9 Celebrity Mentors!
Published on March 19, 2014. Updated April 5, 2017Sometimes celebrities take it upon themselves to help counsel and guide younger celebrities, much like a big brother or sister. Mentoring is a pretty big deal. It can help young celebrities avoid some of the missteps of their predecessors so they can hopefully have an easier career. Here is a list of 9 celebrity mentors!
9. Oprah
Oprah has her work cut out for her. The television megastar recently started mentoring one of the most troubled starlets in Hollywood, Lindsay Lohan. Part of the mentoring includes an eight part docu-series that follows the “Mean Girls” star as she adjusts to life in New York City post rehab. Lucky for Lohan, Oprah will also be there to help her maintain a sober life.
Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com8. Elton John
Lady Gaga and Elton John have a surprisingly close relationship. She considers him her mentor and he has given her the mentoring role of a lifetime – playing godmother to his two young sons. “She’s a great role model, she’s young, [and] she’s been a great godmother to Zachary. We’re all bonkers in this business, but we’re human beings at the same time,” John said.
s_bukley / Shutterstock.com7. Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton is not only Miley Cyrus’ godmother – she is also the young singer/actress’ mentor and she has a pretty laissez faire approach to mentoring. “If she needs my opinion on something I will surely give it, and there have been times we’ve talked. But I would never dream of calling her and saying, ‘Well why are you doing this?’ or, ‘You shouldn’t do this or that,’” the country singer said.
DFree / Shutterstock.com6. Whitney Houston
Monica was pretty fortunate – the late Whitney Houston was her mentor. “I look back over many, many years of my life, and Whitney wasn’t the type of person that would call and ask if I was OK; she would actually fly to me. She would come looking for me, she would sit with me. She prepared me and always reminded me to never lose sight of who I was, and I think she could be a testament to that because of what she experienced,” Monica said.
Featureflash / Shutterstock.com5. P. Diddy
P. Diddy became Usher’s mentor back when the “My Way” singer was just a teenager. At the age of 14, Usher went to New York to work with P. Diddy, head of bad Boy Records. He was taken to extravagant parties where drugs and women were easily available. “Puffy’s idea was to make me a bit rougher, with more edge,” Usher said.
Featureflash / Shutterstock.com4. Madonna
When Britney Spears was first establishing herself as a pop sensation, she cited Madonna as one of the biggest influences on her career. It didn’t take long for Madonna to become a mentor to the young singer, collaborating with her on a VMA performance and on a song, “Me Against the Music,” for her fourth album, In the Zone.
Featureflash / Shutterstock.com3. Steven Spielberg
Steven Speilberg is Drew Barrymore’s godfather and her biggest mentor. He directed the starlet in “E.T. the Extra Terrestrial” when she was only six years old and, like any good mentor, he still gives her acting advice. “Steven told me, ‘Don’t act your characters. Be your characters,” Barrymore said. Sounds like good advice to us!
Featureflash / Shutterstock.com2. Usher
Usher – who was mentored by P. Diddy when he was a teenager – has been mentoring Justin Bieber since the young singer’s career began, but don’t expect him to pass on any of his former mentor’s advice. “Hip-hop, sex, drugs and alcohol wouldn’t really work for Justin’s image. He’s headed in the right direction. I’ve told him to do everything I wouldn’t do,” Usher said.
Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com1. Jay Z
Jay Z has been Rihanna’s mentor since he signed her to Def Jam Records in 2004. The rap star is quite protective of his protégé and he reportedly warned Chris Brown – who is more famous for assaulting Rihanna than for his actual music – that if he ever touched her again, he would ruin the “With You” singer’s career.
s_bukley / Shutterstock.com