Celebrity Roundup: The Top Pop Stars of Today Playing Live Piano

Pop stars get all the fame and all the attention, but they don’t necessarily need to know how to make music. Performers and music artists are two different beasts, after all, but that just makes it all the more special when a pop star is also a talented musician.

The Piano

One of the most beautiful and versatile instruments by far is the piano. From jaunty tunes to adding depth and emotion, this instrument has been in and out of our favorite catchy tunes for generations. Listening to it live, however, and watching your favorite musicians play it live themselves, however, is an entirely different experience.

Who are these pop stars with talent on the piano? Here’s the top roundup:

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga is one of the most influential artists of our time. She can sing, she can write music, she can play (and also act, but that’s for another time). She’s even sung or covered multiple piano-heavy tunes, like Million Reasons. Think her talent is just for show? Think again, as Gaga was once accepted at Julliard for her piano skills.

You won’t just hear the piano music on stage if you catch a live performance, however. More often than not, Lady Gaga will perform the piano herself, accomplishing the difficult task of playing the piano and singing simultaneously.

Her dedication and love of the piano also make it so easy to find piano sheet music that lets you learn and cover her glorious tunes for yourself right at home.

John Legend

John Legend is now an infamous singer with big hits like Ordinary People or All of Me. His music is moving, romantic, and incredibly iconic. What you might not know is that he actually got his big break as a pianist, first.

Legend himself began playing the piano when he was just seven years old, making him quite the accomplished pianist. It wasn’t until he met Lauryn Hill during college, however, that he made his big break: playing the piano on Hill’s Everything is Everything record.

For fans today, you can still hear him play the piano while singing live at his performances – or catch a recording on YouTube.

Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys isn’t just known for playing the piano while performing; she actually named herself after it (her real surname is Cook). Like others in this list, she began playing the piano at the age of seven, and with her talent, graduated at 16 from the Professional Performing Arts School.

Her talent for the piano can be seen during most of her performances where she absolutely shines. Unlike the others, she’s always been far more at ease around the piano than right in the front and center, and we’re better off for it. Between her powerful voice and her talent on the keys, she is something mighty to behold indeed.

Sir Elton John

While Elton John might be retired from touring, it is still possible to catch a performance (either online or in a rare one-off performance of his choosing).

While the singer is largely retired, however, that doesn’t change the fact that he is, by far, one of the best performers who sings while playing piano live. While his piano talent is certainly not in question, it’s the combination that sets him apart. Unlike traditional singing/piano melodies, Elton John’s typically run counter to the melody. This means he’s playing two tunes at once.