Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, everybody, Welcome to the Duncan Music Lounge today. My
name is Shelley Rome and we have a special guest today.
You know her as Courtney from High School Musical, The Musical,
the series.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
You know her as oh Man, what's your character's name?
Speaker 3 (00:20):
In Oliana from.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Descendants, her Eyes of the Red. I mean, she's been
in a Bunster Disney shows. She is just killing the
game right now and we're so excited to have her.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Hi, darro Rene, Oh my gosh, I love you guys,
will like boost your ego anytime.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
You knoweem is going higher by the minute.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Here's what I love though.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
I feel like your self esteem is at a very
healthy place. And I say that that can sound very
like you have your self esteem is just really healthy,
are in it? But I say that in such a
a genuine way, and I think that really inspires a
lot of especially young women, just to see somebody so
you know, comfortable in their skin and themselves all the time.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
So weird things so much.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
It's something that when we watch you, it's just so apparent. Yeah,
you're also very kind. You you you literally spoke to
everybody in here. You did a sweet video for someone's daughter.
I mean, it's I mean, and obviously your mom is
here and she seems really sweet, So shout out to mom.
It's super obvious where you know that stems from. So
(01:33):
how are you?
Speaker 3 (01:34):
I'm so good. I'm so grateful to be here. I
watch you guys all the time.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Yeah, I'm like, yeah, well, we watch you all the time.
So how's your summer been.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
It's been really fun. I mean, Descendants premiered this July,
and so literally it's been a whirldwin. I've got to
go to Disney World, which I've never been to before
in my life, and so I got to go on
the Tiana ride and everything was really fun.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
I mean, it's it's it's so cool that when the
movie came out, the Sendance Rise of the Red, what
was it like, the most streamed Disney.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Channel original movie.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
We got a brag a little bit like in its
premiere like that's got to be a great feeling.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Oh my goodness. It was such a whirldwind. It was
like we were number one on Billboard for the soundtrack,
and then we also had the most streamed next to
Love Island. Shout out to Love Islands. I was like
a great like co partner to have because I'm watching
that show.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Which is funny because it's the complete opposite type of entertainment.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
I know. I was like, Oh, we're with love.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Moms and kids and everybody watching obviously the Disney Channel movies.
So do you remember your let's go back a little bit.
Do you remember your first Disney audition?
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Oh, my goodness, that's a great question. Yes I do.
I was auditioning at the high school musical open call
in twenty fifteen, and that was where my Disney journey started.
And it has just been a whirldwhen ever since. I
mean I waited in that line for like maybe twelve
(03:07):
hours with my mom, and everybody just had all these
credits and they were just so successful, and I just
remember being so intimidated because I was like, you know,
I'm literally a freshman in high school. I don't know,
like I don't have any credits. Like the only thing
I have is school plays, which is good too, I
now found out. But it was just it was so amazing,
(03:28):
and so after then they introduced me and I got
Freaky Friday.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
I mean, it's such a great story, like it's like
it's like a classic. I showed up, I auditioned, and
then I was casting story.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
I know, I was like, oh my goodness, Like I
didn't think it would happen to me, but I feel
like I manifested it and I prayed for it, and
I'm grateful every single day because I know when a heartbeat,
this could be different.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Wait, so we guys talk a little bit about before
we'll get back to the Descendants. Of course, we guys
talk a little bit about high school musical musical the series.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Yah, Courtney's such an iconic character.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Do you remember, like, do you have like a favorite
memory from set or something that you carry with you.
I don't know, something that like really stays in your
heart from that time of shooting.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Oh my gosh. Yeah. I mean, we've had so many
fun moments. I got really, really lucky with this cast
because we're friends on and off the stage. I must
say one of my favorite moments was we all kind
of got very very close during the pandemic because we
were in Utah and we didn't really know anybody, so
we would go over each other's house. I had Thanksgiving
(04:37):
with Frankie and everybody, and Joe and we all just
came together and we really just took that time and
we bonded. But we've been bonding since season one. I mean,
Tim Futtererley did an amazing job at making sure we
all took a moment and understood who each of us
were as humans, and luckily we all were pretty cool.
And so I just fell in love with everybody. Their
(04:58):
talent and their hearts. So been amazing.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
I love you guys, are still close, you guys still
hang out.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Yes, I just went to Olivia's concert. Oh guts, go
see it please, Oh my gosh, it's so good. And
I literally just did Larry's podcast. I just sang with Joe,
I had a sleepover with Sophia Julianne Sailors. So we're
very close.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
I love that. I love that for your guys so much.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Also, Kylie, so let's go back a little bit too
this summer. Yes, you guys are starring and the Descendants
Rise of the Red together, So.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
It's kind of cool that.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
It's so cool I had a friend on this new set.
What was that like?
