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The Rise of Vegan Musicians: 17 Artists Leading the Way

Picture credits: Billie Eilish - Justin Higuchi/ CC-BY-2.0

Have you noticed the music industry is jam-packed with vegan musicians? Usher just went vegan, Harry Styles no longer eats meat, and some of the world's top artists are now advocating for a healthier, more ethical lifestyle! In fact, musicians have been joining the meat-free bandwagon for decades. Joan Jett went vegetarian in the 80s, Paul McCartney ditched meat in the 70s, and Moby has been vegan for over 30 years! It's no surprise more and more celebs have caught on over the years, with role models like these!

From rock to hip-hop to pop stars, here are some of the most influential vegan musicians!

Billie Eilish

Picture Credits: crommelincklars /CC-BY-2.0

The youngest person to win the four biggest categories at the Grammy's, Billie Eilish is a musical prodigy. However, music is not the only thing this 21-year-old singer cares about. She's also a vegan activist, having spoken out on animal cruelty in factory farms, and encouraging her fans to go vegan without trying to “force it” on anyone. “I don't eat [meat] because I have my own reasons for not eating it and I have my own beliefs and I have my own feelings of wanting to save animals and save the planet and whatever. And, like, I'm not gonna force anybody to do that because I wouldn't want them to force me. But that doesn't mean I'm not gonna try to make the world a better place,” she told 3FM in 2019.


Ariana Grande

Picture Credits: Berisik Radio.com, CC0

Big voice, big heart! Ariana Grande, Grammy-winner and animal lover, announced she was going vegan in 2013 in a tweet. A year later during an interview with Mirror, she shared, “I am a firm believer in eating a full plant-based, whole food diet that can expand your life length and make you an all-round happier person.” The singer is a big fan of Japanese cuisine, and some of her favorite plant-based dishes include okonomiyaki (veggie tofu), edamame, and other healthy, whole food, and organic goodies.


Travis Barker

Picture Credits: Raph_PH / CC BY 2.0

Songwriter, music producer, and drummer for legendary punk rock band Blink-182, Travis Barker has always been a huge inspiration to his fans. He'd also been a vegetarian since he was just 13 years old. However, after surviving a plane crash in 2009, he decided to go fully vegan! In fact, he's shared with Men's Journal that his bandmate Matt Skiba is vegan as well, and vocalist Mark Hoppus is “closer to vegetarian”. As if we needed more of a reason to love them!


Mýa

Picture Credits: Glenn Francis/ CC-BY-SA-3.0

A true triple-threat, singer, dancer, and actress Mýa has done a lot for veganism, and veganism has done a lot for her! She's reported better skin and overall health since going vegan—she lost 30 pounds—and she's even released a free vegan transition guide for her fans, which you can find here: https://www.myamya.com/lifestyle/. The 43-year-old star has proven that eating your veggies pays off, as she continues to maintain her youthful appearance, and is absolutely glowing!


SIA

Picture Credits: ToastyKen / CC BY 2.0

Another animal lover, SIA, who has been vegan since 2014, has worked with animal welfare organizations like Best Friends Animal Society (the biggest no-kill shelter in the U.S.) and has even participated in the vegan documentary “Dominion”, released in 2018! She had been vegetarian for years before making the switch.


Will.I.Am

Picture Credits: Eva Rinaldi / CC BY-SA 2.0

If you've heard the Black Eyed Peas single “VIBRATIONS pt.1 pt.2,” you're probably well aware that this rapper, songwriter, and music producer is vegan! With lyrics like “You eat the yellowtail, I'ma eat the plant-based. I ain't chewing on no food, with two eyes and a face” Will.I.Am. makes it clear that he's not afraid to voice his opinion on animal rights. However, the star is vegan for health and environmental reasons as well.


Paul McCartney

Picture Credits: Raph_PH / CC BY 2.0

A vegetarian since 1975, this former Beatle is a highly-admired figure to all animal lovers. His classic photograph with his late wife Linda McCartney, both of them sporting pro-veggie t-shirts, has become iconic within the vegan community. He's also involved in activism, having worked with the Humane Society of the United States and having launched his own Meat-Free Mondays campaign with his daughters Stella and Mary!


Oliver Sykes

Picture Credits: Stefan Brending / CC-BY-SA-3.0-DE

If you've been rocking out to the British band Bring Me The Horizon since your punk days, Oli Sykes' name must ring a bell. He's the lead singer, and yes, he's 100% vegan! He even has his bandmates eating plant-based a lot of the time as they tour the world. Sykes made the switch from vegetarianism to veganism around 2012, although he admits he didn't transition overnight, and it took a bit of time to get used to. Totally understandable!

“In this world, its impossible to be truly vegan,” he said. “Don’t be too hard on yourself … So if you fall off the wagon, remember, it doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things, just don’t go ‘f*ck it’ and go on an all out dairy bender," he advised in an interview with The Fry Family Food Co. We totally agree. No need for perfection, simply do what you can to help the animals!


Leona Lewis

Picture Credits : Peggyzone100 / CC-BY-SA-3.0

This 38-year-old British singer and songwriter went vegan all the way back in 2012, and has been vegetarian since she was just 12! She's an outspoken activist, and has even opened her own vegan coffee shop in Pasadena with her husband Dennis Jauch, called Coffee and Plants.

