Leonardo DiCaprio’s Surprising Playlist: Old-School Legends He Loves

Leonardo DiCaprio has never been one to belt out a tune on screen, and there’s a good reason for that. Back in the ‘90s, he gave it a crack by auditioning for the role of Christian in Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge! Despite having worked with Luhrmann on Romeo + Juliet not long before, he didn’t land the part. DiCaprio later admitted his singing was pretty shocking, which probably explains why he’s steered clear of musicals ever since. Mind you, a dodgy singing voice hasn’t stopped other actors from having a go—Russell Crowe in Les Misérables springs to mind. Even Pierce Brosnan in Mama Mia! gave it a red-hot go, and you can’t really fault him for effort. DiCaprio, though, has stuck to what he does best, tackling just about every film genre except superheroes, and he’s done alright for himself.

While he’s not making music himself, DiCaprio’s passion for it runs deep. In a 2025 chat with Time, the One Battle After Another star rattled off a list of his favourite artists, showing a real soft spot for the classics. He’s got a thing for old blues, especially what he calls “a lot of blind guys.” His list includes Blind Willie McTell, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Blind Willie Johnson, and Blind Blake, plus the legendary Stevie Wonder. He’s also a fan of the Ink Spots, a vocal group that made waves in the ‘30s and ‘40s, and their peers, The Mills Brothers. Johnny Mercer, the bloke behind timeless tunes like ‘Moon River’ and ‘Autumn Leaves’, also gets a mention. Rounding out his picks are jazz guitar trailblazer Django Reinhardt and soul icon Al Green.

Vintage Favourites and Timeless Voices

DiCaprio’s choices are about as old-school as you can get. The youngest on his list is Stevie Wonder, who’s not far off 80 these days. He didn’t say if he uses music to get into character like some actors do, but he did open up about what draws him to these vocalists.

“I like that sort of World War II–era harmony… It keeps me calm and chill.”

It’s a bit of a throwback, especially coming from someone known for living it up in Hollywood. You wouldn’t expect the bloke who starred in The Revenant to be unwinding to Blind Willie Johnson on a billionaire’s yacht or humming along to The Mills Brothers while shopping in Paris with his much younger girlfriend. But hey, everyone’s got their quirks.

DiCaprio’s Top Ten: The Full List

Here’s the rundown of the ten musicians DiCaprio can’t go past:

• Blind Willie McTell
• Blind Lemon Jefferson
• Blind Willie Johnson
• Blind Blake
• The Ink Spots
• The Mills Brothers
• Johnny Mercer
• Django Reinhardt
• Al Green
• Stevie Wonder

It’s a line-up that leans heavily on the past, with a clear love for blues, jazz, and classic vocal harmonies. DiCaprio’s taste in music might be a bit unexpected, but it’s clear he’s got a genuine appreciation for the legends who paved the way.