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9 musicians who have produced TV shows and movies

9 musicians who have produced TV shows and movies

Ashley Simone Johnson

Dylan Minette, Selena Gomez, and Katherine Langford at the premiere of "13 Reasons Why."Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/Getty

Many musicians have crossed over to working on TV or film projects by becoming producers.
Dolly Parton, for instance, has her own production company.
Drake is an executive producer on "Euphoria" while Selena Gomez worked on "13 Reasons Why."

Dolly Parton has her own production company, Sandollar Productions.

"Heartstrings" was released on Netflix on November 22, 2019. Netflix

Parton cofounded Sandollar Productions in 1986 and since then, the company has been involved in the making of films like "Father of the Bride" (1991), "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1992), and "Fly Away Home" (1996).

The "Jolene" singer also took on an executive-producer position when she partnered with Netflix to create her eight-episode anthology series "Heartstrings," in which each episode is named after and based on a song from her discography.

Drake has helped produce several shows, including HBO's "Euphoria."

Drake executive produced HBO hit series "Euphoria," which premiered on June 16, 2019. Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

In June 2019, Drake celebrated the premiere of HBO's "Euphoria" by saying it was "one of the most remarkable creations I have ever been a part of" in an Instagram post.

Drake has also acquired the rights to the crime drama "Top Boy," another series he has executive produced. After discovering the show on YouTube and becoming fascinated with its cast, he made a deal with Netflix to bring the show to the streaming service.

He's also worked on the 2018 drama "Monsters And Men," which centers around Black men and police brutality, with John David Washington playing the lead.

Selena Gomez called "13 Reasons Why" her "passion project."

Dylan Minette, Selena Gomez, and Katherine Langford at the premiere of "13 Reasons Why." Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/Getty

The former Disney Channel star executive produced the Netflix series "13 Reasons Why," which she has called her "passion project."

Her song, "Back To You," is also featured on the soundtrack for the second season of the show.

Donald Glover starred in his 2016 creation, "Atlanta."

Donald Glover played the main character, Earnest Marks, in his FX production "Atlanta." Guy D'Alema/FX

Glover created, executive produced, and starred in the FX series "Atlanta." The show highlighted his hometown and told the story of an Ivy League dropout, Earnest Marks, and his cousin, an emerging rapper named Paper Boi.

Glover also produced and released the short film "Guava Island" with entertainment company New Regency, which was filmed in Cuba, starred Rihanna, and premiered at Coachella in 2019.

He is currently working on rebooting the 2005 movie "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" as an Amazon series with Phoebe Waller-Bridge. The show is expected to be released in 2022.

50 Cent works on the award-winning Starz series "Power."

50 Cent stars in "Power," playing a character called Kanan Stark. Starz Originals

Through his production company, G Unit Film & Television, Inc., and a deal with Starz network, the rapper has been involved in the making of "Power," a crime-drama series that stars himself, Omari Hardwick, Naturi Naughton, Rotimi, and La La Anthony.

He also has an upcoming Starz project called "Black Mafia Family." Anthony, Snoop Dogg, and Serayah are set to star.

Gerard Way created Netflix's hit show "The Umbrella Academy."

"My Chemical Romance" frontman Gerard Way wrote and illustrated "The Umbrella Academy" comic book series. Amanda Schwab/AP

The 2019 Netflix series is based on an award-winning 2007 comic-book series written and illustrated by the "My Chemical Romance" frontman.

Ezra Koenig created the animated Netflix show "Neo Yokio."

Ezra Koenig is the frontman for the band Vampire Weekend. Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP

The Vampire Weekend frontman created a forward-thinking anime centered around the life of Kaz Kaan (Jaden Smith), a wealthy Black bachelor who hunts demons on the side.

Jay-Z worked with various filmmakers to produce "Time: The Kalief Browder Story."

Jay-Z coproduced the "Time: The Kalief Browder Story" documentary. Mike Blake/Reuters

Jay-Z was an executive producer on the 2017 docuseries that recounted Browder's wrongful three-year incarceration on Rikers Island.

Diddy has served as an executive producer on various projects, like "The Four: Battle of Stardom."

Sean "Diddy" Combs, Meghan Trainor, and DJ Khaled were judges on "The Four: Battle For Stardom." Ray Mickshaw/Fox

Diddy served as an executive producer on MTV's reality TV show, "Making the Band 2," which premiered in 2002.

In 2008, the rapper produced a feature-film adaptation of the 1959 Broadway play "A Raisin in the Sun."

Diddy continued his TV ventures as an executive producer on his 2008 reality TV series "I Want to Work For Diddy" and the 2018 music competition series "The Four: Battle For Stardom," in which he was also a judge alongside Meghan Trainor and DJ Khaled.