Speaker 3 (05:41):
Oh my goodness, Well, Kylie Cantrell is absolutely a talent
and she's so kind and amazing and so we were Also,
she was on High School Musical with me. She played Danny,
and so I remember we would share little things that
we heard about Descendants. We'd be like, oh, did you
hear the new song that they just added and I
was like no, no, no, show me. And I heard
Red for the first time and she heard Perfect Revenge
for the first time on set of High School Musical
(06:02):
and I was like, oh my gosh, like this is
so cool, and we just geeked out. And then filming
Descendants was even more fun. I mean that cast I
also got lucky.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Again there's a common denominator.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Hare it's it's been so fun. And then being able
to play dress up, I mean I love dressing up
as a kid, and I used to cosplay when I
was younger, and I make my clothes like when I
do different things. Oh yes, I didn't make this.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
I was gonna say, tell me about the trash.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
Didn't make this one. But I remember the first thing
I ever made was like I was going to Marseille
Martin's birthday party and it was far far away themes,
so everything was gowns and I was like, I don't know,
I'm playing a gown that's not like ten thousand dollars.
And I remember I just literally so not sowed, but
(06:57):
I glued pieces together and I created my own look.
I spray painted everything and I was like, oh, I
really love this. And then I designed my premiere outfit
for Descendants.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Oh how did you learn how to how to do that?
Speaker 3 (07:10):
YouTube university? But no, my grandmother literally was a seamstress,
and so before she passed, she would try to give
me as much notes even though I was so young
and I wasn't really appreciating it at the time, but
she showed me. She would make my Halloween costume every
single Halloween. Like I'd be like saying things that don't
even exist yet, and She's like, I'll make it happen.
(07:32):
And so she showed me that anything is possible if
I just do hard work and I put my mind
to it.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Oh my god, that's Do you have like a favorite
something that you made, like something like you think is
your best creation?
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Oh my gosh. I put together a piece. Uh it
was like two separate pieces that I like cut up
and like, cause because I don't know how to sew,
I'm still learning, but I'll just like cut up things
and I'll like put pieces together that probably weren't together
in the first place. I would say my favorite that
I put together was my D twenty three. I forgot
(08:04):
what year it was, but it was when high school
musical performed for the last time Wow on the stage,
and I made this gold dress that cut it up.
I went to another seam strip, so like, was I
need you to him the bottom? I can't sew. She's like, Okay,
I got you. So that was I feel like that
was really cute.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
That's so cool.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
That's so cool.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
So designing in your future, do you see a clothing
line in your future?
Speaker 3 (08:26):
I would love to pull the Rihanna and have a
BENTI so hopefully figuers crossed.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
So speaking of D twenty three, isn't that where it
was announced that you're going on tour? Yes, the cast
of the Descendants and and and Zombies.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
Yeah, sounds about that. It's actually so insane because I've
never been on tour before, and I've never experienced anything
like performing at D twenty three that night because it
was at the Toyota Center, which is an arena, and
I've never done that, and I was so nervous. I
was like please learn, don't let mess up, don't let
me and that's everybody else up. But it was it's
(09:07):
really cool. And then once I got on stage, I
was like, I want to go on tour, and I
was so lucky that Disney made this a possibility for
all of us. I don't even think. I think the
last time they had a tour was Cheetah Girls and
Hannah Montana Whoa and the Jonas Brothers. It's been so long,
So the fact that they trust us en us, trust
us enough to go on tour and represent them and
(09:27):
have fun and meet all these beautiful people, I'm excited.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
What was it like just being in front of all
those people, because I would imagine it's an addicting feeling,
right like when you're standing there, you're having so much
fun and then everybody's just sort of screaming for you and.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
Cheering for you. It definitely was so quick, like I
feel like that's when I really realized, like, oh, this
is fast, Like take in the moment because it can
be gone like that. And I was on stage, I
don't think I heard anybody screaming because I was just
in my head with the counts. I was like don't
mess up? What's up? Because it was so many people,
I was like, oh my gosh. So I was not
(10:01):
in the moment at the time. I was so in
my head. But looking back at it, I was like, Wow,
such an honor to be on a stage like that,
and then be after Patty Lapone with Agatha all along.
I was like, oh my gosh.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
Yes, you mentioned that you are nervous. I just wonder.
You're obviously like such a performer even doing this for
so long. What do you do though, when you have
those moments, either on set or on stage where you
feel the nerves taking over.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
How do you how do you deal?
Speaker 3 (10:28):
Oh my gosh, I'm still learning, but there's it's one
thing that I do. I take a deep breath and
I hold it in for ten seconds and then I
let it out. I remember I saw that or a
therapist told me that of some sort. And then I
just pray, and I'm just like, please, God, give me
the courage to do what I'm supposed to do right now.
And whatever's supposed to happen will happen, amen, And whatever
(10:49):
happened does happen.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
So the deep breathing guys is a game changer. It's
like ame for three, holds for three, yes, out for three.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
No. Literally, like I was in line for d twenty
three and some of my dancers. I was like freaking
out of course because I was like standing next to
Patty Lapone and then people from Marvel came out and
I was like, this is just too much greatness in
this all way. And I'm in my Uliana costume and
I'm like hey, and one of the I'm not gonna
say who, but one of the actors that's very, very famous,
(11:19):
looked at all of us and was like smurfs. I
was like, I was like, okay, but I was like, purpurper,
you got us, you got us on that one girl,
and then we get humbled. Yes, I was like, back
to reality, she's here. But my dancer Toby how to
(11:40):
breathe in a square? Oh okay, and just so it's
like you hold for like three and then you take
it out and then you hold and the way he
said it was really good. Okay. I'm like, calmed me
a lot, and I'm.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Yeah, that really works.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
Speaking speaking of Alice Edwards, okay, yes, eleve encounters. Do
you have like a favorite one or somebody that you've
always wanted to meet, that you did, or someone that
was even like a fan and they're like, oh my.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
God, I love you and you're like you know me,
Oh my gosh. Oh it was. It's definitely between China
am mc clean and Brandy. Oh my gosh, China Emma Clean.
