How Josh Groban Paved a Unique Path to Success, From Practicing Magic and Singing on Broadway to Acting in ‘Glee’: ‘All You Have Is Your Internal Compass’

Josh Groban’s earliest memory of the Hollywood Walk of Fame is deeply linked to a childhood passion that might have led him down an entirely different professional road. As a young boy, the Los Angeles native often accompanied his father to a magic shop located on Hollywood Boulevard. During these trips, he would wander along the famous sidewalk, mesmerized by the names engraved beneath his feet. “I remember thinking about how absolutely iconic and cool it is that these names are down there,” Groban tells Variety. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be one of them.” Unlike his potential career in sleight-of-hand magic, Groban will defy those wildest dreams on May 6, when he receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The classical, operatic, and pop crossover vocalist has built a career that few, including himself, could have foreseen.

Groban has transformed what could have been a comfortable life of packing concert halls globally into a diverse portfolio that includes celebrated acting roles, two Tony-nominated Broadway performances, and a level of cultural recognition rarely afforded to classical singers. In many ways, his professional journey has always been intertwined with Hollywood. “I didn’t have the usual avenues that musicians have when they become successful, like a radio hit or MTV or that kind of highway to stardom,” he explains. “So everything that made me popular with people really relied on crossing over into different forms of media.” Before releasing his debut album in 2001, Groban collaborated with Celine Dion during the 1999 Grammy Awards telecast and secured a guest spot on “Ally McBeal” that showcased his vocal abilities. From that point, the Grammy-winning performer played on the world’s largest stages alongside top-tier talent, all while his pop culture relevance grew in parallel. He appeared as himself in shows ranging from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” to “CSI: NY,” and contributed to multiple film soundtracks, most notably “The Polar Express,” where his song “Believe” has become a holiday classic. Fifteen years later, he still gets recognized for his self-deprecating cameos on “Glee.” “There is a part of me that is weird and tells jokes, but I felt like I had to be the guy that’s on the billboard,” he says. “You’ve got to be the serious guy who sings the serious music. Something like ‘Glee’ was my way of letting off some steam for the very, very controlled first five years of my career.”

Yet, whether he is performing classical pieces, cover songs, or a duet with Oscar the Grouch, Groban always returns to music. He has explored numerous genres, reflecting his youth when he alternated between traditional crooners and electronic grunge. To this day, he follows a guiding principle for his musical taste: “All you have is your internal compass that tells you, does this give me goosebumps or not?” he says. Twenty-five years into his career, those goosebumps are leading him to new ventures: an upcoming tour with special guests like Jennifer Hudson, a return to Las Vegas with his “Gems” show at Caesars Palace, and a new album titled “Cinematic,” filled with covers of film theme songs, including classics from “Skyfall,” “The Lion King,” and “Against All Odds.” However, it is “Moon River” from “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” that stands out as his undisputed favorite, for one specific reason—he sings it alongside his father, Jack, who plays the trumpet. Groban considered two jazz legends, Wynton Marsalis and Terence Blanchard, for the instrumental break, but then realized his father was the perfect choice for the solo. “He’s 80 years old, and it’s my favorite duet I’ve ever done,” he says. None of this would have happened if he had pursued magic. Fortunately, he failed his audition for junior membership at the Magic Castle. “My secret coin fell on the ground, my hanky fell out of my pocket,” he recalls. “Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong, and I think it is my signal that I fell into the right job.”