From YouTube to Disney+: Preschool hit 'Gracie's Corner' lands streaming and development deal

LOS ANGELES (AP) — When Javoris Hollingsworth looked over his children's shoulders during the pandemic, he noticed something missing from the educational videos keeping them occupied: Black characters who reflected families like his own. "Did you realize that none of the characters look like our children?" he asked his wife, Arlene Gordon-Hollingsworth. Instead of simply pointing out the problem, the couple set out to change it. That observation eventually led to "Gracie's Corner," the educational music series inspired by their daughter Graceyn Hollingsworth that has attracted more than 6.3 million YouTube subscribers and nearly 10 billion views. Now, "Gracie's Corner" is headed to Disney+. Disney announced Thursday that it has acquired the global streaming rights to the popular preschool series and will develop new original content with the Hollingsworth family. The deal includes global linear and streaming rights to more than 120 shorts and 18 themed compilations from the existing series. Graceyn, 13, said she was "really ecstatic" when she learned Disney would become part of the show's next chapter. "Disney, Disney. The one that makes all the princess movies and everything," she recalled thinking. "It was really surprising." When will 'Gracie's Corner' premiere on Disney+?"Gracie's Corner" will debut Monday on Disney+ in the United States and select international markets, with 68 shorts and seven compilations available at launch. Additional shorts and compilations will roll out globally through 2026. The acquisition adds "Gracie's Corner" to Disney Jr.'s preschool lineup, which includes "Bluey,""Marvel's Spidey and his Amazing Friends," "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse," "SuperKitties" and the recently launched "Sofia the First: Royal Magic." "'Gracie's Corner' has made a real connection with families by meeting kids where they are, while still delivering the kind of joyful, enriching experience parents are looking for," said Ayo Davis, president of Disney Branded Television. "It feels very at home alongside the Disney characters and stories families already love, bringing together music, learning and participation in a way that really resonates with today's preschoolers." The inspiration for 'Gracie's Corner'The journey began in 2020 when the Hollingsworths, both university professors, were juggling virtual work and parenting from home during the early days of COVID-19. Arlene Gordon-Hollingsworth, a licensed clinical psychologist, and her husband were teaching classes remotely while helping their children navigate online learning. Like many parents, they relied on educational videos to keep their children entertained and engaged. But they quickly realized many of the characters their children watched did not reflect their own experiences. At the time, Graceyn was in elementary school. The couple's younger children were toddlers. "We were like every other parent, putting them in front of what we could to entertain them," Arlene Gordon-Hollingsworth said. The conversation sparked an idea that would eventually become a family business. Sing-along show blends hip-hop, R&B and learningThe Hollingsworths created "Gracie's Corner," an animated sing-along series that reimagines nursery rhymes while blending literacy, math, science and social-emotional lessons with music inspired by hip-hop, R&B and other contemporary sounds. It features animated versions of Graceyn and her family. The show is designed to provide educational content that children can enjoy while also giving parents something they won't mind hearing repeatedly. Success did not come overnight. The family's earliest videos attracted only a few hundred views, mostly from relatives and friends. But a phonics-focused song helped the channel gain traction, eventually transforming the project into one of YouTube's most successful educational brands. "It didn't always look like it would be successful in the beginning," Arlene Gordon-Hollingsworth said. "What we set out to do, we're seeing it's important for other families too." The channel's growth eventually attracted attention from across the entertainment industry including Disney. Javoris Hollingsworth recalled receiving a LinkedIn message several years ago from a Disney executive expressing interest in the series. "I thought it was a prank," he said. "There's no way Disney is reaching out to us." The partnership marks another milestone for a family-built brand that has won four NAACP Image Awards, landed a book deal with HarperCollins and expanded into live entertainment through its sold-out national tour. Why 'Gracie's Corner' appealed to DisneyFor Disney, the deal also reflects the growing influence of creator-led programming in children's entertainment and the ways young audiences increasingly discover content outside traditional television channels. "Disney has always created stories and characters that families trust, and kids genuinely connect with," Davis said. "As the ways preschool audiences engage with content continue to evolve, we see an opportunity to work with creators who understand the kinds of music-driven, participatory experiences kids return to again and again, and bring those voices into the Disney ecosystem in a way that is thoughtful, curated and true to our brand." Unlike many traditional acquisitions, "Gracie's Corner" will continue to live on YouTube while expanding to Disney's platforms. Javoris Hollingsworth said maintaining ownership of the brand and ensuring its accessibility were important considerations as discussions moved forward. The arrangement also includes a development agreement that will allow Disney and the Hollingsworth family to create new original content together. "We always wanted to make sure that our content is accessible and available to those who may not have access to some of the things that others have," he said. "Disney respected that."