The Disney Family Singalong

The Disney Family Singalong is a series of American music television specials that were broadcast by ABC in 2020. First aired on April 16, 2020, and all hosted by Ryan Seacrest, the specials featured performances of songs from Disney films by musicians and other celebrity guests from their respective homes. The performances featured on-screen karaoke lyrics, encouraging viewers to sing along.

The Disney Family Singalong
Written byMason Steinberg
Brian Strickland
Directed byHamish Hamilton
Presented byRyan Seacrest
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers
  • Sam Brenzel
  • Chris Convy
  • R. J. Durell
  • Nick Florez
  • Raj Kapoor
  • Katy Mullan
Producers
  • Kenny Ortega
  • Trevor Rothman
  • Rachel Sussman
  • Trevor Vaughan
  • Kristen Wong
Production locationVirtual
Editors
  • Buzz Chatman
  • Brad Comfort
  • Guy Harding
  • Alistair Knapp
  • Hamish Lyons
  • Christopher Rodriguez
  • Ken Yankee
Running time52 minutes
Production companyDone and Dusted
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseApril 16, 2020 (2020-04-16)
Related
The Disney Family Singalong: Volume II
The Queen Family Singalong
Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong

The first special was seen by 10.3 million viewers. A second special—The Disney Family Singalong: Volume II—was aired on May 10, 2020, which was seen by 5.74 million viewers. This was followed by a Christmas-themed edition, The Disney Holiday Singalong, on November 30. The specials gained a spin-off in November 2021, The Queen Family Singalong, featuring similar performances of songs by British rock band Queen.[1] Another spin-off titled Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong aired on February 1, 2023, featuring similar performances of songs from Schoolhouse Rock![2]

Production

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Produced by Done and Dusted, the special was first announced on April 10, 2020, for a premiere on April 16. It was produced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, and as part of impact on television. The special would include public service announcements highlighting Feeding America's COVID-19 response, featuring various Walt Disney Television talent.[3][4]

Kenny Ortega organized a cast reunion of High School Musical for the special, with a performance of "We're All In This Together".[5] Ortega noted that the song had experienced a resurgence in popularity amid the pandemic (including videos of medical workers and others singing the song in support of their responses), explaining that "I can’t imagine that Matthew Gerrard and Robbie Nevil, who wrote this song, had any idea that it would have the legs and perhaps mean more now than when we first did it." The performance featured cast members from the film, as well as Raven-Symoné, and cast members from fellow Disney Channel films Descendants and Zombies, and the film's Disney+ spin-off High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.[6] Zac Efron was unable to participate, but made a special guest appearance to introduce the performance.[7]

Performances

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Performers & Songs featured on The Disney Family Singalong
Artist(s) Song(s) Film
Derek Hough
Hayley Erbert
Julianne Hough
"Be Our Guest" Beauty and the Beast
Josh Groban and friends "You've Got a Friend in Me" Toy Story
Little Big Town and their respective children "A Spoonful of Sugar" Mary Poppins
Auliʻi Cravalho "How Far I'll Go" Moana
Beyoncé[8][9] "When You Wish Upon a Star"[a] Pinocchio
Amber Riley
(introduced by her niece)
"Let It Go" Frozen
Darren Criss "I Wan'na Be Like You" The Jungle Book
James Monroe Iglehart
The cast of Aladdin
"Friend Like Me" Aladdin
Ariana Grande[10] "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" Hercules
Bobby Bones
Carrie Ann Inaba
Erin Andrews
Marcus Scribner
"The Bare Necessities"[a] The Jungle Book
Josh Gad
Luke Evans
Alan Menken
"Gaston" Beauty and the Beast
Donny Osmond and his grandchildren "I'll Make a Man Out of You" Mulan
Christina Aguilera "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" The Lion King
Jordan Fisher and friends "Under the Sea" The Little Mermaid
Tori Kelly "Colors of the Wind" Pocahontas
John Stamos
Caitlin McHugh
Billy Stamos and friends
"It's a Small World"[a] Disneyland
Thomas Rhett[11] and daughters "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" Frozen
Kenny Ortega[12]
Raven-Symoné
Charli D'Amelio
The cast of High School MusicalThe cast of DescendantsThe cast of ZombiesThe cast of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
"We're All In This Together" High School Musical
Michael Bublé
Demi Lovato[13]
"A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes" Cinderella
Various Thank You (sung to the tune of Heigh-Ho) Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Appearances

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Broadcast

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The special received 10.3 million viewers during its initial airing, making it the most-watched program of the evening. It also held a 2.6 share of the key demographic of adults 18-49, beating its nearest competitor Young Sheldon.[14]

On April 24, 2020, an encore of the special on Disney Channel (accompanied by an airing of the sing-along version of High School Musical)[15] drew 515,000 viewers.[16]

On April 21, the special was made available for streaming on Disney+, before being removed exactly one year later.[17]

