They can act - but can they sing?

Good

Gwyneth Paltrow is getting beaten up by critics for her new movie, "Country Strong," about an alcoholic Nashville warbler struggling to stay on the charts. Although the flick flatlined, her vocals proved surprisingly decent, an effervescent midrange coo that she also loosed in 2000's "Duets" and on TV's "Glee," where she played Holly Holiday, a role she'll reprise this spring.

Paltrow is a member of a rare group: actors who can sing well. Alas, a much larger demographic is actors who can sing well enough to make cats explode. Herewith, some of the best and worst thespians-turned-golden throats.

Good

Jamie Foxx: Granted, the fast-talkin' comedian sounds better as Ray Charles than as himself. Nevertheless, the Oscar winner's champagne-room vibe helps sells his smooth R&B bangers.

Neil Patrick Harris: It doesn't matter if he's the belt-it-out host of every other awards show or slaying us as Bryan Ryan on "Glee," Harris is our No. 1 man crush. His top pop moment? A hilariously sobby end-credit version of "Cat's in the Cradle" on "How I Met Your Mother."

Jennifer Lopez: Yes, she makes for tabloid fodder, and her "American Idol" stint has bust written all over it. But time travel to certain clubs on a Saturday night circa '97, and you'll find a mass grind-a-thon to the Latina heat of "Waiting for Tonight."

Bad

Bruce Willis: Remember the ripe, faux-blues awfulness that was the 1987 hit "Respect Yourself"? Willis' desire to caterwaul was the second-worst case of a vainglorious Hollywood actor doing whatever he pleased.

David Hasselhoff: Germany will disagree with our disparaging of the Hoff. But if you've ever YouTubed one of his classics -- try "Jump in My Car" -- you'll be aghast at how he has no problem sullying the planet with his aural badness.

Eddie Murphy: The guilty pleasure of "Party All the Time" does not excuse Murphy from being No. 1 on the Hollywood all-ego team. He was a brilliant comedian, but his desire to dominate in all facets of entertainment was the height of fame-hungry sliminess.

Other bad actor/singers: Leonard Nimoy, Jack Wagner, Don Johnson and Patrick Swayze. (Oh, come on. "She's Like the Wind"?)