hip-hop history for bringing the magic of sampling to mainstream TV. As digital sounds came to dominate pop music in the following decades, Wonder’s groundbreaking cameo in 1986 exposed young producers to new sounds, structures, and funky possibilities.
#4: Steven Tyler of Aerosmith
“Two and a Half Men” (2003-15)
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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have Steven Tyler as a neighbor? Well in his season 4 cameo, this rocker plays himself as Charlie’s hard-partying tune-belting next door neighbor; a clashing rivalry which in the end puts Charlie in a neck brace. Tyler’s cameo is mostly voiced-over, but his voice is so unique that even off-screen he dominates the scene – and Charlie’s quiet time. Although he does make an appearance at the end of the episode, it’s Tyler’s singing voice that does the real cameo here.
#3: Dolly Parton
“Hannah Montana” (2006-11)
Well good golly, Miss Dolly! In this meta cameo, Dolly plays herself as Miley Stewart’s country queen godmother. Dolly first appeared in season one but pops up several times throughout the series, always there to advise Miley about boys, accessories, and life as a superstar. Just as Miley Cyrus shared the screen with her real-life father Billy Ray, Dolly Parton is Miley’s godmother in real-life, too. As the show took off and turned Miley into a star, the Hannah Montana universe began to reflect reality more and more, as Miley’s musical family helped her navigate the “best of both worlds”.
#2: Stevie Nicks
“American Horror Story” (2011-)
Nicks’ made her acting debut in the season 3 episode “The Magical Delights of Stevie Nicks”, where she plays herself AND carries the title of White Witch. In the episode, she gifts her lucky shawl to a star-struck Misty. Stevie’s real-life persona is played up in the universe of the Coven, drawing inspiration from actual rumors of her involvement with witchcraft. The song “Rhiannon”, written about a powerful goddess, helped prompt these rumors in the 1970s, alongside Nicks’ black wardrobe and mystical dance moves. In homage to this legacy, Stevie plays the tune on a grand baby piano in this eerily empowered performance.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Alice Cooper, “That 70’s Show” (1998-2006)
His Bold Appearance at Donna’s Radio Station Leaves Eric Feeling Invisible
Aaron Carter, “Lizzie McGuire” (2001-04)
These Teens Started Dating Right After This Episode Aired
Sonic Youth, “Gossip Girl” (2007-12)
After Admitting to Being Megafans of the Show, the Band Played at Lily & Rufus’ Wedding
Ginuwine, “Parks and Recreation” (2009-15)
This Singer-Songwriter Cameos in Two Episodes as Donna Meagle’s Cousin
Janet Jackson, “Will & Grace” (1998-2020)
Janet Owns This Scene as Only Janet Can
#1: Prince
“New Girl” (2011-18)
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After a chance encounter gets Jess and the gang invited to a party at Prince’s mansion, The Purple One pulls Jess aside to eat pancakes, try on clothes, and teach her about the ways of love. Full of mystical vibes, Jess joins him onstage to perform his new song “Fallinlove2nite”, written specifically for the show. “New Girl” has had many great cameos over its 7 seasons - like Taylor Swift in season 2). But the way this episode is shaped by Prince’s style and persona makes this cameo the best. And even though it’s pretty random, no one here is complaining about too much Prince!
