'Disney Princess: The Ultimate Concert Celebration' brings stars together for D23 concert

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Fans attending D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim, California were treated to a star-studded concert bringing together Disney princesses from animation, live-action films and Broadway in what organizers described as the largest gathering of Disney princesses ever assembled.

The special, "Disney Princess: The Ultimate Concert Celebration," was filmed at Disney California Adventure and features performances and collaborations from performers associated with some of Disney's most beloved characters.



Among the highlights are duets featuring Ariel performers Jodi Benson and Halle Bailey, Belle performers Paige O'Hara and Susan Egan, and Moana performers Auli'i Cravalho and Catherine Laga'aia.

Benson, who voiced the animated Ariel, reflected on the significance of the gathering.



"What a moment!" she exclaimed. "I know, it's magic, isn't it? We've been waiting to get all of our girls together."

Anika Noni Rose, who voiced the animated Tiana, described the experience as emotional.

"It was very moving and very, I don't know, very emotional and poignant to me," she said.

The concert also features Brandy performing her song from "Cinderella" and Lea Salonga, who provided the singing voices for the animated versions of Mulan and Jasmine.



"I think I'm just doing this for that little girl in the Philippines that stood on top of a coffee table and sang," Salonga said. "It's special."



It was also revealed they keep in touch through a group chat known as the "princess posse."

When asked about the vibe in the group chat, Cravalho, who voiced the animated Moana, said, "It's a lot of kindness. It's a lot of love and light. It's also a lot of memes."

For Laga'aia, who portrays Moana in the live-action adaptation, sharing the stage with longtime Disney performers was especially meaningful.

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"Insane," she said. "Like, these are my my childhood. These are the women that I grew up with that were, you know, part of raising me in a way," Laga'aia said.



The weekend was also especially significant for Susan Egan, the original Belle on Broadway and the voice of Megara in Hercules, who is being inducted as a Disney Legend.

"I'm looking at the lineup of all of the other people being honored, and I feel, I don't know, just it's a bit crazy," she said. "It's a little surreal."

"Disney Princess: The Ultimate Concert Celebration" airs Sunday on ABC and streams on Disney+ at 8/7c.

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