I cried because I literally remember when I first met her.
I was in line at the Sherman Oaks Caloria holding
her picture from ant Farm and I was like waiting
(12:31):
for her to sign it with a bunch of people,
and I just remember she was so nice to me
and my Fedora and my Justice outfit with Leopard and cheetah.
Oh back in the day. Don't look those pictures up.
But she looked fabulous and she said to me, she
was like, You're so beautiful. And I was like, like
that made such a difference in my life back in
that time, you know, going through puberty and figuring out
(12:52):
who I was and just hearing someone who I looked
up to tell me that I was beautiful. I was
like wow. And I was like, when I if I
ever get to wear you are, I want to be
like you in interacting with people who love you. And
when I met Brandy, I was shaking that.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Was the most underrated singer on the planet.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
Oh my gosh, she's so powerful. Like literally, in my community,
she's like whoa. In my community, she's over. We love her,
we love like literally, she's like everybody we love Brandy.
Brady has made such a difference in my community, as
representation as Cinderella, as representation as Mawesha. I mean literally,
she has changed so many lives, including my own. And
(13:32):
when I met her, I was like shaking, I couldn't talk.
And she's like, it's okay, baby, You're okay, You're okay.
And I was like, and she is so special to me.
She's so down to earth and she's so cool, and
I was like, I can't believe I'm in a movie
with Brandy. So yeah, she's She's made such a difference
(13:53):
to me and so many girls who look like me.
So I love her.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
Amen, She's she's I'm just as obsessed with her as you.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
I love her.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
So okay.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
Speaking of music, you're obviously in a fabulous singer. Do
you have any do you have any like music fans?
Are you like giving us an album at some point?
Speaker 3 (14:12):
Yes, I am. It's definitely. I'm it's so interesting because
I'm learning how to vocally produce myself the bad parties.
I'm a perfectionist, so I'm like, nobody can hear it
until it's perfect. But my mom is pushing me and
my friends are pushing me to release because I'm a
little insecure, because I'm like, this is my life experiences,
(14:32):
and it's such a vulnerable thing for me because when
you're acting, you get to be someone else, but when
you're singing, it's you, it's your stories. And so I
always say I'm a little Erica Badoo and a little
Doja Cat in my music. So people like that.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
We get a little of the conscious stuff, we get
a little of the ratchet.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
Well, you know, a little pop.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Right you know, what are you listening to right now?
Like who's on your playlist?
Speaker 3 (15:05):
Oh my gosh, so many people. Oh my goodness. I
would definitely say Chapel Rowan. I think she's brilliant. I'm
also listening. I've been a fan of jine Icho since
I was a little girl, Like she's gotten me through
so much stuff. Somehow I'm in the country now. Thank you. Beyonce.
(15:27):
For sure, Yeah, for sure, I mean it was because
you know, I used to listen to like Carrie Underwood
when I was little, and I used to listen to
country music, but I didn't really know it was country music.
I was just like every time I would go visit
my family, I would hear it because some of my
family lived in the South, and I was like, oh,
this is dope, and then my mom would be like,
that's country and I was like, oh word, okay, par
(15:48):
And so I just got reintroduced to it by Beyonce
and Musical Theater. I've been trying to sing Ladies Who
Lunch Patti Lapoone's version. So I'm just I'm addicted to music.
Oh and I'm on my seventies group right now with
Donna Summers and Barbara streisand No More Tears.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
So okay, okay, you haven't collective taste the all of
the I've never The slightly older women in here are like, yeah, yeah,
So we got to talk about Broadway. Are there shows
you're going to see while you're here in New York?
Is there something you want to see?
Speaker 3 (16:25):
Oh my goodness, well, there are shows that I saw
at Elsie Fest, and I'm like, when it comes out,
when it debuts, I want to see it, Like Drag
the Musical, I want to see that. Oh all, y'all
have to see it. Like they told me a little
bit about it, and it's like extraordinary. I was like,
oh my gosh. And I saw Alaska before him. I
was like, like, it was so good, and so I
(16:47):
definitely want to see that when it comes out. I
want to see Hades Town again, even though I saw
it in La But I'm like, when you see it
on Broadway, like it's home, Like that's their stage. Is
like you know, it's their stage. Oh my gosh, so
many things I want to see. I'm like a Broadway nerd.
So the fact that you brought this up.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
I can tell. So now my question is, what's your
dream Broadway role? Like you're up there and you're doing
your theme.
Speaker 3 (17:11):
Oh that's such a good question. Oh my goodness. If
it was back in the day, I would definitely love
to be. Oh, I would love to be in dream Girls.
