25 celebrities who had their names featured in song titles

Janelle Monae teams up with jazz musician Esperanza Spalding to pay homage to actress and singer Dorothy Dandridge on their 2013 track “Dorothy Dandridge Eyes.” On the track, Monáe reflects on the beauty, poise, and charisma of a woman that mirrors the actress, and people's adoration of her As Monae sings on the hook, “It’s too late, you’re hypnotized / She’s got Dorothy Dandridge eyes / And you love her, you love her, you love her, you love that girl.” 

Pharrell Williams may be known as one of the most notable music producers of all time, but he also dabbles with his own music, proving that he's more than the genius behind the boards for other artists. In 2014, Pharrell released his second solo album GIRL, which featured the second single “Marilyn Monroe.” Although the song is named after the actress, Pharrell uses the track to highlight that someone like Monroe doesn’t compare to the type of girl he wants in his life. 

Some people can dance well, but can they dance like The Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger? That’s the comparison being made on “Moves Like Jagger,” the 2011 single from Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera. Jagger is the type of musician with charisma that can easily draw fans into his realm, something that is stressed in the hook’s lyrics as Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine sings, “I don’t need to try to control you / Look into my eyes and I’ll own you / With them moves like Jagger / I got them moves like Jagger.” 

In 2017, actor and comedian Kevin Hart made headlines about infidelity in his marriage. Rapper J. Cole used the actor’s name in the title of his 2018 single “Kevin’s Heart.” On the track, Cole refers to how people make mistakes in their lives, and if they continue to do wrong, then those wrongdoings done in the dark will be inevitably brought to light. Hart appears in the music video as someone being judged by the public. 

In 2015, rock band Fall Out Boy released their sixth album American Beauty/American Psycho. One fan-favorite single is “Uma Thurman,” named after the Hollywood actress. While the song samples music from the TV series The Munsters, the song refers to characters that Thurman played in films like Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill (both volumes 1 and 2). As the band sings on the hook, “She wants to dance like Uma Thurman / Bury me 'til I confess / She wants to dance like Uma Thurman / And I can't get you out of my head.”

In 2002, R&B singer Kenyon Dixon released his critically-acclaimed album Closer. The album’s opening track “Marvin Gaye” is named after the soul legend and seemingly one of Dixon’s musical inspirations. When fans listen to the track, they can tell that Dixon is mirroring that feeling of hearing a love song from Gaye. Although Gaye isn’t mentioned in the song, his discography is reflected in the lyrics as Dixon sings, “Is it okay if I take my time? / Show you how it feels when I connect to you / Sexual healing all night.”

In 2018, Ariana Grande was briefly engaged to actor and comedian Pete Davidson, and she was ready to tell the world just how he made her feel. Her track “Pete Davidson” gives details of how the relationship came as a sweet surprise and Grande stresses how the universe brought her to her soulmate. Unfortunately, the engagement and relationship didn’t last for them — and they both might be regretting these tattoos they got while together.

On SZA’s 2017 breakout album Ctrl, one of the standout singles was “Drew Barrymore.” In an interview with USA Today, SZA mentioned how Barrymore is one of her favorite actresses, and how she saw a lot of herself in the characters she portrayed. On the track, SZA highlights the feelings of self-doubt, self-confidence, and insecurities that people go through as they grow up. Barrymore herself also makes a cameo appearance in the music video. 

Before Taylor Swift became the worldwide pop star that she is known as today, she started her career as a country singer. Swift’s debut single was named after a country music legend, “Tim McGraw.” On the track, Swift finds herself reflecting on the relationship with her partner. As she sings on the hook, “But when you think Tim McGraw / I hope you think my favorite song / The one we danced to all night long.”

Azealia Banks’ 2018 single “Anna Wintour” is a feel-good track that’s all about one coming into their own and walking confidently while doing it. Named after fashion icon and Vogue editorial director, Banks made it clear that she wanted to name it after Wintour to reflect someone who embodies confidence and power. 

Pop singer Lady Gaga details the type of man she desires on her 2016 track “John Wayne.” Named after the iconic actor who played in a number of Western films, Gaga reflects on her love for cowboys, and she can’t help the way she feels about them. As she sings on the hook, “Every John is just the same / I'm sick of their city games / I crave a real wild man / I'm strung out on John Wayne.”

Sometimes a great song is made when an artist talks a big game, but actually knows how to back it up. Doja Cat and Rico Nasty do just that on their 2019 single “Tia Tamera.” Doja is confident in her physical assets — particularly her breasts, which she has named after the twin actresses Tia Mowry and Tamera Mowry of ABC's Sister, Sister (a part of the network's classic Friday-night "TGIF" lineup) fame. As she sings on the hook, “Hair grow long like Chia / Money go long like Nia / I am the big idea / My twins big like Tia / My twins big like Tia, Tamera.” 

