Top 20 Tween TV Stars

Once upon a time, it may have been possible for a child star to get by on an impish smile and cute catchphrase. Today's crop of kiddie performers don't have it so easy; they're double and triple threats who not only head up their own shows and/or TV movies, but sing, dance, star on the big screen, sell out concerts and launch clothing lines. Here we count down the 20 hottest teen and tween stars of the big, talented bunch. -- Angel Cohn

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Top 20 Tween TV Stars

Bindi Irwin

('Bindi the Jungle Girl')

The 9-year-old bundle of energy is a sunny presence despite the tragic death of her dad, 'Crocodile Hunter' Steve, and in fact is following in his footsteps, wrangling wild animals on her series. And she even has the courage to take on the concrete jungle -- the fashion world -- with her clothing line, 'Bindi Wear.'

Top 20 Tween TV Stars

Raven Symone

('That's So Raven', 'The Cheetah Girls')

She got her start as cutie-pie Olivia on 'The Cosby Show,' then grew up to be a psychic teen on the Disney Channel sitcom 'That's So Raven' (with a clothing line, perfume, video games and a spin-off). But the 22-year-old's streak doesn't stop there -- she's also the lead singer of Disney's megawatt 'The Cheetah Girls' and has released her own pop CDs. That's so busy.

Top 20 Tween TV Stars

Selena Gomez

('The Wizards of Waverly Place')

Harry Potter isn't the only teenage magic act in town. As Alex Russo on the Disney Channel show, this 15-year-old is bewitching fans with her unbridled enthusiasm for all things magic. She also guested on the uber-popular 'Hannah Montana' as a rival singer.

Top 20 Tween TV Stars

Brenda Song

('The Suite Life of Zack & Cody', 'Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior')

As ditzy hotel heiress London Tipton (think Paris Hilton) she's a self-involved clothes addict who wouldn't know a deep thought if it jumped her from a sales rack. But the 19-year-old's not all fluff and fashion -- she kicked butt as reincarnated Chinese warrior Wendy Wu in the popular Disney Channel movie, which has a sequel coming soon.

Top 20 Tween TV Stars

Keke Palmer

('Jump In!')

She got rave reviews for her touching performance in 2006's big-screen 'Akeelah and the Bee,' but this dynamo also kicked it into gear on TV with the successful Disney Channel movie 'Jump In!' The doubly talented 14-year-old has two hit songs on the 'Jump In!' soundtrack and has recently recorded her own album.

Top 20 Tween TV Stars

Sabrina Bryan

('The Cheetah Girls', 'Dancing With the Stars')

Better known to 'Cheetah Girls' devotees as Do (as in Do-Re-Mi) -- the 23-year-old demonstrated her fancy footwork to a whole new audience on 'Dancing With the Stars.' After her shocking dismissal, her competitors donned (temporary) cheetah tattoos in her honor. Don't worry tween fans, Bryan's returning to her roots for 'Cheetah 3' and already at work on a second fitness DVD, 'BYOU 2'

Top 20 Tween TV Stars

The Jonas Brothers

('Hannah Montana')

Technically these musical teens -- whose infectious hit 'SOS' is all over the airwaves -- aren't TV stars ... yet. But young hotties Kevin (TK age), Joe (TK) and Nick (TK) have made their mark doing guest gigs on 'Hannah Montana' (where Kevin, reportedly, found a special fan in Miley Cyrus). Plus, a Disney Channel spy series 'J.O.N.A.S' in the works and the Disney movie 'Camp Rock' is scheduled for next year.

Top 20 TV Tween Stars

Emma Roberts

('Unfabulous')

Her dad is actor Eric Roberts and she's got an aunt you may have heard of (Julia), but the 16-year-old starlet has become famous in her own right. She hit the big screen as 'Nancy Drew' and rocks out on the small screen as "average" junior high student Addie Singer in her Nickelodeon series. She also plays the guitar and just put out an album. Not what we'd call "average."

Top 20 Tween TV Stars

Ashley Tisdale

('The Suite Life of Zack and Cody', 'High School Musical')

Already known for her role as teenage workaholic Maddie on 'The Suite Life of Zack and Cody,' the 22-year-old jumped further ahead of the tween-star pack as part of the 'High School Musical' juggernaut. She's capitalized on her success as the snotty self-involved Sharpay by cutting an album. That's a smart (Maddie-like) move.

