Famous musicians and their famous mentors

For young artists trying to make it in the music industry, having a famous musician show them the ropes and help put them in the right places can be a huge advantage. Many successful musicians have “paid it forward” by taking new artists under their wing. 

Here are a few well-known examples of mentorship in the music industry: 

Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton 

Parton is actually Miley Cyrus’s godmother – the country superstar got close to the “Party in the U.S.A” singer’s father, Billy Rae Cyrus, in the 1990s. She has also acted as a mentor to Cyrus since her Disney channel days on “Hannah Montana”, appearing as “Aunt Dolly”. Parton provided guidance for Cyrus as she broke out as a solo artist, and the two have collaborated on multiple projects, including NBC’s “Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party in 2023, and a collaboration on Parton’s 2023 album Rockstar. 

Trent Reznor and David Bowie 

Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor toured with David Bowie in the 1990s. Bowie’s music had already been a huge influence on Reznor – especially albums like Scary Monsters. On tour, Bowie joined his protege for performances of “Hurt”, and also gave him advice on dealing with the pressures of fame. “There were a number of times where the two of us were alone, and he said some things that weren’t scolding, but pieces of wisdom that stuck with me: ‘You know, there is a better way here, and it doesn’t have to end in despair or in death, in the bottom,'” Reznor told Exclaim in 2016. 

Lizzo and Prince 

Many successful artists can call Prince their mentor – including Lizzo. The Purple One took a young Lizzo, who was performing in girl groups at the time, as his protege at his Paisley Park estate in Minnesota. The late icon was dedicated to help foster the careers of Black women creatives. “My relationship with Prince was like Charlie and we were the Angels,” she told David Letterman on his Netflix show. “It was kind of like that.”

Qunicy Jones and Ray Charles 

Ray Charles was only a couple of years older than a young Quincy Jones – but he was a big inspiration to the young man who would later become a music industry titan. Jones’ first collaboration with Ray Charles happened when he was just 14 and Charles was 16. “He was just an energetic young kid and he really loved music. You could tell that he wanted to learn, he wanted to know, Charles said of the mentorship. “And since I was able to show him some things, that made me happy, that’s what stirred my heart. I could help this kid.” Jones would go on to become a multi-talented musician, producer, and composer – a true music industry legend. 

Elton John and Lady Gaga 

aphrodite-in-nyc, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Sir Elton John has a long list of proteges in the music industry – among them, avant garde pop artist Lady Gaga. Gaga broke through the music industry on her own, but John quickly took her under his wing once she emerged – backing her performance at the 2009 GRAMMY Awards, the first one for Gaga. Gaga is also the godmother of John’s children with David Furnish.