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01
Vanessa Hudgens’s father Greg Hudgens died of cancer on January 30, 2016. The next day, she performed as Rizzo in Grease Live! as a tribute to him, earning widespread acclaim for her professionalism. The show was dedicated to his memory.
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02
She trained in piano, dance, and voice, including opera.
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03
Both sets of her grandparents were musicians during the Big Band era.
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04
She is the only cast member of High School Musical 2006 to have a solo song on the television soundtrack.
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05
She was in a relationship with Zac Efron from 2006 to 2010.
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06
Her father had English, German, Irish, and Scottish ancestry. Her mother is from the Philippines with Filipino, Chinese, and Spanish descent. Her father was also said to have Native American ancestry, though this is unconfirmed.
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07
Her first job was acting in a local production of The Wizard of Oz, playing a Munchkin and earning $50.
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08
She is a fan of the late Natalie Wood.
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09
She sang Angels by Robbie Williams at her High School Musical audition.
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10
Her favorite scene in High School Musical 2006 is the final one where the cast sings and dances to We’re All in This Together.
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11
She was in a relationship with Austin Butler from 2011 to 2019.
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12
She has been homeschooled since the seventh grade.
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13
Her musical theater roles include leads in Evita, Carousel, The Wizard of Oz, The King and I, The Music Man, Cinderella, Damn Yankees, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and The Little Mermaid.
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14
She is friends with Bandslam 2009 co-stars Aly Michalka, Selena Gomez, and Ashley Benson.
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15
Her two favorite singers are Alicia Keys and Céline Dion.
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16
She learned to play the guitar while filming Bandslam 2009.
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17
In 2007, she became the celebrity spokesperson for Neutrogena products.
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18
She appeared alongside Brady Corbet in her first two films, Thirteen 2003 and Thunderbirds 2004.
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19
She was named The Heartbreaker in Disney Channel’s first DC games 2006.
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20
Her first single Come Back to Me samples from the song Baby Come Back by the 1970s rock band Player.
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21
At one point, she planned to audition for American Idol.
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22
Her debut album has officially sold 500,000 copies and was certified gold in 2007.
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23
She resided with her parents along the West Coast, from Oregon to Southern California.
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24
She and her then-boyfriend Austin Butler were fined US$1,000 for vandalizing Bell Rock in Sedona, Arizona, after carving their initials into the rock.
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25
Her favorite television series is Degrassi: The Next Generation.
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26
She sings with Corbin Bleu on the song Still There for Me on his debut solo album Another Side 2007.
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27
Her favorite song to perform in concert is Let’s Dance because she and her backup dancers have fun dancing to it.
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28
She has a tattoo of a butterfly on her neck.
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29
She is allergic to both chlorine and black pepper.
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30
She was offered a role in the horror remake Prom Night 2008 but turned it down to focus on music.
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31
Her favorite dance number from High School Musical 2 2007 is Work This Out.
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32
On February 2, 2023, Hudgens announced her engagement to baseball star Cole Tucker after nearly three years of dating.
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33
She got her first gig when a friend could not attend an audition for a commercial and asked Vanessa to go.
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34
She has a toy poodle named Shadow, three turtles, and some fish.
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35
Best known for portraying Gabriella Montez in High School Musical 2006 and its sequels.
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36
Ranked #20 on Forbes magazine’s list of High Earners Under 30 on December 12, 2008.
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37
Her second single on her debut album V is Say OK, released on January 12, 2007. There are two versions of the music video: one from the High School Musical: The Concert Tour and another filmed at a beach and bowling alley in Los Angeles.
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38
She has expressed a desire to play DC Comics character Selina Kyle/Catwoman, calling it a dream role.
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39
Enjoys singing, dancing, and acting equally; her favorite music genre is rock.
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40
She was the first star from High School Musical 2006 to release a solo album. Her debut album V stands for Vanessa but also variety, mixing pop, pop rock, dance electronic, and ballads. It was released on September 26, 2006.
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41
She recorded her self-entitled album V in under two months.
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42
She auditioned for the role of Julie Christensen in Final Destination 3 2006, which went to Amanda Crew.
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43
In June 2006, she signed a recording contract with Hollywood Records.
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44
Nylon magazine’s Young Hollywood Issue named her one of the 55 faces of the future.
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45
Good friends with High School Musical co-stars Ashley French, Zac Efron, and Corbin Bleu, as well as Alexa Nikolas, Brenda Song, and Miley Cyrus.
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46
Ranked #28 on Maxim magazine’s Hot 100 Women of 2014 list.
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47
Let Go was supposed to be the second single from her debut album but was switched to Say OK at the last minute.
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48
Her self-entitled album V debuted at #24 on the US Billboard album chart with 34,000 copies sold in its first week.
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49
Ranked #42 in the 2009 FHM list of 100 Sexiest Women in the World.
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50
In 2011, she was named the new Candie’s Girl.
