Musicians who quit school

Rebecca Black says endless teasing and harassment from classmates forced her to pull out of her Orange County, Calif., school. The 14-year-old, whose much-buzzed video for her song "Friday" became a YouTube phenomenon, is now being homeschooled by her mother.

Black is not the only musician to drop out of school. Keep clicking to see who else preferred music to the three Rs.

Christina Aguilera

Like Rebecca Black, singer Christina Aguilera was bullied by other children at her Pennsylvania school so much that she dropped out in ninth grade to be home schooled. The former Mickey Mouse Club member said the teasing began after she appeared on "Star Search" and several local TV shows.

Bryan Adams

Canadian rocker Bryan Adams, who went to schools around the globe because of his father's diplomatic postings, called it quits when he was 15. He needed his days to sleep while he spent his nights at clubs with several different bands.

Billie Joe Armstrong

One day before his 18th birthday, and halfway through his senior year of high school, Green Day front man Billie Joe Armstrong dropped out of high school to devote all his time to his band.

Mary J. Blige

Singer Mary J. Blige performs onstage during the BET Awards '11 on June 26, 2011, in Los Angeles. Blige, who made no secret of her troubled childhood, dropped out of her Yonkers high school in the 11th grade.

Eric Clapton

British blues guitarist Eric Clapton dropped out of school when he was 16. He said in interviews that he was more interested in music than his lessons.

Clint Black

Country singer Clint Black performs at the Ameristar Casino and Hotel's Outdoor Star Arena in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Sunday, Aug. 22, 2004. Growing up in suburban New Jersey, Black and his three older brothers has their own musical group. Black eventually dropped out of school to play with them.

Singer/songwriter Billy Joel attends the 41st annual Songwriters Hall of Fame at The New York Marriott Marquis on June 17, 2010, in New York. The Long Island native joined his first musical group when he was 14. When the group developed a large following, he dropped out of school to pursue music full time.

Elton John talks hope for AIDS cure — AP Photo/Evan Agostini

Singer Elton John attends the world premiere of "The Union" at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 20, 2011, in New York. He grew up in Middlesex, England, and dropped out of school at age 17 to pursue his musical career.

Natalie Merchant

Alt rocker Natalie Merchant, who grew up in Jamestown, N.Y., dropped out of school when she was 16 to work at a store and pursue music.

Bo Bice

"American Idol" runner-up Bo Bice was born in Alabama and move to England with his family, dropping out of school the fall before graduation to return to the U.S. and pursue a musical career.

Cher

Singer and actress Cher, seen at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 12, 2010, suffered from severe dyslexia which made schoolwork difficult. She struggled in class until she was 16 when she quit California's Fresno High School.

Kurt Cobain

Nirvanna front man Kurt Cobain had a troubled youth moving from the home of his mother to the home of his father and back again. He engaged in rebellious behavior and was bullied by classmates. He dropped out two weeks before graduation when he discovered he did not have enough credits to graduate. Cobain died by his own hand when he was 27.

Jay-Z

Rapper Jay-Z signs copies of his book "Decoded" at Barnes & Noble, 5th Avenue on Nov. 17, 2010, in New York. In his memoirs and his music, he talks about growing up in the Marcy Houses in Brooklyn and later selling cocaine in New Jersey. He went to high school in both cities but eventually dropped out.

Avrl Lavigne

Canadian singer Avril Lavigne had a record deal before she was 17 and used that - pursuing music professionally - as her reason for dropping out of high school.

Courtney Love

Hole singer Courtney Love grew up with counterculture parents in hippie communes and had a criminal record before she was 16. She quit school at 16 to work as an exotic dancer. She was married to Nirvana's Kurt Cobain.

LL Cool J

Rapper and actor LL Cool J, seen here at the l Hip Hop Summit Action Network Action Awards, Feb. 25, 2008, in New York, released his first single when he was 16. Shortly afterward, he dropped out of high school in Queens, N.Y. to record an album.

Eminem

Detroit rapper Eminem had a school career plagued by truancy and poor grades, even repeating ninth grade because of it. He dropped out of high school at age 17.

Ozzy Osbourne

Ozzy Osbourne performs with Metallica at the 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame concert on Oct. 30, 2009 in New York. The heavy metal musician suffered from a variety of learning disabilities, making school difficult. He left school at 15 to work as a construction laborer and apprentice to a toolmaker.

Ringo Starr

Ringo Starr, right, is joined by musicians including Dave Stewart, left, on Nov. 2, 2010, in Los Angeles. The Beatles drummer was a sickly child whose illnesses caused lengthy absences from school and leaving him behind most of his classmates. He never returned to school after a stay in a sanitorium when he was a teenager.

Sinead O'Connor

Irish singer Sinead O'Connor performs during the 5th Annual Jammy Awards April 26, 2005, in New York. The controversial musician joined a group called Ton Ton Macoute and later dropped out of school to follow them to Dublin.

Singer Michelle Branch arrives at the 42nd Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 15, 2007, in Las Vegas. The singer grew up in Arizona and eventually dropped out of high school to pursue music. She was home schooled until she graduated.