This year Disney is celebrating royally with the “Ultimate Princess Celebration,” and to kick of the celebration, global superstar and Grammy Award-winning recording artist Brandy, who starred as the beloved princess in The Wonderful World of Disney and Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, will release a new original song called “Starting Now.”
With Brandy’s new single kicking things off the event will span across multiple mediums including a television special, a storybook, collectibles, a live concert series, and a special collaboration with Starlight Children’s Foundation. The official description of “Ultimate Princess Celebration” reads:
“A yearlong event spotlighting the courage and kindness these Disney heroines inspire in fans all around the world. From Cinderella’s generosity and Belle’s ingenuity to Mulan’s selflessness and Moana’s adventurous spirit, Disney is honoring these strong women through music, experiences, products, and a campaign to give back to children around the country.”
The celebration will kick off on May 21 as Walt Disney Records releases Brandy’s new single. The song, which was produced by Grammy nominee Oak Felder and written by Jason Mater, Jordan Powers, and Darren Criss, will serve as the theme song for the entire event, and the May 21 release will also include a lyric video.
The song will also appear this August during the event’s only announced television special, Disney Princess Remixed – An Ultimate Princess Celebration, as Brandy debuts the music video. The half-hour show will celebrate the Disney princesses and queens with reimagined performances of their beloved songs by a selection of Disney’s stars. Although it will first air on Disney Channel in the U.S., the special will be available on Disney+ worldwide as well.
In celebration of this event Disney Publishing Worldwide just released Tales of Courage and Kindness, a short story collection that aims to inspire and empower children to create a kinder world. Featuring 14 new stories with beautiful illustrations demonstrating how each princess (or queen in the case of Anna and Elsa) is kind and courageous in her own way. To make this even more special Disney Princess voice talent, including Mandy Moore, Auli‘i Cravalho, Anika Noni Rose, and Kelly Marie Tran, will read stories from the collection, which can be viewed at princess.disney.com, and Tales of Courage and Kindness is available for free download now through the end of August.
Other fun Disney Princess theme merchandise for fans of all ages from toys to fashion and accessories to home décor and games will be made available over the course of the celebration. This will include collaborations with fan favorite brands like Hasbro, LEGO, Funko, POPSUGAR, Enchanted Disney Fine Jewelry, Coach, and more. However, in the spirit of the program Disney has also teamed up with brands like Lokai and Love Your Melon, who celebrate kindness through chartable giving.
Then, as if all of this wasn’t enough, Disney Concerts presents Disney Princess – The Concert, a nationwide tour heading our November 1 this year. Disney invites you to “Be our guest” as Tony nominee Susan Egan, two-time Tony nominee Laura Osnes, Grammy nominee Courtney Reed, and rising star Aisha Jackson take the stage to present you with an evening of magic via song, story, and animation.
Finally, Disney is really making sure that this event is kindness focused by teaming up with Starlight Children’s Foundation to bring Disney Princess (and Frozen) themed hospital gowns and deliveries of toys, books, and games to children as they brave the hospital. Starlight Gowns are designed to be a fun, personalized alternative to traditional hospital gowns in an effort to provide seriously ill children with a sense of comfort and normalcy during their stay.
With so much going on this celebration truly does look to be the “Ultimate Princess Celebration.” So if you’re a Disney Princess fan, be sure to make the most of all of these opportunities to celebrate your favorite characters and maybe make the world a little kinder at the same time.