I think. Yeah, Curtis was supposed to Oh no, I
saw it. Curtiss was supposed to love me. Yeah, it's okay,
(17:35):
it's okay, we gotta watch it again.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Okay, And now I'm trying to think of the song
You're Gonna love me.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
Shout out to Jennifer Holiday, Jennifer.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Hudson, I'm with you.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
Yes, I love dream Girls. Oh gosh, so good.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
So good.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
Okay, my last question about this, if you could play
like an iconic singer on Broadway like I'm thinking a
Tina anybody.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Yes, Share, I don't know. I wanted to see that
musical too. I know it was so good. Oh my gosh.
Shout out to Share. Oh, I guess if they ever
did a musical about Beyonce. Okay, here please or earth
a kid? Okay, okay, everybody said I love that.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
I mean, obviously you would kill that.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
All right.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
So we're in our Duncan music lounge.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
America runs on Duncan and so I have to know
if you walk into a dunkin Donuts and anybody could
be sitting at a table and then you're having a
latte or a mokuchina or anything that you like a Duncan.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
Who's it?
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Who?
Speaker 2 (18:50):
Who is it?
Speaker 1 (18:50):
Who are you like? Having a Duncan day with ooh,
dead or alive? Anybody?
Speaker 2 (19:02):
Now You're gonna love me? Stuck in my head.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
I got to hear using the whole thing. You don't that,
I feel like you would kill it the low KEI,
I would try really hard like this, I would love to.
Oh my gosh. I mean, there's so many brilliant people
in this world. It's like, who do you choose? That's
such a good question.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
Okay, so I'll narrow it down.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
If there was somebody that you could maybe ask a
question or get some inspiration from, who would that be?
Speaker 2 (19:31):
You know?
Speaker 3 (19:33):
My grandmother? Yeah, I definitely would. Oh and I'm about
to cry the Lord. I feel like she had so
much wisdom and so much love, and I feel like
I didn't take advantage of it in that moment because
I was so young. But now I feel like we
would be besties because my mom tells me, you guys
are the same people. So definitely my grandmother and we
(19:54):
can talk as an adult.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
Oh, I know, I feel like it's so crazy, Like
as we get older, it's like we really appreciate the
phone calls from our moms, and I stopped like ignoring them.
I'm like, okay, you know, like I you know, it
does end at some point, so I really want to
have Like I don't want to, you know, ignore her
too much.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
I want to do.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
When I was in college, I was like, no, Mom,
I'm good, And then I was like, Mom, I need
your help. I'm at a party. I want to go home.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
So before I let you go, there was one more
thing I wanted to ask you. You talked about meeting
some of your idols who just sort of like Brandy
and who kind of inspired you. And you know when
you went to the meet and greet and that you.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
Know who who?
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Who's at me?
Speaker 1 (20:37):
No?
Speaker 2 (20:38):
Who did you meet at the meet and greet that
changed your life?
Speaker 3 (20:41):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Did I guys help me? China?
Speaker 3 (20:44):
China? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (20:47):
And you said that she really inspired you, And so
I think it's so great. It's anytime words are escaping me. Anytime.
I've seen you two times interacting with people, and you
did a video of a young girl like I don't
know if you had to say anything to young girls
who are looking up to you and kind of want
to do what you do, you know, and they want
to have that China moment, what would you say to them?
Speaker 3 (21:10):
Oh? My gosh, whoa Well props to you too, because
you're literally slaying it right now. Sidebar. I was younger,
I wanted to do what you did.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Yeah, wait, you hosted the still.
Speaker 3 (21:25):
Because I remember, Oh my gosh. I don't know if
they still do this anymore, but back in the day,
they used to have these things where we would fill
out our job applications. Yeah, like I want to do
I want to host like ow you're doing, like for
something like all I heard Disney, I heard I heard Media.
I'm sorry in my brain, but I just remember like
I was like, oh, like, I want to be able
to be powerful enough to not only be in this position,
(21:47):
but also to be able to open the door for
someone else, So which you're doing right now. By the way,
shout out to queen period period period.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
You're doing it right now.
Speaker 3 (22:03):
Thank you. But I definitely would say to have fun,
you know what I mean. Life is too short to
let someone else's opinion of you affect your choice of life.
As you see, I wear what I want, I stell
my hair how I want, and I'm so happy because
I live each day. I mean, sometimes I get said,
trust me, it gets dark, but I live each day
(22:27):
in my truth. And it's definitely hard, especially in this industry,
especially in this world, to completely and fully be yourself
when you know in some places it's not accepted. But
I just want you to know that you are loved,
you are important, you are needed, and you are wanted.
And this world would be nothing if we didn't have
(22:47):
people like you in it period.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
Look at proud Mom.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Thank you so much for stopping by giving you time me.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
I'm such a bit of doors. I literally love watching that.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Can you can you cut that?
Speaker 3 (23:07):
I need that? I need that claim.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
Thank you again, so descendants the Rise of the Rise
of Red. Yes, I'm forgetting everything. No, it's okay, it's
out and you're going on tour, so long out for that.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
Anything else you want to let us know about that's
coming up.
Speaker 3 (23:23):
I'm a global ambassador of Pantein, so I can hook
you up with your hair if you need it. Pay
I think we all do.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Darren, I thank you so much. We appreciate you coming
to our Duncan Music Lounge. You guys have been a
great audience.