In 2001, virtual band Gorillaz released their self-titled debut album. “Clint Eastwood” became the band’s first single, which was named after the legendary Hollywood actor. On the track, the band highlights how people may not be happy, but better things are typically on the horizon. 

Actress Halle Berrry has been mentioned in songs for quite some time, but rapper Hurricane Chris took it a step further when he named his 2009 single after her. On “Halle Berry (She's Fine),” Chris describes a very attractive woman that he likens to the actress. It’s evident in the second verse as Chris says, “Halle Berry you jazzy, that's way past fine / Girl you look like something that 'posed be on the dance line / Incredible by the waist, plus she got a pretty face / Even tho she got class she listen to UGK.”

In 1994, alternative rock band Weezer came onto the scene with their self-titled debut album. One of the standout singles was named after rock-and-roll singer Buddy Holly. On the track, the band details a person dealing with judgement on his relationship, but trying to cut out the noise and rather focus on himself and his partner. Their stance is evident on the hook as they sing, “Ooh wee ooh, I look just like Buddy Holly / Oh oh, and you're Mary Tyler Moore / I don't care what they say about us anyway / I don't care 'bout that.”

Songs that many Drake fans seem to love the most is when he details his relationship woes. Drake teamed up with songwriter James Fauntleroy on “Girls Love Beyonce,” in which the rapper tells how he’s dealing with insecurities and commitments in a relationship. The song interpolates Destiny’s Child’s 1999 single “Say My Name.” 

Charlie Puth teams up with Meghan Trainor to detail their desire for a night of passion with their partners on their 2015 single “Marvin Gaye.” As they sing on the hook, “Let's Marvin Gaye and get it on / You got the healing that I want / Just like they say it in the song / Until the dawn, let's Marvin Gaye and get it on.” The debut single from Puth reached No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Tiësto and Dzeko teamed up with Preme and Post Malone on their summer anthem “Jackie Chan.” Named after the actor and martial artist, “Jackie Chan” tells the story of a woman who wants to have fun without any commitment. As they sing on the hook, “She say she's too young, don't want no man / So she gon' call her friends, now that's a plan / I just ordered sushi from Japan / Now your b**ch wanna kick it, Jackie Chan.”

In 1984, rock band U2 released their fourth album The Unforgettable Fire. One of the album’s standout tracks was named after a rock legend with “Elvis Presley and America.” The song may be a bit confusing to some listeners, as it doesn't mention Presley in the lyrics at all. 

In 2013, Jay Z released his 12th studio album Magna Carta Holy Grail. He teamed up with producers J-Roc and Timbaland on the album’s second single “Tom Ford.” Named after the fashion designer and filmmaker, the track finds Jay reflecting on his elite status. As he raps on the hook, “I don't pop molly, I rock Tom Ford / International bring back the Concorde / Numbers don't lie, check the scoreboard.”

In 2019, rapper Logic released his fifth album Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, which was led by the single “Keanu Reeves.” Titled after the actor, Logic uses the track to compare himself to Reeves’ character Neo in the 1999 film The Matrix. Logic believes he’s a top talent in the rap game, despite often being criticized by audiences. 

Beloved actor and comedian Robin Williams was always known to bring laughter to different audiences, and the news of him taking his own life in the late summer of 2014 definitely came as a shock to the world. In 2015, CeeLo Green released his single “Robin Williams” to pay homage to the actor, as well as to use the song as an avenue to uplift people when they’re down. As he sings on the hook, “We don't know what the next man's going through / Wish I could say it in a plainer way / I said we don't know, life reminds me of Robin Williams / We've got to laugh the pain away.”

In 2018, Cozz teamed up with J. Cole on his single “Zendaya.” Although the track is named after the actress, the two rappers use the song to reflect on their lives before fame and their musical inspirations growing up. On Cole’s verse, he briefly mentions Cozz’s attraction to Zendaya. 

As any young kid who was a fan of basketball when Shaquille O’Neal was in the NBA, some of them probably believed they would grow up to be his height or just as good in basketball. That was the sentiment on Aaron Carter’s 2001 single “That’s How I Beat Shaq.” In addition to O’Neal making a cameo appearance in the video, Carter used the track to reflect on a dream he had of being victorious against O’Neal in a game. 

Lil Wayne is a huge Los Angeles Lakers fan, and he’s often seen sitting courtside in the Crypto.com Arena. In 2009, he paid homage to his favorite player, Lakers legend Kobe Bryant. On the track, Wayne reflects on how Bryant set the bar high when it comes to the NBA’s most elite players of all time and the records he continued to break.