Follow-ups

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The Disney Family Singalong
Also known asThe Disney Family Singalong: Volume II
Written byMason Steinberg
Brian Strickland
Directed byHamish Hamilton
Presented byRyan Seacrest
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producersRaj Kapoor
Katy Mullan
Producers
  • Natalie Allsup
  • Niena Drake
  • William Lacey
  • Tracy Shibata
  • Grace Stevens
Production locationVirtual
Editors
  • Buzz Chatman
  • Brad Comfort
  • Bill DeRonde
  • Christopher Rodriguez
  • Nick Scullard
Running time49 minutes
Production companyDone and Dusted
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseMay 10, 2020 (2020-05-10)
Related
The Disney Family Singalong
The Disney Holiday Singalong
The Queen Family Singalong

Volume II

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On Mother's Day, May 10, 2020, ABC aired a follow-up special, The Disney Family Singalong: Volume II.[18][19]

Volume II was seen by 5.74 million viewers, with a 1.3 share among viewers 18-49; albeit lower than the initial special, it was still the highest-rated program of the night.[18] The special served as a lead-in for that night's American Idol, which also featured Disney songs as a theme.[20]

Performances

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Performers & Songs featured on The Disney Family Singalong: Volume II[21][22]
Artist(s) Song(s) Film
The Muppets
Seth Rogen
"The Muppet Show Theme" The Muppet Show
Billy Eichner
Seth Rogen
Walter Russell III
Donald Glover
"Hakuna Matata" The Lion King
Rebel Wilson "Poor Unfortunate Souls" The Little Mermaid
Merle Dandridge
Heather Headley
Adam Jacobs
Caissie Levy
Kara Lindsay
Kevin Massey
Josh Strickland
"You'll Be in My Heart" Tarzan
Keke Palmer
Dancing with the Stars professional dancers
"Zero to Hero" Hercules
Idina Menzel
Ben Platt
"A Whole New World" Aladdin
Halsey "Part of Your World" The Little Mermaid
Katy Perry and her poodle, Nugget "Baby Mine" Dumbo
Josh Gad and friends "When I Am Older" Frozen II
Chloe x Halle
Anika Noni Rose
(introduced by her godchildren)
"Almost There" The Princess and the Frog
Jennifer Hudson
John Legend
"Beauty and the Beast" Beauty and the Beast
Shakira "Try Everything" Zootopia
Miguel
Christina Aguilera
Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea
"Remember Me" Coco
Derek Hough
Hayley Erbert
Julianne Hough
"Step in Time"
"Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious"
Mary Poppins
Sabrina Carpenter
Lang Lang
"Your Mother and Mine" Peter Pan

Appearances

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The Disney Holiday Singalong

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The Disney Family Singalong
 
Also known asThe Disney Holiday Singalong
Written byBrian Strickland
Mason Steinberg
Directed byHamish Hamilton
Presented byRyan Seacrest
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers
  • Hamish Hamilton
  • Katy Mullan
  • Raj Kapoor
  • Patrizia Di Maria
  • Nick Florez
  • RJ Durell
Production locationVirtual
Production companyDone and Dusted
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseNovember 30, 2020 (2020-11-30)
Related
The Disney Family Singalong: Volume II
The Queen Family Singalong

On November 30, 2020, ABC aired a third, Christmas-themed edition of the special, The Disney Holiday Singalong, as a lead-in for ABC's CMA Country Christmas special.[23] The special was seen by 5.73 million total viewers, with a 1.3 share among viewers 18-49.[24]

Performances

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Performers & Songs featured on The Disney Holiday Singalong[25]
Artist(s) Song(s)
Michael Bublé, Luisana Lopilato and their family "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas"
Chloe x Halle "Do You Want to Build a Snowman" (Frozen)
BTS "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town"
Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert "Jingle Bells"
Pink and Willow Sage Hart "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)"
Ciara, Future and Sienna "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"
Disney Theatrical Group casts
  • Frozen North American tour cast
    Caroline Bowman
    Aisha Jackson
    Tracee Beazer
    Austin Colby
    Nicholas Edwards
    Nina LaFarga
    Adam Perry
    John Riddle
    Ann Sanders
  • The Lion King Broadway cast
    Lindiwe Dlamini
    Bongi Duma
    Ben Jeffrey
    Kyle Mitchell
    Nteliseng Nkhela
    L. Steven Taylor
    Nicholas Ward
  • Aladdin Broadway cast
    Olivia Donaldson
    April Holloway
    Telly Leung
    Isabelle McCalla
    Paul HeeSang Miller
    Amber Owens
    Dennis Stowe
"Finale: Let It Go (reprise)" (Frozen)
DCappella "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" (no on-screen lyrics)
"Deck the Halls" (no on-screen lyrics)
Julianne Hough "Whistle While You Work" (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs) and "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow"
Kerry Washington "Joy to the World"
Leslie Odom Jr. "What's This?" (The Nightmare Before Christmas)
Katy Perry "I'll Be Home for Christmas" and "Cozy Little Christmas"
Adam Lambert "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
Andrea Bocelli "Silent Night" (no on-screen lyrics)

Appearances

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c An excerpt from the song was performed, with no on-screen lyrics.

