Some skills begin on the band bus.
Before cameras, world stages, or the Oval Office, these famous band members were sharing rides with their bandmates.
Think about your own band bus. A friend asks about your weekend, and you practice telling a story. Someone asks your opinion, and you put your thoughts into words. You introduce yourself, listen to a different perspective, or discover what makes someone laugh.
Those conversations can build confidence in answering questions and connecting with others—skills that may serve you in college interviews, auditions, careers, or in front of a camera.
On the bus, you have opportunities to find your voice and make room for someone else’s.
You may think you are just talking on the way to contest. You could be practicing skills that last long after the ride ends.
Featured Personalities
Dolly Parton
- Played
- Drums and Majorette
- High school
- Sevier County High School · Sevierville, Tennessee
- Known for
- Country music artist, businesswoman, philanthropist
Lizzo
- Played
- Flute, Piccolo, and French Horn
- High school
- Alief Elsik High School · Houston, Texas
- Known for
- Singer, songwriter, rapper, actress
Jennifer Garner
- Played
- Saxophone
- High school
- George Washington High School · Charleston, West Virginia
- Known for
- Actor, film producer, spokesperson
Vince Carter
- Played
- Euphonium and Drum Major
- High school
- Mainland High School · Daytona Beach, Florida
- Known for
- Basketball player
Bill Clinton
- Played
- Saxophone and Drum Major
- High school
- Hot Springs High School · Hot Springs, Arkansas
- Known for
- 42nd President of the United States
Julia Roberts
- Played
- Oboe
- High school
- Campbell High School · Smyrna, Georgia
- Known for
- Actress
Jimmy Kimmel
- Played
- Clarinet
- High school
- Ed W. Clark High School · Las Vegas, Nevada
- Known for
- Television host
Aretha Franklin
- Played
- Tuba
- High school
- Northern High School · Detroit, Michigan
- Known for
- Singer-songwriter, producer, civil-rights activist
Neil Armstrong
- Played
- Euphonium
- High school
- Blume High School · Wapakoneta, Ohio
- Known for
- Astronaut and first person to walk on the Moon
Samuel L. Jackson
- Played
- Trumpet, Piccolo, and French Horn
- High school
- Riverside High School · Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Known for
- Actor, director, civil-rights activist
Amanda Seyfried
- Played
- Clarinet
- High school
- William Allen High School · Allentown, Pennsylvania
- Known for
- Actress, singer
Vanessa Williams
- Played
- French Horn, Piano, Violin
- High school
- Horace Greeley High School · Chappaqua, New York
- Known for
- Singer, actress, Broadway performer
Steven Spielberg
- Played
- Clarinet
- High school
- Saratoga High School · Saratoga, California
- Known for
- Film director, producer, screenwriter
Ewan McGregor
- Played
- French Horn, Drums
- High school
- Morrison’s Academy · Crieff, Scotland
- Known for
- Actor, singer, director
Other Famous People Who Were in Band
Flute
Alanis Morissette · Halle Berry · Celine Dion · Terry Crews · Calista Flockhart · George Eastman · Alyssa Milano · Noah Webster · Gwen Stefani · Tina Fey · Molly Erdman · James Wolfensohn · Knute Rockne · Oscar Robertson · Patrick Henry · John Quincy Adams · Sarah Palin
Oboe
Julia Roberts · Dennis O'Hare
Clarinet
Rainn Wilson · Woody Allen · Gloria Estefan · Tony Shalhoub · Eva Longoria · Michael DeBakey · Allan Greenspan · Steven Spielberg · Robert Reid · Amy Acuff
Bass Clarinet
Zakk Wylde · George Segal
Saxophone
Allan Greenspan · Roy Williams · David Robinson · Fred MacMurray · Tedy Bruschi · Bob Hope · Lionel Richie · Tyler Wright · Tom Selleck · Richard Gere · Ronald McNair · Robert Ryman
Trumpet
James Woods · John Glenn · Michael Anthony · Drew Carey · Kesha · Steven Tyler · Prince Charles · Montel Williams · Peter Weller · Steve Earle · Shania Twain · Flea · Jackie Gleason · Eric Lindros · Brandon Routh · Samuel L. Jackson
French Horn
Ewan McGregor · Vanessa Williams · Otto Graham · Henry Cisneros · Samuel L. Jackson
Trombone
Jonathan Frakes · Bill Engvall · Nelly Furtado · Conrad Janis · Bobby Bowden · John Pankow · Tony Stewart · Fred Rogers
Baritone
Neil Armstrong
Tuba
Andy Griffith · Malik Rose · Thomas F. Wilson · Harry Smith · Dan Aykroyd · Aretha Franklin
Percussion
Mike Anderson · Tommy Lee · Adam Brody · Tracy Simien · Johnny Depp · Eddie George · Trent Reznor · Dana Carvey · Vinnie Paul · Walter Payton · Johnny Carson · Mike Piazza · Emeril Lagasse · Rosie O’Donnell
As we look back on the legendary figures who once stood on the same turf as today’s students, a shared path becomes clear. Discipline, teamwork, creativity, and perseverance travel well—and the next remarkable story may already be marching across the field.