Speaker 3 (23:41):
I
Hi, everybody, Welcome to the Duncan Music Lounge today. My
name is Shelley Rome and we have a special guest today.
You know her as Courtney from High School Musical, The Musical,
the series.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
You know her as oh Man, what's your character's name?
Speaker 3 (00:20):
In Oliana from.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Descendants, her Eyes of the Red. I mean, she's been
in a Bunster Disney shows. She is just killing the
game right now and we're so excited to have her.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Hi, darro Rene, Oh my gosh, I love you guys,
will like boost your ego anytime.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
You knoweem is going higher by the minute.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Here's what I love though.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
I feel like your self esteem is at a very
healthy place. And I say that that can sound very
like you have your self esteem is just really healthy,
are in it? But I say that in such a
a genuine way, and I think that really inspires a
lot of especially young women, just to see somebody so
you know, comfortable in their skin and themselves all the time.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
So weird things so much.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
It's something that when we watch you, it's just so apparent. Yeah,
you're also very kind. You you you literally spoke to
everybody in here. You did a sweet video for someone's daughter.
I mean, it's I mean, and obviously your mom is
here and she seems really sweet, So shout out to mom.
It's super obvious where you know that stems from. So
(01:33):
how are you?
Speaker 3 (01:34):
I'm so good. I'm so grateful to be here. I
watch you guys all the time.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Yeah, I'm like, yeah, well, we watch you all the time.
So how's your summer been.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
It's been really fun. I mean, Descendants premiered this July,
and so literally it's been a whirldwin. I've got to
go to Disney World, which I've never been to before
in my life, and so I got to go on
the Tiana ride and everything was really fun.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
I mean, it's it's it's so cool that when the
movie came out, the Sendance Rise of the Red, what
was it like, the most streamed Disney.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Channel original movie.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
We got a brag a little bit like in its
premiere like that's got to be a great feeling.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Oh my goodness. It was such a whirldwind. It was
like we were number one on Billboard for the soundtrack,
and then we also had the most streamed next to
Love Island. Shout out to Love Islands. I was like
a great like co partner to have because I'm watching
that show.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Which is funny because it's the complete opposite type of entertainment.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
I know. I was like, Oh, we're with love.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Moms and kids and everybody watching obviously the Disney Channel movies.
So do you remember your let's go back a little bit.
Do you remember your first Disney audition?
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Oh, my goodness, that's a great question. Yes I do.
I was auditioning at the high school musical open call
in twenty fifteen, and that was where my Disney journey started.
And it has just been a whirldwhen ever since. I
mean I waited in that line for like maybe twelve
(03:07):
hours with my mom, and everybody just had all these
credits and they were just so successful, and I just
remember being so intimidated because I was like, you know,
I'm literally a freshman in high school. I don't know,
like I don't have any credits. Like the only thing
I have is school plays, which is good too, I
now found out. But it was just it was so amazing,
(03:28):
and so after then they introduced me and I got
Freaky Friday.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
I mean, it's such a great story, like it's like
it's like a classic. I showed up, I auditioned, and
then I was casting story.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
I know, I was like, oh my goodness, Like I
didn't think it would happen to me, but I feel
like I manifested it and I prayed for it, and
I'm grateful every single day because I know when a heartbeat,
this could be different.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Wait, so we guys talk a little bit about before
we'll get back to the Descendants. Of course, we guys
talk a little bit about high school musical musical the series.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Yah, Courtney's such an iconic character.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Do you remember, like, do you have like a favorite
memory from set or something that you carry with you.
I don't know, something that like really stays in your
heart from that time of shooting.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Oh my gosh. Yeah. I mean, we've had so many
fun moments. I got really, really lucky with this cast
because we're friends on and off the stage. I must
say one of my favorite moments was we all kind
of got very very close during the pandemic because we
were in Utah and we didn't really know anybody, so
we would go over each other's house. I had Thanksgiving
(04:37):
with Frankie and everybody, and Joe and we all just
came together and we really just took that time and
we bonded. But we've been bonding since season one. I mean,
Tim Futtererley did an amazing job at making sure we
all took a moment and understood who each of us
were as humans, and luckily we all were pretty cool.
And so I just fell in love with everybody. Their
(04:58):
talent and their hearts. So been amazing.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
I love you guys, are still close, you guys still
hang out.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Yes, I just went to Olivia's concert. Oh guts, go
see it please, Oh my gosh, it's so good. And
I literally just did Larry's podcast. I just sang with Joe,
I had a sleepover with Sophia Julianne Sailors. So we're
very close.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
I love that. I love that for your guys so much.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Also, Kylie, so let's go back a little bit too
this summer. Yes, you guys are starring and the Descendants
Rise of the Red together, So.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
It's kind of cool that.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
It's so cool I had a friend on this new set.
What was that like?
