The Big Break: Famous Star Search Contestants

These famous celebrities got their start on Star Search.

Beyoncé\r - Is there a stage on planet Earth that Beyoncé Knowles hasn't made her own? At any given moment B can kick into Sasha Fierce mode and run the world.

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Beyoncé - Before she was the chart-topping, trend-setting superstar that she is now, Beyoncé Knowles appeared on Star Search as part of Girls Tyme—the group that would eventually become Destiny's Child. (Photo: Mark Davis/Fox/PictureGroup)

Usher - OMG! It was Usher's Star Search appearance that led to his meeting with L.A. Reid, who subsequently signed him to LaFace Records. The rest, as they say, is history. (Photo: Kristian Dowling/PictureGroup)

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Usher - OMG! It was Usher's Star Search appearance that led to his meeting with L.A. Reid, who subsequently signed him to LaFace Records. The rest, as they say, is history. (Photo: Kristian Dowling/PictureGroup)

Tatyana Ali - Though she's perhaps best remembered for playing Ashley Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, diehard fans of Star Search will recall young Tatyana Ali singing her rendition of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." (Photo: Brian Dowling/PictureGroup)

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Tatyana Ali - Though she's perhaps best remembered for playing Ashley Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, diehard fans of Star Search will recall young Tatyana Ali singing her rendition of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." (Photo: Brian Dowling/PictureGroup)

Sinbad: November 18 - The actor and comedian celebrates his 55th birthday.(Photo: Mark Davis/PictureGroup)

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Sinbad - Before he was a sitcom and stand-up star, Sinbad appeared on the Star Search comedy finals competing against John Kassir. (Photo: Mark Davis/PictureGroup)

Master of Comedy and Action - Since starring in his own self-titled sitcom, Martin Lawrence has become a silver-screen staple whose roles in the comedy and action genres have garnered laughs and excitement everywhere. BET Star Cinema takes a look back at all of his great film moments. (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

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Martin Lawrence - Much like Sinbad, Martin Lawrence also competed in the Star Search comedy finals in the late '80s and went on to fame and fortune. (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

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Dave Chappelle on his poorly received set at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino \r - "I felt myself being mean. I'd like to apologize to the Seminole Indians. Big shout-out to the Seminoles."\r \r(Photo credit: Joshua Roberts/Getty Images)

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Dave Chappelle - After Dave Chappelle's first Star Search appearance in 1993, he became the show's youngest returning champion in the comedy category. That same year he appeared in the film Robin Hood: Men in Tights. (Photo: Joshua Roberts/Getty Images)

Rosie O’Donnell - Years before she became a movie star, talk show host and part-time political pundit, Rosie O'Donnell competed in Star Search's comedy category. (Photo: L.Martinez/JPegFoto/PictureGroup)

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Rosie O’Donnell - Years before she became a movie star, talk show host and part-time political pundit, Rosie O'Donnell competed in Star Search's comedy category. (Photo: L.Martinez/JPegFoto/PictureGroup)

Countess Vaughn: August 8 - The Moesha and The Parkers actress celebrates her 34th birthday. (Photo: Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

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Countess Vaughn - Although she is best known for comedic roles in sitcoms such as The Parkers and Moesha, Countess Vaughn showed off her singing skills on Star Search. Her song of choice: The Jackson 5's "I'll Be There." (Photo: Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

Carlos Mencia - In the early 2000's Carlos Mencia gained notoriety for Comedy Central specials and the TV show Mind of Mencia. (Photo: Michael Bush /Landov/UPI)

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Carlos Mencia - Carlos Mencia holds the dinstinguished title of "International Comedy Grand Champion," which he won on Buscando Estrellis—the Spanish-language version of Star Search. (Photo: UPI/Michael Bush/Landov)

Christina Aguilera "Something's Got a Hold on Me"  - Beyoncé isn't the only one who's brought Etta James to the big screen. Playing a frustrated restaurant worker with dreams of making it big in Hollywood in Burlesque, during one of the opening scenes of the 2010 film Christina Aguilera packs up her things and heads west while belting out James' "Something's Got a Hold on Me." (Photo: Tony Bartone/PictureGroup)

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Christina Aguilera - At age 9, Christina Aguilera appeared on Star Search to demonstrate her powerful vocal talents. She would go on to Disney and eventually pop stardom. (Photo: Tony Bartone/PictureGroup)

Photo By Tony Bartone/PictureGroup

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Adam Sandler - The Waterboy star and one time SNL cast member also got his start on Star Search in the '80s. (Photo: Brad Barket/PictureGroup)

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Adam Sandler - The Waterboy star and one time SNL cast member also got his start on Star Search in the '80s. (Photo: Brad Barket/PictureGroup)

Photo By Photo: Brad Barket/PictureGroup

Britney Spears - The shaved head, the umbrella ... Brit's infamous 2007 paparazzi moment was not so much a showdown as it was a meltdown. The incident seemed to finally make paps and their tabloid bosses realize they may have gone too far. Come to think of it ... maybe brandishing rain gear is the key to warding off stalkers? Celebs, take note! (Photo: Gregg DeGuire/PictureGroup)

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Britney Spears - Long before her mega-stardom and tabloid infamy, Britney Spears charmed the Star Search audience with her rendition of "Love Can Build a Bridge." (Photo: Gregg DeGuire/PictureGroup)

Aaliyah - Before she became "That Somebody," Aaliyah was another child contestant showing the Star Search audience what she was capabale of. RIP Aaliyah. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Aaliyah - Before she became "That Somebody," Aaliyah was another child contestant showing the Star Search audience what she was capabale of. RIP Aaliyah. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Photo By Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Justin Timberlake on Wanting a More Leisurely Life - "Right now, I'm not in the mood to work. I want to not have a schedule. I want to go to the Dodgers (baseball) game if I feel like it. 'Hey, do you guys want to play basketball today? Cool, let's do that.' I've never really given myself the opportunity to be spontaneous.” (Photo credit: Albert L. Ortega/PictureGroup)

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Justin Timberlake - After his appearance on Star Search, Justin Timberlake would go on to become a "mouseketeer" on The New Mickey Mouse Club and his evolution into one of pop/R&B's biggest superstars.(Photo: Albert L. Ortega/PictureGroup)