Even the biggest stars have people they look up to. Many actors and musicians grew up watching, listening to, and copying their own heroes.
Some of them later met those idols, worked with them, or thanked them in public. Here are fifteen famous fans and the stars they admire most.
1. Adele Admires Beyoncé
When Adele won Album of the Year at the 2017 Grammy Awards, she spent part of her speech talking about Beyoncé instead of herself. She called Beyoncé’s album Lemonade monumental and said it spoke to her fans in a deep way.
That moment showed how much respect one superstar can have for another. Adele has also described Beyoncé as an artist who sets the standard for the whole industry, from live shows to storytelling in music.
Here is a fun detail: many viewers noticed that Adele seemed more emotional about Beyoncé’s loss than her own win. Fans still bring up the speech years later as a great example of generosity at an awards show.
Adele’s praise has stayed consistent over the years. She has kept speaking warmly about Beyoncé in interviews and on stage, which makes this one of pop music’s most admired friendships from afar.
2. Billie Eilish Grew Up on Justin Bieber
Long before she won major awards, Billie Eilish was a kid with Justin Bieber posters on her wall. She has said she was a devoted fan and that his music was a big part of her early teenage years.
Years later, her dream moved closer to reality. Bieber joined her on a remix of her hit song Bad Guy in 2019, giving her a full circle moment with her childhood hero.
Eilish has joked that she cried over Bieber when she was younger, which makes the collaboration even sweeter. It is a good reminder that today’s stars were once fans too.
The remix reached a huge audience and showed how two artists from different generations of pop can connect through a shared love of music.
3. Jennifer Lawrence Loves Larry David
Few Hollywood stars are as open about being fans of comedy legends as Jennifer Lawrence. She has spoken publicly about her admiration for Larry David, the co-creator of Seinfeld and the star of Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Lawrence enjoys the way David finds humor in awkward everyday moments. His style of comedy, full of small social slip-ups and stubborn opinions, clearly connects with her own sense of humor.
It makes sense that an actress known for her funny, down-to-earth interviews would admire a comedian who never seems to be playing it safe.
Her praise is a nice example of how an Oscar winner can still get starstruck by someone whose work made her laugh at home on the couch.
4. Emma Stone and Her Leonardo DiCaprio Crush
Imagine having a childhood crush and then receiving an Oscar from him. That is exactly what happened to Emma Stone in 2017, when Leonardo DiCaprio presented her with the Best Actress award for La La Land.
Stone has talked about being a fan of DiCaprio since she was young. His films shaped her love of movies, and she has said he was a big part of the actors she looked up to.
The moment on stage was warm and a little funny, since many viewers knew about her old admiration.
It is a sweet reminder that even Academy Award winners can feel like kids when a hero hands them a trophy.
5. Selena Gomez Looked Up to Britney Spears
For many kids in the early 2000s, Britney Spears was the biggest pop star on the planet. Selena Gomez was one of them, and she has spoken about how much Spears shaped her childhood.
Gomez grew up watching the music videos, dance routines, and stage shows that made Spears famous. Those memories helped inspire her own path into music and performing.
Her admiration has shown up in interviews where she describes the pop star as an icon of her generation.
Gomez later became a star in her own right on television and in music, proving how one performer can spark the dreams of another across the years.
6. Olivia Rodrigo Credits Taylor Swift
Songwriting is a craft, and Olivia Rodrigo has often named Taylor Swift as her teacher from afar. She has said that Swift’s lyrics taught her how to tell personal stories in a way that feels honest.
Rodrigo’s success with her debut album Sour brought her into the spotlight, and she did not hide her inspiration. She has openly thanked Swift in interviews and online.
Swift has also shown support for Rodrigo, which Rodrigo has celebrated publicly. Fans enjoyed seeing a rising artist get a kind word from the star she studied.
It is a great example of how music inspiration moves down the line, from one songwriter to the next.
7. Ariana Grande and Jim Carrey
Ariana Grande has said she was a fan of Jim Carrey from the time she was a little girl. His wild faces, silly voices, and big energy made her love his movies.
She later got to work with him on the Showtime series Kidding, where she played a character in a guest role. Working beside a childhood hero is a rare treat.
Grande has shared how special that experience felt. Carrey’s talent for mixing humor with deeper emotions stood out to her on set.