Speaker 3 (05:41):
Oh my goodness, Well, Kylie Cantrell is absolutely a talent
and she's so kind and amazing and so we were Also,
she was on High School Musical with me. She played Danny,
and so I remember we would share little things that
we heard about Descendants. We'd be like, oh, did you
hear the new song that they just added and I
was like no, no, no, show me. And I heard
Red for the first time and she heard Perfect Revenge
for the first time on set of High School Musical
(06:02):
and I was like, oh my gosh, like this is
so cool, and we just geeked out. And then filming
Descendants was even more fun. I mean that cast I
also got lucky.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Again there's a common denominator.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Hare it's it's been so fun. And then being able
to play dress up, I mean I love dressing up
as a kid, and I used to cosplay when I
was younger, and I make my clothes like when I
do different things. Oh yes, I didn't make this.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
I was gonna say, tell me about the trash.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
Didn't make this one. But I remember the first thing
I ever made was like I was going to Marseille
Martin's birthday party and it was far far away themes,
so everything was gowns and I was like, I don't know,
I'm playing a gown that's not like ten thousand dollars.
And I remember I just literally so not sowed, but
(06:57):
I glued pieces together and I created my own look.
I spray painted everything and I was like, oh, I
really love this. And then I designed my premiere outfit
for Descendants.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Oh how did you learn how to how to do that?
Speaker 3 (07:10):
YouTube university? But no, my grandmother literally was a seamstress,
and so before she passed, she would try to give
me as much notes even though I was so young
and I wasn't really appreciating it at the time, but
she showed me. She would make my Halloween costume every
single Halloween. Like I'd be like saying things that don't
even exist yet, and She's like, I'll make it happen.
(07:32):
And so she showed me that anything is possible if
I just do hard work and I put my mind
to it.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Oh my god, that's Do you have like a favorite
something that you made, like something like you think is
your best creation?
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Oh my gosh. I put together a piece. Uh it
was like two separate pieces that I like cut up
and like, cause because I don't know how to sew,
I'm still learning, but I'll just like cut up things
and I'll like put pieces together that probably weren't together
in the first place. I would say my favorite that
I put together was my D twenty three. I forgot
(08:04):
what year it was, but it was when high school
musical performed for the last time Wow on the stage,
and I made this gold dress that cut it up.
I went to another seam strip, so like, was I
need you to him the bottom? I can't sew. She's like, Okay,
I got you. So that was I feel like that
was really cute.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
That's so cool.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
That's so cool.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
So designing in your future, do you see a clothing
line in your future?
Speaker 3 (08:26):
I would love to pull the Rihanna and have a
BENTI so hopefully figuers crossed.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
So speaking of D twenty three, isn't that where it
was announced that you're going on tour? Yes, the cast
of the Descendants and and and Zombies.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
Yeah, sounds about that. It's actually so insane because I've
never been on tour before, and I've never experienced anything
like performing at D twenty three that night because it
was at the Toyota Center, which is an arena, and
I've never done that, and I was so nervous. I
was like please learn, don't let mess up, don't let
me and that's everybody else up. But it was it's
(09:07):
really cool. And then once I got on stage, I
was like, I want to go on tour, and I
was so lucky that Disney made this a possibility for
all of us. I don't even think. I think the
last time they had a tour was Cheetah Girls and
Hannah Montana Whoa and the Jonas Brothers. It's been so long,
So the fact that they trust us en us, trust
us enough to go on tour and represent them and
(09:27):
have fun and meet all these beautiful people, I'm excited.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
What was it like just being in front of all
those people, because I would imagine it's an addicting feeling,
right like when you're standing there, you're having so much
fun and then everybody's just sort of screaming for you and.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
Cheering for you. It definitely was so quick, like I
feel like that's when I really realized, like, oh, this
is fast, Like take in the moment because it can
be gone like that. And I was on stage, I
don't think I heard anybody screaming because I was just
in my head with the counts. I was like don't
mess up? What's up? Because it was so many people,
I was like, oh my gosh. So I was not
(10:01):
in the moment at the time. I was so in
my head. But looking back at it, I was like, Wow,
such an honor to be on a stage like that,
and then be after Patty Lapone with Agatha all along.
I was like, oh my gosh.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
Yes, you mentioned that you are nervous. I just wonder.
You're obviously like such a performer even doing this for
so long. What do you do though, when you have
those moments, either on set or on stage where you
feel the nerves taking over.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
How do you how do you deal?
Speaker 3 (10:28):
Oh my gosh, I'm still learning, but there's it's one
thing that I do. I take a deep breath and
I hold it in for ten seconds and then I
let it out. I remember I saw that or a
therapist told me that of some sort. And then I
just pray, and I'm just like, please, God, give me
the courage to do what I'm supposed to do right now.
And whatever's supposed to happen will happen, amen, And whatever
(10:49):
happened does happen.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
So the deep breathing guys is a game changer. It's
like ame for three, holds for three, yes, out for three.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
No. Literally, like I was in line for d twenty
three and some of my dancers. I was like freaking
out of course because I was like standing next to
Patty Lapone and then people from Marvel came out and
I was like, this is just too much greatness in
this all way. And I'm in my Uliana costume and
I'm like hey, and one of the I'm not gonna
say who, but one of the actors that's very, very famous,
(11:19):
looked at all of us and was like smurfs. I
was like, I was like, okay, but I was like, purpurper,
you got us, you got us on that one girl,
and then we get humbled. Yes, I was like, back
to reality, she's here. But my dancer Toby how to
(11:40):
breathe in a square? Oh okay, and just so it's
like you hold for like three and then you take
it out and then you hold and the way he
said it was really good. Okay. I'm like, calmed me
a lot, and I'm.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Yeah, that really works.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
Speaking speaking of Alice Edwards, okay, yes, eleve encounters. Do
you have like a favorite one or somebody that you've
always wanted to meet, that you did, or someone that
was even like a fan and they're like, oh my.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
God, I love you and you're like you know me,
Oh my gosh. Oh it was. It's definitely between China
am mc clean and Brandy. Oh my gosh, China Emma Clean.
