Before we were blessed with the Princess and the Frog, we had the Black Cinderella. Yes, for those who don’t know, Brandy was our first ever black Disney Princess.
Contrary to popular belief, Tiana from the Princess and the Frog is not the first black Disney Princess. Predating Tiana is Brandy Norwood who played in the live-action, modern-day Cinderella. And yes, it was magical! The show, which originally ran during “The Wonderful World of Disney” on ABC back in 1997. It features Brandy as Cinderella and also stars the late Whitney Houston as the Fairy Godmother.
If you grew up in the early 2000s like me, you probably remember watching this movie in awe. I distinctly remember watching it in the second grade. You know, when they would roll out that TV and you knew it was gonna be a good day. At home, I would sit two feet away from the television, close enough to feel the static. And the movie’s breakout track, “Impossible,” was always stuck in my head.
If you missed out on that great childhood moment, you can watch it soon. People have been pushing for Disney Plus to put it on streaming their streaming platform for awhile. Now, the “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella” will be streaming at the stroke of midnight Feb. 12 on Disney Plus.
Even if you’re already familiar with the Cinderella story and plot, it’s nothing like the 1997 version. I definitely need to refresh my memory. However, you can bet on it that the Cinderella starring Brandy version had the swag and relatability that black people always brings to the table.
So, ask your friends for their login, get your popcorn ready, and pull out your princess/new years dress out if you have them. Why not, if you’ve been locked up this whole time due to the pandemic.
The countdown begins… 🕛💙 @RnH_Org's CINDERELLA starring @4everBrandy and Whitney Houston will be available to stream (for the first time ever!) on @DisneyPlus.
See you at the ball on Friday, February 12! ✨ #Cinderella1997 pic.twitter.com/lLAZsLSiiz
— Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA (@RHCinderella) February 4, 2021
