20 Celebrities Who Used to Be Cheerleaders

Cheerleading has long been a training ground for athleticism, precision, and stage presence, and plenty of famous faces got their start calling chants on the sidelines. From high school squads to professional teams, these future stars learned teamwork, timing, and crowd command well before their big breaks.

Below are twenty celebrities who once wore the uniform. You’ll see where they cheered, what those experiences looked like, and how their early time on the mat or the field fit into the careers they built in entertainment, sports entertainment, news, and music.

Paula Abdul

Paula Abdul cheered for the Los Angeles Lakers as a Laker Girl and quickly became the team’s head choreographer. Before that, she cheered in high school, studied dance, and auditioned for the Lakers squad while still in college, blending technical dance training with the high-energy style pro basketball crowds expect.

Her choreography career took off from the sidelines, leading to major music-video and tour work and later a recording career of her own. She served as a longtime judge on ‘American Idol’, bringing a cheer captain’s eye for sync, form, and performance to prime-time TV.

Teri Hatcher

Teri Hatcher performed with the San Francisco 49ers’ Gold Rush cheerleaders, appearing at NFL games and team events. The role involved rigorous rehearsals, precision routines, and promotional appearances that demanded poise in front of large stadium crowds.

She moved into television and film, starring in ‘Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman’ and ‘Desperate Housewives’. Years of game-day performing translated to stage comfort and camera readiness during a screen career that required the same timing and presence honed on the sidelines.

Stacy Keibler

Before WWE and acting, Stacy Keibler cheered for the Baltimore Ravens. As part of an NFL squad, she trained in dance-based cheer, performed complex sideline and halftime routines, and represented the franchise in community events.

She later transitioned to sports entertainment and television, bringing that discipline to live arenas and reality TV appearances including ‘Dancing with the Stars’. Her cheerleading background provided foundation in synchronization, crowd work, and athletic flexibility used throughout her public career.

Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson was a cheerleader at Morehouse College, joining the squad that supported campus athletics and traveled for games. College cheer at the time emphasized lifts, stunts, and crowd leadership, skills that require trust and precision with teammates.

He later pursued acting, building a prolific film career with roles in projects such as ‘Pulp Fiction’ and ‘The Avengers’. Early experience projecting to big audiences and coordinating complex group movement paralleled demands of stage and on-set ensemble work.

Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon cheered at Harding Academy in Nashville during middle school. Balancing cheer with academics, she took part in practices that stress memory, timing, and clean technique for pep rallies and game days.

She went on to lead films and series including ‘Legally Blonde’, ‘Big Little Lies’, and ‘The Morning Show’. The command and clarity needed to hit marks in cheer routines align with the consistency required on set for dialogue, blocking, and performance continuity.

Sandra Bullock

Sandra Bullock cheered at Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, Virginia (now Washington-Liberty High School). Along with school performances, she took part in other extracurriculars that required scheduling discipline and teamwork.

Her subsequent film career includes projects such as ‘Speed’ and ‘Miss Congeniality’. The rehearsal habits and timing learned in cheerleading mirror the precision needed for stunt coordination, ensemble scenes, and press appearances.

Halle Berry

Halle Berry cheered at Bedford High School in Ohio, where she also took part in student leadership and pageantry. Cheerleading at Bedford required regular practice, community representation, and game-day consistency.

She later achieved major recognition in film, with credits ranging from ‘Monster’s Ball’ to ‘X-Men’. Public-facing responsibilities from her cheer years provided experience with interviews, appearances, and large-event protocols used throughout her career.

Fergie

Fergie was a cheerleader at Glen A. Wilson High School in Hacienda Heights, California. Training covered dance technique, stamina, and synchronized routines suitable for gymnasiums and football fields.

After early TV work, she rose to prominence in music and touring, including with The Black Eyed Peas. Live performance fundamentals from cheer—sharp counts, breath control, and quick formations—carry directly into concert staging and televised appearances.

Jessica Simpson

Jessica Simpson was a cheerleader at Richardson North Junior High in Richardson, Texas. Practices focused on motion technique, pep-rally performances, and coordination with band and athletics schedules during football and basketball seasons.

She later attended J.J. Pearce High School while developing her music career and auditioning for professional opportunities. Early experience performing in front of school crowds supported her transition to stage work, studio sessions, and appearances on ‘Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica’.

Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood cheered at Checotah High School in Oklahoma, supporting school athletics and community events. Practices centered on sharp motions, safe stunting principles, and consistent game-day energy.

She advanced into a leading role in country music after winning ‘American Idol’, with extensive touring and televised performances. The projection, presence, and timing nurtured in cheerleading align with the demands of live music production and network broadcasts.

Dakota Fanning

Dakota Fanning was a cheerleader at Campbell Hall School in Los Angeles while maintaining an active acting schedule. Balancing coursework, practices, and performances required careful time management and coordination with school faculty.

She continued working in film and television, with credits including ‘War of the Worlds’ and ‘The Twilight Saga’. Experience splitting responsibilities between academics, athletics, and sets demonstrated an early capacity for schedule discipline and professional readiness.

Kendall Jenner

Kendall Jenner cheered at Sierra Canyon School in the Los Angeles area. The role included school spirit events, halftime routines, and appearances that represent the student body.

Parallel to school activities, she appeared on ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ and pursued international modeling. Familiarity with choreography, formation spacing, and performing in front of cameras supported runway work and on-screen segments.

Kylie Jenner

Kylie Jenner also cheered at Sierra Canyon School, participating in sideline and rally performances. Commitment to practices and game schedules provided structure alongside her early media obligations.

She later built a significant business presence while appearing on ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ and ‘The Kardashians’. Experience with rehearsed performance and live-event timing helped prepare for product launches, campaigns, and televised features.

Denise Richards

Denise Richards was a cheerleader at El Camino High School in Oceanside, California. Alongside cheer, she pursued modeling, which involved travel, test shoots, and early professional scheduling.

Her acting career includes roles in ‘Starship Troopers’ and ‘The World Is Not Enough’, and she later appeared on ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’. Experiences with choreography and presentation carried into action scenes, press tours, and reality television production.

Jenna Dewan

Jenna Dewan cheered at Grapevine High School in Texas, where she also trained extensively in dance. High school cheer required consistent conditioning, clean lines, and performance presence across pep rallies and games.

She later worked as a professional dancer and actor, including a breakout in ‘Step Up’, and hosted ‘World of Dance’. The crossover between cheer technique and professional choreography supported her transition to tours, film sets, and televised competitions.

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep was a cheerleader at Bernards High School in New Jersey, participating in game-day performances and school events. Alongside cheer, she studied voice and appeared in school theater productions, building a foundation in performance and stagecraft.

She pursued drama training before moving to stage and screen, later leading films such as ‘The Devil Wears Prada’, ‘Sophie’s Choice’, and ‘The Iron Lady’. Early practice projecting to crowds and maintaining presence during live events aligned with the vocal control and focus required in professional acting.

Renée Zellweger

Renée Zellweger was a cheerleader at Katy High School in Texas, participating in football-season performances and pep assemblies. The role involved precision, teamwork, and public presentation in front of large student and community crowds.

She studied at the University of Texas at Austin before building a major film career with projects such as ‘Jerry Maguire’ and ‘Bridget Jones’s Diary’. The practice and focus required in cheerleading parallel the preparation demanded by leading film roles and promotional circuits.

Madonna

Madonna cheered at Rochester Adams High School in Michigan, taking part in pep rallies and game-day routines while also studying dance and performing in school activities. The program emphasized synchronized motions, stamina, and strong projection to large crowds.

She later built a global music and film career with projects including ‘Evita’ and ‘A League of Their Own’. The showmanship and discipline expected on the sidelines fed directly into live touring, music videos, and stage performances.

Blake Lively

Blake Lively was a cheerleader at Burbank High School in California. Practices focused on clean motions, timing, and school-spirit events that required dependable stage presence.

She went on to star in television and film, including ‘Gossip Girl’, ‘The Shallows’, and ‘A Simple Favor’. The comfort performing in front of audiences and cameras translated to on-set confidence and publicity appearances.

Eva Longoria

Eva Longoria cheered at Roy Miller High School in Corpus Christi, Texas, where she balanced athletic commitments with academic and community activities. The role called for precise routines, teamwork, and frequent performances at school events.

She later moved into modeling and acting, ultimately starring in ‘Desperate Housewives’ and producing a range of film and television projects. Experience with choreography and live presentation supported on-camera work and large-scale event hosting.

Have another name to add to the roster? Share your pick in the comments and tell us who we should feature next!