Ex-act has become a widely popular term on social media when it comes to certain musicians. Social media s are inclined to come up with new phrases that those who aren't chronically online might not understand. For example, fans of stars like Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift's pop daughters called Taydaughters.

Unlike the previous examples, the phrase "ex-act" is a widely popular term that has been around for years. The term mainly focuses on current singers who, instead of immediately breaking into the music industry, got their start in the acting world on children's television.

An Ex-Act Is An Artist Who Started On Nickelodeon Or Disney Channel

The Star Later Transitioned Into Music

An ex-act is an artist who started out on a popular children's network like Nickelodeon or Disney Channel. Typically, the show is used as a springboard for a music career. While Disney is best known for taking their former stars and turning them into pop stars, Nickelodeon followed suit in the 2000s with stars like iCarly's Miranda Cosgrove and Jennette McCurdy launching music careers.

While Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Justin Timberlake were of The Mickey Mouse Club, they're rarely considered ex-acts: The three launched their music careers in the late '90s, a few years after the Disney show ended, and on record labels completely separate from the company. They also differ because The Mickey Mouse Club was a variety show, not a sitcom built around them as the main stars.

Instead, Lizzie McGuire star Hilary Duff is typically considered the first ex-act. After the success of the show and its 2003 movie, Duff signed with Disney's Hollywood Records to launch her music career. Duff became the blueprint for taking young actors from popular kids' shows and transitioning them into pop stardom.

Who Are The Biggest Current Ex-Acts?

A Lot Have Achieved Massive Success

Since Hilary Duff, Nickelodeon and Disney Channel have used this formula countless times, with some artists becoming more successful than others. Miley Cyrus gained massive fame from Hannah Montana and has sold millions of albums around the world since. In 2024, she won her first two Grammys for her song "Flowers" and won another earlier this year for her collaboration with Beyoncé. She's also a two-time Golden Globe nominee and has gained respect from music industry legends like Elton John and Stevie Nicks.

While Cyrus was thriving on Disney Channel, Selena Gomez was also succeeding with Wizards of Waverly Place. Gomez recently released an album with her fiancé, Benny Blanco, that debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. The star has succeeded in her acting career as well, with Emmy and Golden Globe nominations and a recent SAG Award win. However, she's continued to impress fans with her music throughout the years, even getting nominated for a Grammy back in 2022. As of late 2024, Gomez is worth an estimated $1.3 billion, mostly thanks to her beauty brand, Rare.

Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter are two of the most recent ex-acts to dominate the music industry. Rodrigo started out on Disney Channel's Bizaardvark back in 2016 and later starred in the Disney Plus series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. In 2021, she released her debut album, SOUR, and she's currently a three-time Grammy winner. Carpenter, on the other hand, started out in 2014 on Girl Meets World and quickly signed on with Hollywood Records to release her first album, Eyes Wide Open. The star would release five albums before her mainstream breakthrough album, Short n' Sweet. The "Espresso" singer is a two-time Grammy winner and is currently on her Short n' Sweet tour.

Despite Disney's success, Nickelodeon became tough competition when Ariana Grande hit the music scene. Before her 2016 role in Hairspray Live! or 2024's Wicked, Grande started on Broadway in 13. She then landed a role as Cat Valentine in Nickelodeon's Victorious before becoming one of the biggest pop stars of the 2010s. Grande is best known as Glinda at the moment, even scoring an Oscar nomination for Best ing Actress. However, Grande's pop music career is unforgettable. The singer is a two-time Grammy winner with nine number-one songs on the Billboard Hot 100 and six number-one albums on the Billboard 200.

Who Has Had The Best Post-Nickelodeon or Disney Channel Music Career?

Who Wins The Ex-Act Fan Wars?

Fans online have had a field day comparing the careers of the ex-acts to see who is the most successful. The truth is that everyone is successful in their own right, and they've all created unique careers for themselves. Even former Disney stars like Demi Lovato and The Jonas Brothers have seen success since leaving the network, with the boyband currently celebrating their 20th anniversary as a group. It's also undeniable that Hilary Duff had a significant post-Disney Channel career as she was the first to do it. That being said, Ariana Grande's tremendous and versatile career is undeniable.

The singer's first album debuted at number one on Billboard's 200, and what made this extra impressive compared to other ex-acts is that Grande wasn't even the main character on her show. While she was always ired for her impressive vocals, she had to work extra hard to stand out. Grande released her first song, "The Way," in 2013, and her following songs would shape the 2010s decade. Her song "Thank U, Next" and the album of the same title would send shock waves through the industry, and its music video, inspired by several 2000s movies, would do the same.

Even as the "Yes, And?" singer transitioned back into acting for Wicked, she still had a number-one album with Eternal Sunshine. Like Cyrus, Grande has gained the respect of industry legends. From Mariah Carey to Patti Labelle, Grande is beloved by so many of the icons that came before her. Many of the ex-acts have found success after their shows ended, but Ariana Grande set a new standard for what could be achieved.