Singers frequently venture into acting, and sometimes carve out impressive second careers for

Singers frequently venture into acting, and sometimes carve out impressive second careers for themselves. For examples, see Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton in the current film “Joyful Noise.” Here’s a look at five great music stars who became great actors:

v Frank Sinatra: The Chairman of the Board was, of course, a major pop star who caused a frenzy among screaming bobbysoxers in the 1940s before crafting a major movie career for himself. Sinatra won an Academy Award for best supporting actor in 1953’s “From Here to Eternity” and earned a best-actor nomination for 1955’s “The Man With the Golden Arm.”

v Will Smith: The former Fresh Prince of Bel-Air transformed himself into a two-time Oscar nominee, going from catchy rap tunes and sitcom laughs to heavyweight roles in “Ali” and “The Pursuit of Happyness.”

v Bette Midler: The Divine Miss M forged her career belting out tunes on Broadway, at nightclubs and in bathhouses — a petite woman with a larger- than-life stage presence. But she wowed the world with her acting abilities in her first major film role in 1979’s “The Rose,” playing a self-destructive, drug- addicted rock star inspired by Janis Joplin.

v Cher: She’s a diva who’s had highs and lows and been around forever. But Cher was a singer and variety-television star (with then-husband Sonny Bono) known for her big, flamboyant personality before putting together a string of strong, eclectic film performances in the ‘80s and ‘90s, including “Mask,” “The Witches of Eastwick” and “Tea With Mussolini.”

v Justin Timberlake: Timberlake has long since transcended his “Mickey Mouse Club” and boy-band origins to become not just a formidable solo performer but also an actor of surprising range. After dramatic supporting roles in “Alpha Dog” and “Black Snake Moan,” he was charismatic as hell as the ambitious Sean Parker in “The Social Network.”

“american idol” (8 p.m., fox): The ratings monster known as “American Idol” returns for its 11th season with judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler promising to dole out a little more tough love. As usual, we start off with the audition segments, so get the cotton ready for your ears.

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Show highlights civil rights leaders

SHARON, PA.

“The Road to Freedom — A Journey Toward Peace” will be presented at Penn State Shenango from noon to 1 p.m. today in the Sharon Hall building of Penn State Shenango, at Penn Avenue in downtown Sharon.

The event is free and open to the public.

“The Road to Freedom” is a live multimedia experience that highlights the work of those who banded together to challenge the injustices of racial discrimination and inequality.

Informative and thought-provoking commentary will tell the story of the efforts of Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Booker T. Washington, Frederick Douglas, W.E.B DuBois, Rosa Parks, Coretta Scott King, the Freedom Fighters, Fannie Lou Hamer, and many others.

For more information, call 724-983-2836.