Last week, Variety reported that Broadway veteran Idina Menzel would lend her talents as vocal coach for American Idol Disney Night.
What we know:
- The top 10 contestants will perform a Disney song solo in hopes to win audience votes.
- For the first time in show history, Idol will be simulcast across the U.S. so fans can vote in real time.
- Idina Menzel will be coaching the singers for the special themed American Idol Disney Night.
- Menzel is no stranger to Disney songs or movies. She played a small role in 2007’s unique live-action and animated film, Enchanted.
- She’s best known for voicing Elsa in Frozen and delivering an amazing performance of the empowering song, Let It Go.
Disney Night set list:
This Sunday, 10 talented singers will take the stage to sing old and new Disney favorites:
- Ada Vox performing Circle of Life from The Lion King
- Cade Foehner performing Kiss the Girl from The Little Mermaid
- Caleb Lee Hutchinson performing You’ve Got a Friend in Me from Toy Story
- Catie Turner performing Once Upon a Dream from Sleeping Beauty
- Dennis Lorenzo performing Can You Feel the Love Tonight from The Lion King
- Gabby Barrett performing Colors of the Wind from Pocahontas
- Jurnee performing How Far I’ll Go from Moana
- Maddie Poppe performing The Bare Necessities from The Jungle Book
- Michael J. Woodard performing Beauty and the Beast from Beauty and the Beast
- Michelle Sussett performing Remember Me from Coco
How to Vote:
Fans can vote for their favorite singer by one of three ways:
- ABC.com
- The American Idol App
- Text Message
In addition to voting, fans can also use the app to “IDOLize” their selfies with American Idol filters and stickers, and track what’s trending with judges, contestants and fans.
The Disney Connection:
- Though this is the first year of American Idol on Disney’s ABC, several performers have sung Disney songs on the program before:
- A Whole New World performed by Ruben Studdard (Season 2)
- Circle of Life performed by Jennifer Hudson (Season 3)
- Colors of the Wind by Thia Megia (Season 9)
- The Climb by Lauren Alaina (Season 10)
- Circle of Life by Tyanna Jones (Season 14)
- In the past, American Idol has had a big presence at Walt Disney World.
- From 2009 to 2014, Disney’s Hollywood Studios was home to the American Idol Experience attraction.
- Prior to the show’s revival, auditions were held at Disney Springs.
The revival of American Idol airs on Sundays and Mondays on ABC. The shows judges are Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Ritchie. Ryan Seacrest, who also hosts ABC’s Live with Kelly and Ryan returns to host the show that brought him into the spotlight.