The Jackson 5

Of all the artists in the industry, child stars have always been at the centre of media attention as a result of the public’s fascination with their innocent appeal. However, the glare of the spotlight is often overwhelming for many young acts and few progress into adulthood with their careers intact.

This week’s Way Back Wednesday special highlights several child stars who rose to fame by the age of fifteen years. Brandy, Janet Jackson and Christina Aguilera are among these acts but who else made the shortlist for our discussion? Check out the lineup below:

Brandy

Britney Spears & Justin Timberlake

Christina Aguilera

Frankie Lymon

Janet Jackson & The Jackson 5

Monica

Raven-Symone

Stevie Wonder

American popular culture is notorious for breeding superstars before unceremoniously casting them aside. Such is the case even with child stars, who rapidly fall from favour as they mature into adults and attempt to distance themselves from the youthful images that made them famous.

As people continue to discuss the wild behaviour of Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus, it is important to note they are not the first young acts to struggle with growth in the spotlight. Doo-Wop icon Frankie Lymon was dead by the age of 25 years because of a well-publicised drug addiction, which was fuelled by his inability to transcend into adulthood and maintain his early success.

Luckily, some child stars have the support of strong teams to guide their careers. Justin Timberlake and Raven-Symone are prime examples of that, and although the latter has faded away from the mainstream media, she has developed a personal net worth of a reported $45 million based on clever branding. Not bad for a 27 year old, huh?

Who was the best child star of those listed above? Who else should have been mentioned? Vote in the Way Back Wednesday poll and share your opinion!