References

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  1. ^ Petski, Denise (October 15, 2021). "ABC Sets 'Queen Family Singalong' Special With Darren Criss, Adam Lambert, More". Deadline. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  2. ^ "ABC's Newest Iteration of the Hit "Singalong" Franchise Returns with "Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong," Airing Wednesday, Feb. 1, on ABC" (Press release). ABC. January 11, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2023 – via The Futon Critic.
  3. ^ White, Peter (April 10, 2020). "'The Disney Family Singalong': ABC Sets Musical TV Special With Celebrity Crooners". Deadline. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  4. ^ Nicolaou, Elena (April 14, 2020). "Mark Your Calendars: "The Disney Family Singalong" Is Airing on Thursday". O, The Oprah Magazine. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  5. ^ Rowley, Glenn (April 17, 2020). "'High School Musical' Reunion In 'Disney Family Singalong': Details". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  6. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (April 14, 2020). "Kenny Ortega Talks Reuniting 'High School Musical' Cast Members For 'Disney's Family Singalong'; Zac Efron Joins ABC Special". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  7. ^ "Zac Efron Has to Skip High School Musical Singalong as He's 'Hunkered Down in the Middle of Nowhere'". People. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  8. ^ Owoseje, Toyin (April 17, 2020). "Beyoncé made a surprise appearance in 'Disney Family Singalong,' delighting fans". CNN.
  9. ^ Boone, Keyaira (April 17, 2020). "Beyoncé Surprises Fans With Rendition Of 'When You Wish Upon A Star' Dedicated To Healthcare Workers". Essence.
  10. ^ Bailey, Alyssa (April 17, 2020). "Watch Ariana Grande Nail 'I Won't Say I'm in Love' During Disney's Family Singalong". Elle.
  11. ^ Boucher, Ashley (April 17, 2020). "Thomas Rhett and His Daughters Perform Song from Frozen for Disney Singalong Special". People.
  12. ^ Bailey, Alyssa (April 16, 2020). "Why Zac Efron Isn't Singing With the 'High School Musical' Cast in the Disney Family Singalong". Elle.
  13. ^ Aniftos, Rania (April 13, 2020). "Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato & More Join 'Disney Family Singalong' Lineup -- And Here's What They'll Perform". Billboard.
  14. ^ Thorne, Will (April 17, 2020). "TV Ratings: 'Disney Family Singalong' Draws Massive Audience". Variety. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  15. ^ "Disney Channel to Air THE DISNEY FAMILY SINGALONG & Sing-Along Version Of HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL on April 24". BroadwayWorld. April 22, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  16. ^ "'THE DISNEY FAMILY SINGALONG' SPECIAL WINS ITS TIMESLOT AMONG KIDS AND GIRLS 6-11, AND IS #1 TELECAST OF THE DAY ON DISNEY CHANNEL". Walt Disney Television. April 29, 2020. Archived from the original on May 20, 2020.
  17. ^ Dams, Tim (April 21, 2020). "ABC's 'Disney Family Singalong' Heads to Disney Plus". Variety. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  18. ^ a b Ramos, Dino-Ray (May 11, 2020). "'The Disney Family Singalong 2' Tops Sunday Ratings; 'The Rookie' Dips In Season Finale". Deadline. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  19. ^ Mamo, Heran (May 1, 2020). "Donald Glover, Katy Perry, Halsey & More Set For New 'Disney Family Singalong': Here's What They'll Sing". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  20. ^ Daw, Robbie (May 11, 2020). "'American Idol' Recap: The Top 7 Pay Tribute to Disney and Their Moms". Billboard. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  21. ^ Balgemino, Nicole (May 1, 2020). "ABC ANNOUNCES FIRST WAVE OF PERFORMANCES FOR 'THE DISNEY FAMILY SINGALONG: VOLUME II,' AIRING MOTHER'S DAY, SUNDAY, MAY 10 AT 7 P.M." ABC Media. Archived from the original on May 15, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  22. ^ Balgemino, Nicole (May 6, 2020). "ABC Announces Additional Celebrity Guests for 'The Disney Family Singalong: Volume II,' Airing Mother's Day, Sunday, May 10 at 7 P.M." ABC Media. Archived from the original on May 10, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  23. ^ Petski, Denise (October 30, 2020). "Disney Singalong Return and "Reimagined" Disney Parks Special Highlight ABC Holiday Programming Lineup". Deadline. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  24. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (December 1, 2020). "'The Disney Holiday Singalong' Hits High Note To Top Monday Ratings; 'The Neighborhood' Ticks Up". Deadline. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  25. ^ The D23 Team (November 13, 2020). "Global Superstar Lineup to Bring the Cheer in The Disney Holiday Singalong Airing Monday, November 30, on ABC". D23. Retrieved February 1, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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