Before they topped the charts, packed the arenas, or lit up the big screen, these entertainers and musicians answered a different call: to serve their country. For some, the military provided structure and opportunity. For others, it was a turning point that influenced their worldview and artistic voice. In each instance, their time in the military became a part of the story behind their success. Here are 15 Black celebrities and musicians whose military service contributed to the legends they became.
15. Zach Bryan
Before his raspy, heartfelt songs turned him into a country sensation, Zach Bryan was serving as a Petty Officer Second Class in the U.S. Navy. Military service runs deep in his family, and he carried that legacy forward while stationed overseas in places like Bahrain and Djibouti. During deployment, he began writing and posting songs online. A simple iPhone video of him performing “Heading South” outside his Navy barracks went viral, launching his career almost overnight. Bryan stayed in the Navy until 2021, when he received an honorable discharge to pursue music full-time. His songwriting still carries the honesty and grit that defined his years in uniform.
14. Sturgill Simpson
Sturgill Simpson enlisted in the U.S. Navy right after high school and was stationed in Japan with the Pacific Fleet. The experience exposed him to a world far beyond his Kentucky upbringing. After leaving the service, Simpson bounced between jobs before committing fully to music. His album Metamodern Sounds in Country Music pushed genre boundaries, while A Sailor’s Guide to Earth drew directly from his Navy years and life as a young father. His time in the military broadened his perspective, and that perspective reshaped modern country music.
13. Shaggy
Born Orville Richard Burrell, Shaggy moved from Jamaica to New York and later joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He served as an artilleryman and deployed to the Middle East during the Gulf War. Even while in uniform, he pursued music, sometimes clashing with military responsibilities as he traveled for performances. After his discharge in 1992, he focused on his craft, eventually winning a Grammy Award and becoming one of reggae’s biggest global stars. Shaggy still honors his service by performing for troops, blending patriotism with rhythm.
12. MC Hammer
Before the parachute pants and platinum records, Stanley “MC Hammer” Burrell served three years in the U.S. Navy as an Aviation Storekeeper. Faced with tough choices in his youth, Hammer chose the discipline of military life. That structure later fueled his meteoric rise in hip-hop, with hits like “U Can’t Touch This” dominating the early ’90s. His journey from Navy serviceman to pop culture icon shows how a strong foundation can change everything.
11. Ice-T
Tracy Marrow, better known as Ice-T, enlisted in the Army to support his young family. He served four years with the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii. During his time in service, he invested in music equipment and began developing his sound. After leaving the Army, he became a pioneering figure in hip-hop before transitioning into acting, where he’s long starred on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Ice-T’s discipline and drive were sharpened in the military tools he carried into every chapter of his career.
10. Jimi Hendrix
Before revolutionizing rock music, Jimi Hendrix enlisted in the Army in 1961 and trained with the 101st Airborne Division as a paratrooper. An ankle injury cut his military career short, but after his discharge, he poured his energy into mastering the guitar. Forming The Jimi Hendrix Experience, he transformed rock with his innovative style and unforgettable performances. His road to greatness wasn’t straightforward, but it was unforgettable.
9. Tony Bennett
Drafted during World War II, Tony Bennett served as an infantryman in Europe, witnessing some of the war’s most intense battles. He was also present during the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp. After returning home, he studied music on the GI Bill and launched a career that spanned decades, earning numerous Grammy Awards. His voice carried warmth and humanity qualities shaped by both hardship and hope.
8. Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson enlisted in the Air Force after high school but was discharged less than a year later due to back problems. Though his service was brief, Nelson has long advocated for veterans, supporting healthcare initiatives and raising awareness about homelessness among former service members. His connection to the military community extends beyond his own experience.
7. Kris Kristofferson
Kris Kristofferson followed a family tradition by joining the Army, where he trained as a helicopter pilot and became a Ranger. Though he considered a military career, music ultimately called him elsewhere. He later became one of country music’s most respected songwriters, penning classics like “Me and Bobby McGee.” His disciplined background and poetic instincts made for a rare and compelling combination.
6. Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash served in the Air Force as a Morse code operator stationed in Germany during the early years of the Cold War. While overseas, he bought his first guitar and formed a band. After his discharge, he used the GI Bill to study broadcasting before launching his legendary music career. The “Man in Black” carried the lessons of service with him long after he hung up the uniform.
5. John Fogerty
John Fogerty, frontman of Creedence Clearwater Revival, served in the Army Reserve during the Vietnam era. Though he remained stateside, the political climate of the time deeply influenced his songwriting. Songs like “Fortunate Son” became powerful commentaries on inequality and war. His service shaped both his worldview and his music.
4. James Earl Jones
Before becoming the renowned voice of Darth Vader in the Star Wars series and Mufasa in The Lion King, James Earl Jones was an Army officer during the Korean War. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant but eventually became a first lieutenant before he chose to pursue an acting career. His authoritative demeanor and distinctive voice are a testament to the confidence and discipline he acquired during his stint as an Army officer.
3. Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman enlisted in the Air Force in 1955, serving as a radar technician. Though he once dreamed of becoming a pilot, he ultimately left the service to chase acting. His calm authority and distinctive voice have made him one of Hollywood’s most respected actors, earning multiple Academy Award nominations and a win for Million Dollar Baby. The discipline he gained in uniform never left him.
2. Jackie Robinson
Before breaking baseball’s color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Jackie Robinson served in the Army during World War II. He was court-martialed and later honorably discharged after refusing to move to the back of a segregated military bus. His courage in the military foreshadowed the strength he would show in Major League Baseball and the broader Civil Rights Movement. Robinson’s fight for equality extended far beyond the ballfield.
1. Harry Belafonte
Harry Belafonte enlisted in the Navy at 17 and served during World War II. Stationed at Port Chicago, he witnessed firsthand the racial inequalities within the armed forces. After the war, he used the GI Bill to study acting, launching a career that would make him the “King of Calypso.” Beyond music and film, Belafonte became a tireless civil rights activist and close ally of Martin Luther King Jr. His life blended service, artistry, and activism in powerful ways.
These artists and entertainers prove that service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off. For some, the military offered structure. For others, it provided perspective, resilience, or a spark that ignited creativity. Their stories remind us that talent and duty can coexist and that sometimes, the road to stardom begins with a salute.