Reality TV can be a great gig, though the fame that comes with a hit show doesn’t typically last. The smart ones are able to transition from the drama needed to keep a show going to other ventures, whether those are acting, designing clothes, modeling, or for some, music. Plenty of reality stars and starlets have tried their hands (and voices) at being pop or dance musicians, and a few have actually made something happen, though most, if not all of them have discovered that success in the music industry can be as fleeting as in the reality world. Here are 8 such stars.

Paris Hilton

Remember when Paris Hilton ruled the world? She was one of the first real celebrities that was famous for essentially nothing but being rich and famous (and of course for a certain tape that leaked), and she was also one of the first to turn it into a music career… one that actually took off for a while.

In 2006, she released her self-titled debut album on Warner Bros., and it made it all the way to No. 6, while lead single “Stars Are Blind” was a Top 20 hit. Since then, she has signed to Cash Money Records, which is owned by rapper Birdman, but the songs she’s released since then have all been dance-focused duds. The real bummer? Paris was actually kind of great.