10 Celeb Mentors Breaking the Hollywood Stereotype by Uplifting Their Fellow Stars

Beasley Media Group has an on-going commitment to making a difference in the local communities we serve; this has been the foundation upon which the company was built back in 1961, when George Beasley purchased his first radio station in North Carolina! We proudly continue that tradition today, with four initiatives a year. This time around, our theme is “Join In, Give Back!” Everyone has something to offer to the next generation, and we’re looking at musicians that share their time to serve as mentors, and the organizations that promote mentoring.  

As the saying goes, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. In most of our own careers and personal lives, success is based on that perfect combination of hard work and being in the right place at the right time.

In Hollywood, the stakes can be even higher as the competition can be cutthroat and the odds are stacked against most people with a dream of “making it.” Even when stars do find success, often what we hear about are the downsides of the industry like abuses of power, feuds and bitter rivalries.

But not all stars live up to that reputation of being a nightmare. In fact, many celebrities have used their time, their efforts and even their money to help out those coming after them. Even more impressive is that many of them do so behind the scenes, never asking for recognition and often going completely under the radar.

From Oprah to Denzel Washington to Meryl Streep, check out some of our favorite Hollywood mentors.

Denzel Washington has been vocal about the role that the Boys and Girls Club played in his own life.

“The Boys & Girls Club helped make me the man that I am today,” Denzel has said. “The staff at the Mt. Vernon Boys & Girls Club invested their time in developing me and that is why I have been the National spokesperson for Boys & Girls Clubs of America for more than 20 years.”

And beyond being the spokesman, Washington has also helped some of today’s biggest stars get on their feet.

Power star Omari Hardwick, in fact, credits Denzel and his wife Pauletta Washington from saving him from homelessness.

Before fame, when Hardwick was a struggling actor, he said the Washingtons “gave me shelter when I didn’t have a place to stay or whatever but they sort of allowed me to be close enough to the family so I sort of transitioned into getting agent … the whole thing … doing all these odd jobs.”

Hardwick also added that Pauletta who actually reached out to him and paid for his car not to get repossessed.

Washington has also been credited with helping Chadwick Boseman, who thanked him last year for paying for his acting classes.

Oprah’s ability to identify and create stars is one of the most remarkable things about her own star power. The former talk-show host and media mogul has been instrumental in uplifting people in multiple genres, including media, lifestyle, healthcare, spirituality and so much more.

Among the most notable of her mentees are Dr. Oz, Rachael Ray, Iyanla Vanzant, Ava DuVernay, Nate Berkus and many more.

Usher knows a thing or two about evolving his career beyond being a young pop heartthrob. And the singer isn’t shy about lending his expertise to helping aspiring artists.

Usher's best-known mentee is now one of the world’s biggest stars, Justin Bieber.

After hearing him on YouTube when he was just a child, Usher decided to take on Bieber as an artist and protégé and has been in his corner ever since.

Even through Bieber’s biggest controversies, Usher’s support has never wavered.

“As a mentor, he’s accepted my opinion, I can give him my perspective. He’s like a child to me, so I don’t necessarily feel like it’s business, you know what I’m saying? I feel like I’m talking to someone who has had hardships,” Usher explained. “If your child ever has difficulties, every person who’s listening to this s*** right now understands that nobody’s perfect. You’re gonna have moments. And if he does, I can only show him the reality of what has happened … of course we’ve had stern talks.”

Meryl Streep is often considered the greatest actress of her generation, but she’s also been happy to share her talents and wisdom in the space with actresses whom she believes in.

Most notably, she has been a longtime supporter of her friend and fellow acting titan Viola Davis. When Davis won the SAG Award in 2009 for the film Doubt, Streep enthusiastically praised her co-star: “My God, somebody give her a movie.” And her suggestion worked – just a few short years later, Davis starred in The Help.

Years later, when Davis was given her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Streep introduced her friend by saying, “Viola Davis is possessed. She is possessed to the blazing, incandescent power. She is arguably the most immediate, responsive artist I have ever worked with.”

Dolly may be known for her incredible, storied career, but she has also been instrumental in career development in a number of other young stars. Most notably, Miley Cyrus, whom she has not only collaborated with but to whom she is also a godmother.

Cyrus has said that Parton has helped her develop her voice and talents as a musician, as well giving her access to her closet. But most notably, Cyrus says Parton has shared life lessons with her.

“Seriously, watching the way she treats people with love and respect," she has said. "Always a reminder to me and my family of what is important. Never let success change your heart.”

These days, Kanye is best known for his outlandish statements and his antics, but the rapper has also been responsible for discovering and mentoring some of music’s biggest names today.

Having discovered Big Sean and John Legend, Kanye certainly has an eye for talent.

Even Legend noted that being prepared to meet Kanye, to whom he was introduced by a friend, was critical.

"Dare I say, luck is when opportunity meets preparation or preparation meets opportunity," said Legend. "Part of it is just being prepared and working on your craft, and then, when the opportunity comes along, you're able to seize that."

John has given us some of the greatest songs of all time, and he’s also lent advice from his long and storied career to some of pop’s biggest artists.

Lady Gaga has said that throughout her career, Elton John has been a dear friend and mentor to her. She’s paid tribute to him by dressing up as him when she performed his song, “Your Song,” and she’s also the godmother to his sons.

But Gaga isn’t the only famous act John has mentored. He’s become great friends with singer Ed Sheeran and often gives him advice on his career.

“You have a heyday and you have a rest, and the heyday can never be replaced,” John said to Sheeran. “After that, I had the common sense to know I’m not going to have a number one every time straight away. I knew someone else would take over. It’s cyclical. Ed will go through that and I’ve talked to him about it. I’ve said, ‘There’ll come a time where this won’t happen every time and you have to accept that.’”

Much like his friend and protégé Kanye West, Jay Z has become just as known for discovering and fostering talent as he has for his own music. Jay’s label Roc Nation boasts some of music’s biggest names these days like J. Cole, Shakira and DJ Khaled.

But perhaps his biggest protégé is Rihanna, whom he signed to Def Jam back in 2005.

"I was very shy. I was cold the entire time. I had butterflies. I'm sitting across from Jay-Z. Like, Jay-Zee. I was star-struck,” Rihanna said.

Since then, they've worked together on some of her biggest hits like “Umbrella” and “Run This Town” and the word is that they have a new collaboration on the way.

Jennifer is one of the most well-liked actresses in Hollywood, with A-list friends like Courteney Cox, Ellen DeGeneres and Reese Witherspoon. But Aniston has also been a longtime friend and mentor to Selena Gomez, who has named Aniston as one of her top influences.

"We have the same manager," Aniston told E! News of her protege. "She's just like a little cherub that I feel like I wanna take care of. And we've just met through our manager. She's been extremely supportive and wonderful."

Aniston has not only given Gomez quite a bit of what the singer describes as “maternal advice,” but Aniston was also reportedly was there for Gomez during her health struggles following a kidney transplant in 2017.

Diddy is famous for many things, but his eye for talent and his work ethic are arguably the most notable. Diddy is responsible for the music of the late hip hop icon Notorious B.I.G., as well as countless other artists like Faith Evans, Mary J. Blige, Danity Kane, Mase, French Montana and many more.

But his influence extends far beyond music. Diddy has also mentored numerous music and branding executives as well.

Are you interested in mentoring? You can be a mentor through the Boys and Girls Club of America. Go to their website for more information.