Jodi Benson Latest News, Photos, and Videos

Auli’i Cravalho is opening up about the advice she sought out from Jodi Benson, who voiced Ariel in the original animated version of The Little Mermaid.

Speaking with Collider, the 18-year-old actress revealed that she’s become close with Jodi over the past couple years and received some sage advice from the actress in regards to portraying the sea princess for The Little Mermaid Live!

“I met with Jodi, a few months ago, at D23. We had actually met, for the first, at the D23, a few years before that, and she’s always just been such a beautiful, warm individual. She had so much advice to give to all of us Disney princesses because she just knows how it works,” Auli’i shared. “She’s been grateful, every step of the way, and that’s something that she also taught me, a few years ago.”

She continues, “Now that I’m playing Ariel, I asked her, ‘I don’t know how to really make her my own. You played her pretty perfectly, so where do I go from there?’ She was incredibly kind and basically says, just remember that she’s joyous and she has so much love for the ocean and where she comes from, but also she has such a need for adventure and a need to explore. So, with that in mind, I hope to do her proud.”

The Little Mermaid Live! airs TONIGHT, @ 8PM ET/PT on ABC.

Auli’i Cravalho and Jodi Benson share a moment up on stage during the 2019 D23 Expo over the weekend in Anaheim, Calif.

The two Disney Princess actresses celebrated the 30th anniversary of The Little Mermaid together and promoted the upcoming concert special, where Auli’i will be performing as Ariel.

During the panel event, Auli’i opened up about how Jodi gave her advice during the last D23 about how portraying a Disney princess would open doors and then asked for even more.

You can check out her answer in the video clip below!

If you missed the exciting news about The Little Mermaid Concert Special, read up on it on JustJaredJr.com now!

Haters are going to hate on Disney casting Halle Bailey as Ariel in the live action The Little Mermaid movie, however, the original voice for Ariel, Jodi Benson, 100% approves.

Speaking at Florida Supercon over the weekend, Jodi opened up about her thoughts about the casting decision.

“I think that the spirit of a character is what really matters. What you bring to the table in a character as far as their heart, and their spirit, is what really counts,” Jodi shared. “And the outside package — cause let’s face it, I’m really, really old — and so when I’m singing ‘Part of Your World,’ if you were to judge me on the way that I look on the outside, it might change the way that you interpret the song. But if you close your eyes, you can still hear the spirit of Ariel.”

She added, “We need to be storytellers. And no matter what we look like on the outside, no matter our race, our nation, the color of our skin, our dialect, whether I’m tall or thin, whether I’m overweight or underweight, or my hair is whatever color, we really need to tell the story.”

Halle was announced to play the title character last week and here’s how celebs were reacting.

Nick Jonas and Darren Criss have us swooning!

The two heartthrobs performed a surprise duet together during Darren‘s 2018 Elsie Fest in Central Park at the Summerstage on Sunday (October 7) in New York City.

PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Nick Jonas

Elsie Fest, founded by Darren, is NYC’s first music festival featuring stars and songs of the stage and screen.

Nick and Darren sang “Brotherhood of Man” together from How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

Rufus Wainwright, Zachary Levi, Matthew Morrison, Jodi Benson, Grant Gustin, Will Roland, Joshua Henry, Alex Newell, Sutton Foster, Casey Cott, Corey Cott and the casts of Be More Chill, The Prom and Anna and the Apocalypse were among the many talented acts to hit the stage during the event.

FYI: Nick is wearing an Everybody.World hoodie.

50+ pictures inside from Elsie Fest…

How amazing is this little factoid?!

Mandy Moore admitted that she only got into singing because of Jodi Benson, aka Ariel from The Little Mermaid!

The Tangled star, who voices Rapunzel, told ET about her connection to the red-haired Disney Princess.

“I met Jodi Benson today, Ariel. She is the sole reason that I started singing,” she shared. “I didn’t manage to tell her that, because I didn’t want to creep her out too much [but] I will. Before the day is done, I’m going to lay that on her.”

After the interview Mandy made sure to get a pic with Jodi, who discovered this fact from ET.

“She didn’t tell me [that I inspired her to sing],” she said. “That makes my selfie even more special. That’s really neat.”

Rapunzel & Ariel Love!

If you missed the big news about the Disney Princesses, read it on JJJ now!