I cried because I literally remember when I first met her.
I was in line at the Sherman Oaks Caloria holding
her picture from ant Farm and I was like waiting
(12:31):
for her to sign it with a bunch of people,
and I just remember she was so nice to me
and my Fedora and my Justice outfit with Leopard and cheetah.
Oh back in the day. Don't look those pictures up.
But she looked fabulous and she said to me, she
was like, You're so beautiful. And I was like, like
that made such a difference in my life back in
that time, you know, going through puberty and figuring out
(12:52):
who I was and just hearing someone who I looked
up to tell me that I was beautiful. I was
like wow. And I was like, when I if I
ever get to wear you are, I want to be
like you in interacting with people who love you. And
when I met Brandy, I was shaking that.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Was the most underrated singer on the planet.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
Oh my gosh, she's so powerful. Like literally, in my community,
she's like whoa. In my community, she's over. We love her,
we love like literally, she's like everybody we love Brandy.
Brady has made such a difference in my community, as
representation as Cinderella, as representation as Mawesha. I mean literally,
she has changed so many lives, including my own. And
(13:32):
when I met her, I was like shaking, I couldn't talk.
And she's like, it's okay, baby, You're okay, You're okay.
And I was like, and she is so special to me.
She's so down to earth and she's so cool, and
I was like, I can't believe I'm in a movie
with Brandy. So yeah, she's She's made such a difference
(13:53):
to me and so many girls who look like me.
So I love her.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
Amen, She's she's I'm just as obsessed with her as you.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
I love her.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
So okay.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
Speaking of music, you're obviously in a fabulous singer. Do
you have any do you have any like music fans?
Are you like giving us an album at some point?
Speaker 3 (14:12):
Yes, I am. It's definitely. I'm it's so interesting because
I'm learning how to vocally produce myself the bad parties.
I'm a perfectionist, so I'm like, nobody can hear it
until it's perfect. But my mom is pushing me and
my friends are pushing me to release because I'm a
little insecure, because I'm like, this is my life experiences,
(14:32):
and it's such a vulnerable thing for me because when
you're acting, you get to be someone else, but when
you're singing, it's you, it's your stories. And so I
always say I'm a little Erica Badoo and a little
Doja Cat in my music. So people like that.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
We get a little of the conscious stuff, we get
a little of the ratchet.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
Well, you know, a little pop.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Right you know, what are you listening to right now?
Like who's on your playlist?
Speaker 3 (15:05):
Oh my gosh, so many people. Oh my goodness. I
would definitely say Chapel Rowan. I think she's brilliant. I'm
also listening. I've been a fan of jine Icho since
I was a little girl, Like she's gotten me through
so much stuff. Somehow I'm in the country now. Thank you. Beyonce.
(15:27):
For sure, Yeah, for sure, I mean it was because
you know, I used to listen to like Carrie Underwood
when I was little, and I used to listen to
country music, but I didn't really know it was country music.
I was just like every time I would go visit
my family, I would hear it because some of my
family lived in the South, and I was like, oh,
this is dope, and then my mom would be like,
that's country and I was like, oh word, okay, par
(15:48):
And so I just got reintroduced to it by Beyonce
and Musical Theater. I've been trying to sing Ladies Who
Lunch Patti Lapoone's version. So I'm just I'm addicted to music.
Oh and I'm on my seventies group right now with
Donna Summers and Barbara streisand No More Tears.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
So okay, okay, you haven't collective taste the all of
the I've never The slightly older women in here are like, yeah, yeah,
So we got to talk about Broadway. Are there shows
you're going to see while you're here in New York?
Is there something you want to see?
Speaker 3 (16:25):
Oh my goodness, well, there are shows that I saw
at Elsie Fest, and I'm like, when it comes out,
when it debuts, I want to see it, Like Drag
the Musical, I want to see that. Oh all, y'all
have to see it. Like they told me a little
bit about it, and it's like extraordinary. I was like,
oh my gosh. And I saw Alaska before him. I
was like, like, it was so good, and so I
(16:47):
definitely want to see that when it comes out. I
want to see Hades Town again, even though I saw
it in La But I'm like, when you see it
on Broadway, like it's home, Like that's their stage. Is
like you know, it's their stage. Oh my gosh, so
many things I want to see. I'm like a Broadway nerd.
So the fact that you brought this up.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
I can tell. So now my question is, what's your
dream Broadway role? Like you're up there and you're doing
your theme.
Speaker 3 (17:11):
Oh that's such a good question. Oh my goodness. If
it was back in the day, I would definitely love
to be. Oh, I would love to be in dream Girls.