Top 20 Tween TV Stars

Corbin Bleu

('Jump In!', 'High School Musical')

The curly-haired cutie got his start in the big-screen 'Catch That Kid' and on 'Flight 29 Down,' the kids' version of 'Lost.' But he really rose to fame as basketball star Chad in 'High School Musical' and continued to showcase his athleticism in the Disney Channel double-dutch flick 'Jump In!' The 18-year-old also recently released an album -- in case anyone thought he couldn't.

Top 20 Tween TV Stars

Miranda Cosgrove

('iCarly' )

The acerbic teen stole the spotlight as the precocious band manager in 'School of Rock' then went on to star as Drake's prankster sister in the hit Nickelodeon series 'Drake and Josh' (see No. 9). Now the 14-year-old fronts (and sings the theme song to) her own Nickelodeon sitcom 'iCarly,' where she plays a girl who hosts a web-based talent show for her school pals.

Top 20 Tween TV Stars

Drake Bell

('Drake & Josh')

In addition to being a talented musician who got private guitar lessons from The Who's Roger Daltrey, the 21-year-old is a true teen idol. On his popular Nickelodeon show his rock band-playing alter ego is quite the high school hottie, with a different gal in practically every episode. And off screen, Vanessa Anne Hudgens seems to have had a little (not-so-secret) crush on Bell. But we'll say no more on that subject (till No. 3).

Top 20 Tween TV Stars

8/7:Dylan and Cole Sprouse

('The Suite Life of Zack and Cody')

The identical twin brothers star as the scheming hotel-bound title characters of their Nickelodeon laffer, but these tow-headed 15-year-olds have also been making an impression on the big screen, starting with their starring role, at the tender age of 7, in the Adam Sandler blockbuster 'Big Daddy.'

Top 20 Tween TV Stars

Jamie Lynn Spears

('Zoey 101' judge)

Stepping out of the shadow of her famous (or infamous) big sis Britney, the 16-year-old has quietly become a star in her own right. First she goofed around on the Nickelodeon sketch comedy show 'All That' before headlining the sitcom 'Zoey 101,' where she stars as a girl attending a formerly all-boys boarding school.

Top 20 Tween TV Stars

5/4: Nat and Alex Wolff

('So You Think You Can Dance' host)

Don't let the name mislead you -- this dynamic duo stays fully clothed during its act. Sons of 'thirtysomething' star Polly Draper and jazz musician Michael Wolff, the brothers' charmingly odd personalities and knack for music have made Nat (13) and Alex (10) an instant hit with fans who go gaga for their mockumentary series.

Top 20 Tween TV Stars

Vanessa Anne Hudgens

('High School Musical')

Even before nude photos of her popped up on the internet, the 19-year-old was well on her way to becoming a household name with adults as well as kids. The fresh-faced ingenue sings with a sweet pop sound, and her good-girl 'HSM' character, Gabriella, is impossible not to adore. Plus, her real-life relationship with Zac Efron makes her one-half of tweendom's answer to a power couple.

Top 20 Tween TV Stars

2. Zac Efron

('High School Musical')

With his sideswept bangs and melodic crooning it's no wonder that the now 20-year-old heartthrob makes girls of all ages swoon. Not only did he hit it big as the lead in 'High School Musical' but he showed he could work magic in theaters too, in the musical comedy 'Hairspray.' Along with the upcoming 'HSM3' (for which all the stars will return), he's inked a deal to star in the big-screen 'Footloose' remake.

Top 20 Tween TV Stars

1. Miley Cyrus

('Hannah Montana')

This daughter of 'Achy Breaky Heart' singer Billy Ray Cyrus is easily the most famous tween star today. The famous 15-year-old stars as ordinary girl Miley Stewart and her famous alter ego Hannah Montana. In addition to the Disney Channel show -- which has spawned video games, dolls and clothing -- Cyrus just released a double album with the hit single 'See You Again' and is selling out her 'Best of Both Worlds' concert tour dates.