Lewis was a brand ambassador for Body Shop, which has since gone 100% vegan, and she's even the trustee of Hopefield Animal Sanctuary in the UK. Stream this star's music today to support her incredible work!


Anitta

Picture credits: Renan Katayama / CC-BY-SA-2.0

Brazilian singer, dancer, and actress Larissa de Macedo Machado, also known as Anitta, went vegan in 2019 after watching Cowspiracy. She even partnered with Future Farm (known as Fazenda Futuro in Brazil, where it was founded) in 2022, in an effort to make plant-based foods mainstream in her country!

She's currently one of the most influential musicians in Latin America, making her transition a huge deal for the vegan movement! "“Who has tasted plant meat? It’s like me: innovative, super-hot and good for the environment hahaha Excited!!!" she shared with her 64.5M Instagram followers. We love her energy!


Lenny Kravitz

Picture Credits: Carlos Delgado / CC-BY-SA-3.0

Did you used to jam out to Fly Away, Are You Gonna Go My Way, or It Ain't Over 'til It's Over? If so, you may be happy to learn that Lenny Kravitz shares your vegan values!

He's a major natural-food enthusiast, and primarily enjoys raw foods. He stays fit at age 59, and works out regularly to maintain his plant-fueled physique. Kravitz was even named one of PETA's Most Beautiful Vegan Celebrities in 2022!

The artist apparently grows tons of fresh fruits and veggies at his homes in Brazil and the Bahamas, and states that being vegan is "the right thing for yourself and for the planet and animals." It sure seems to be working fabulously for him!


Thom Yorke

Picture credits: Ripton Scott / CC-BY-SA-2.0

Are you a fan of Radiohead's hits like Creep, High & Dry, Karma Police, or Fake Plastic Trees? We'll have you know that Thome Yorke, the lead vocalist and songwriter of this world famous British band, is totally vegan! Interestingly, he first became vegetarian to impress a girl, but ended up sticking with the diet because it made him feel amazing! He later transitioned to veganism, which gave him even more energy and health benefits.

"I immediately felt a lot better, a lot healthier. I was concerned, as many people are, about that 'you're not going to get all the things you need in your diet, you're going to get sick all the time', but the exact opposite happened to me, so I never looked back," he shared in an interview for vegan film Eat This!.


A$AP Rocky

Picture credit: Jørund Føreland Pedersen / CC-BY-SA-3.0

This Grammy-winning rapper, known for songs like Praise the Lord, Am I Dreaming, and Fashion Killa, has been vegetarian since 2015, and went fully vegan in 2019! He actually revealed his transition to a totally plant-based diet in his song Babushka Boi.

Rocky even teamed up with Jaden Smith in 2020 to deliver plant-based meals to LA's homeless population. Good on them for making a positive impact on local communities!


Joan Jett

Picture Credits: Lindsey T / CC-BY-2.0

Tracks like I Love Rock 'n' Roll, Bad Reputation, I Hate Myself, and Cherry Bomb made a huge impact on the punk music industry during the 80s! And today, Joan Jett continues to influence the world with her iconic music and longtime animal rights activism.

She started her plant-based journey in the 80s with a strict vegetarian diet. Although she admits to having bits of honey and butter these days, she says her diet is very close to veganism, and eating meat would feel like eating one of her own pets.

"Twenty years ago I thought: ‘What’s the difference between eating a bloody steak and killing my dog, slitting him open and roasting him?'" shared Jett in an interview with The Guardian.


Moby

Picture Credits: joe goldberg / CC-BY-SA-2.0

Richard Melville Hall, known in the dance music industry as Moby, has been a vegan activist since 1987! Few artists are outspoken as he is about their plant-based diet and ethical lifestyle. Moby has made "Vegan For Life." his bio on many of his socials, and he regularly posts about his vegan philosophy. And to further prove his commitment to improving animal welfare, he had "VEGAN FOR LIFE" tattooed right on his neck by fellow vegan activist Kat Von D!

Moby is actually a part of the straight-edge punk movement, which is a subculture of hardcore punk that discourages the consumption of meat, alcohol, tobacco, and recreational drugs. In fact, he's been sober since 2008. We applaud this award-winning artist for this major feat, and for speaking out on his beliefs!


Stevie Wonder

Pete Souza, official White House photographer / Creative Commons CC0 License

This singer, songwriter, and record producer is well-known for his R&B, soul, funk, gospel, and jazz hits from the 70s and 80s. However, what you may not have known is that he's been vegan since 2014 for his health and the planet!

When asked why he went vegan in a chat with James Corden, he simply stated "I like not eating meat." However, in another interview, he shared: "I’ve been a vegan for two years, so that’s helped my already good-looking self." No doubt about it. He's looking great at age 73!


Morrissey

Picture Credits: Man Alive! / CC-BY-2.0

Lead singer and songwriter of British rock band The Smiths, and current soloist, Morrissey is a major musical icon. He was definitely an inspiration to me during my high school years, and I felt less alone knowing he was vegetarian, too!

He's always been incredibly outspoken about his vegan beliefs, and takes any chance he can to speak up for the animals. “I am not at all interested in the pursuit of meat. I find it cruel and primitive," he shared in an interview with NME in 1983.

We are psyched to see all these huge vegan musicians using their platforms as a vehicle for positive change. Veganism is going mainstream! Were there any celebrities on this list you didn't know are vegan, or any we missed? Leave a comment below!


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