I think. Yeah, Curtis was supposed to Oh no, I
saw it. Curtiss was supposed to love me. Yeah, it's okay,
(17:35):
it's okay, we gotta watch it again.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Okay, And now I'm trying to think of the song
You're Gonna love me.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
Shout out to Jennifer Holiday, Jennifer.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Hudson, I'm with you.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
Yes, I love dream Girls. Oh gosh, so good.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
So good.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
Okay, my last question about this, if you could play
like an iconic singer on Broadway like I'm thinking a
Tina anybody.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Yes, Share, I don't know. I wanted to see that
musical too. I know it was so good. Oh my gosh.
Shout out to Share. Oh, I guess if they ever
did a musical about Beyonce. Okay, here please or earth
a kid? Okay, okay, everybody said I love that.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
I mean, obviously you would kill that.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
All right.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
So we're in our Duncan music lounge.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
America runs on Duncan and so I have to know
if you walk into a dunkin Donuts and anybody could
be sitting at a table and then you're having a
latte or a mokuchina or anything that you like a Duncan.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
Who's it?
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Who?
Speaker 2 (18:50):
Who is it?
Speaker 1 (18:50):
Who are you like? Having a Duncan day with ooh,
dead or alive? Anybody?
Speaker 2 (19:02):
Now You're gonna love me? Stuck in my head.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
I got to hear using the whole thing. You don't that,
I feel like you would kill it the low KEI,
I would try really hard like this, I would love to.
Oh my gosh. I mean, there's so many brilliant people
in this world. It's like, who do you choose? That's
such a good question.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
Okay, so I'll narrow it down.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
If there was somebody that you could maybe ask a
question or get some inspiration from, who would that be?
Speaker 2 (19:31):
You know?
Speaker 3 (19:33):
My grandmother? Yeah, I definitely would. Oh and I'm about
to cry the Lord. I feel like she had so
much wisdom and so much love, and I feel like
I didn't take advantage of it in that moment because
I was so young. But now I feel like we
would be besties because my mom tells me, you guys
are the same people. So definitely my grandmother and we
(19:54):
can talk as an adult.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
Oh, I know, I feel like it's so crazy, Like
as we get older, it's like we really appreciate the
phone calls from our moms, and I stopped like ignoring them.
I'm like, okay, you know, like I you know, it
does end at some point, so I really want to
have Like I don't want to, you know, ignore her
too much.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
I want to do.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
When I was in college, I was like, no, Mom,
I'm good, And then I was like, Mom, I need
your help. I'm at a party. I want to go home.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
So before I let you go, there was one more
thing I wanted to ask you. You talked about meeting
some of your idols who just sort of like Brandy
and who kind of inspired you. And you know when
you went to the meet and greet and that you.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
Know who who?
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Who's at me?
Speaker 1 (20:37):
No?
Speaker 2 (20:38):
Who did you meet at the meet and greet that
changed your life?
Speaker 3 (20:41):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Did I guys help me? China?
Speaker 3 (20:44):
China? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (20:47):
And you said that she really inspired you, And so
I think it's so great. It's anytime words are escaping me. Anytime.
I've seen you two times interacting with people, and you
did a video of a young girl like I don't
know if you had to say anything to young girls
who are looking up to you and kind of want
to do what you do, you know, and they want
to have that China moment, what would you say to them?
Speaker 3 (21:10):
Oh? My gosh, whoa Well props to you too, because
you're literally slaying it right now. Sidebar. I was younger,
I wanted to do what you did.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Yeah, wait, you hosted the still.
Speaker 3 (21:25):
Because I remember, Oh my gosh. I don't know if
they still do this anymore, but back in the day,
they used to have these things where we would fill
out our job applications. Yeah, like I want to do
I want to host like ow you're doing, like for
something like all I heard Disney, I heard I heard Media.
I'm sorry in my brain, but I just remember like
I was like, oh, like, I want to be able
to be powerful enough to not only be in this position,
(21:47):
but also to be able to open the door for
someone else, So which you're doing right now. By the way,
shout out to queen period period period.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
You're doing it right now.
Speaker 3 (22:03):
Thank you. But I definitely would say to have fun,
you know what I mean. Life is too short to
let someone else's opinion of you affect your choice of life.
As you see, I wear what I want, I stell
my hair how I want, and I'm so happy because
I live each day. I mean, sometimes I get said,
trust me, it gets dark, but I live each day
(22:27):
in my truth. And it's definitely hard, especially in this industry,
especially in this world, to completely and fully be yourself
when you know in some places it's not accepted. But
I just want you to know that you are loved,
you are important, you are needed, and you are wanted.
And this world would be nothing if we didn't have
(22:47):
people like you in it period.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
Look at proud Mom.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Thank you so much for stopping by giving you time me.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
I'm such a bit of doors. I literally love watching that.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Can you can you cut that?
Speaker 3 (23:07):
I need that? I need that claim.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
Thank you again, so descendants the Rise of the Rise
of Red. Yes, I'm forgetting everything. No, it's okay, it's
out and you're going on tour, so long out for that.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
Anything else you want to let us know about that's
coming up.
Speaker 3 (23:23):
I'm a global ambassador of Pantein, so I can hook
you up with your hair if you need it. Pay
I think we all do.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Darren, I thank you so much. We appreciate you coming
to our Duncan Music Lounge. You guys have been a
great audience.
Speaker 3 (23:41):
I
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