It shows that fans do not always stay on the sidelines. Sometimes, a long-held admiration leads to a real chance to share a scene.
8. Millie Bobby Brown Raps Nicki Minaj
Millie Bobby Brown has a surprising party trick: she can rap Nicki Minaj lyrics from memory. She has shown it off during interviews, to the delight of hosts and fans.
Brown has said she loves Minaj’s music and her quick, playful style. The Stranger Things star seems to enjoy how bold and expressive the rapper is.
Her performances have gone viral several times, because the contrast between her sweet screen image and fast-paced rap is hard to miss.
It is a fun example of fandom that is open, joyful, and a little bit silly, which is probably why viewers love it so much.
9. Lizzo Finds Strength in Beyoncé
Music can be a lifeline, and for Lizzo, Beyoncé’s songs played that role. She has said that Beyoncé’s work inspired her and helped her through hard times in her life and career.
Lizzo has praised the confidence and power in Beyoncé’s performances. Those qualities show up in her own shows, which are full of energy and self-love messages.
When Beyoncé gave her a shout-out, Lizzo reacted with pure joy, and fans enjoyed the moment online.
Her story is a good example of how an artist’s music can offer comfort to listeners, and how that comfort can grow into new music from someone else.
10. Dwayne Johnson Honors Elvis Presley
Dwayne Johnson is known for movies and wrestling, but he also has a soft spot for the King of Rock and Roll. He has talked about his lifelong love of Elvis Presley and the way the singer’s style stood out.
Johnson has even sung songs linked to Elvis in public, showing a playful side that surprises some fans. His performances are done with respect and a big smile.
Elvis remains one of the best-known entertainers in history, and Johnson’s admiration shows how his influence reaches far beyond music.
It is proof that a fan can come from any career, even one built on action films and big arenas.
11. Anne Hathaway Cheers for RuPaul
On a memorable night on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Anne Hathaway showed how excited she was to talk about RuPaul. Her energy was clear, and viewers could tell her admiration was real.
Hathaway has praised RuPaul’s talent, humor, and impact on pop culture. As the host of RuPaul’s Drag Race, RuPaul has helped bring drag to a wide audience.
The actress has a long history of being warm and enthusiastic toward the people she respects, and this appearance fit that pattern.
Moments like this are fun because they show a famous person acting just like any other fan of a favorite show.
12. Katy Perry and the Madonna Effect
Few artists have shaped pop music like Madonna, and Katy Perry has never hidden her respect. She has often praised the way Madonna opened doors for women in music.
Perry has said that Madonna’s bold approach to fashion, performance, and reinvention influenced her career. You can see it in her colorful stage looks and big concert ideas.
Madonna built a path where pop stars could change styles and still stay on top. Perry has followed a similar road with her own mix of humor and spectacle.
The admiration is a nice nod to how pop history gets passed along, one generation at a time.
13. Lady Gaga Pays Tribute to David Bowie
At the 2016 Grammy Awards, Lady Gaga delivered a performance that honored David Bowie, just weeks after his death. The show featured costumes, music, and visuals that echoed his many looks.
Gaga has repeatedly named Bowie as a major artistic influence. She admires how he mixed music, fashion, and character into one big creative world.
The tribute drew strong reactions, with many viewers praising the care and effort behind it.
For Gaga, the moment was a way to thank an artist who showed her that pop music could be daring and full of imagination.
14. Ed Sheeran and Eminem
Before he sold out stadiums, Ed Sheeran was a teenager listening closely to Eminem. He has said the rapper’s words and flow changed how he thought about writing songs.
That love of lyrics shows up in Sheeran’s fast, story-filled verses. Fans of his music often hear traces of hip-hop in the way he builds a rhythm.
Later, the two musicians worked together, with Eminem joining Sheeran on a track for the album Divide.
It is a neat full-circle story for a singer who grew up memorizing songs by an artist he then got to share a recording with.
15. Bruno Mars the Young Elvis
Long before Grammy trophies, Bruno Mars was a small child in Hawaii performing as Elvis Presley. He became a tiny impersonator who sang and danced at local shows.
He has credited Elvis as an early musical influence. The confident stage style of the King helped him learn how to hold an audience.
Those early years stayed with him. Mars is known for polished live shows, sharp dance moves, and a throwback charm.
His story is proof that childhood hobbies can grow into lasting careers, especially when a hero offers a model for how to perform.
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