Sesame Street’s 55th Season Features SZA, Chris Stapleton, and Reneé Rapp

The 55th season of the iconic children’s show “Sesame Street” is set to debut on Jan. 16, featuring a star-studded lineup of musical guests including SZA, Chris Stapleton, Noah Kahan, and Reneé Rapp. The new season, which will air on MAX with weekly episodes, focuses on emotional well-being and resilience, blending music with life lessons for young viewers.

Elmo, the beloved 3 1/2-year-old monster, expressed his excitement about the season’s musical collaborations. “There’s a lot to learn from music — yeah, timing and harmonies and melody and different styles and different cultures,” Elmo told The Associated Press. “It’s really cool! We’ve got a lot of wonderful people come and do some music with us on ‘Sesame Street,’ like Miss Reneé Rapp and SZA! Chris Stapleton, Noah Kahan, Samara Joy — lots of great people!”

The season will include a variety of musical genres, from SZA’s alt-R&B-pop track about gratitude to Chris Stapleton’s country ode to friendship. Reneé Rapp, known for her role in “Mean Girls,” will also perform a song about expressing feelings with Cookie Monster, Elmo, and Abby Cadabby. “Feelings are real so let them show,” Rapp and the Muppets sing in the trailer.

Bill Sherman, the music director of “Sesame Street,” emphasized the importance of creating memorable, educational songs. “If the verse is an earworm, so is the chorus,” Sherman said. “Children’s music is about a minute and a half. You only have a very finite amount of time to do what you got to do.”

Sherman also shared behind-the-scenes details about working with the guest stars. Chris Stapleton co-wrote a song with Sherman during a Zoom session, while Samara Joy insisted on singing live to align with the episode’s theme of improvisation. “She said, ‘Well, this whole episode is about improvisation and thinking on your toes. And so, if it’s prerecorded, that’s the opposite of what we’re trying to teach,’” Sherman recalled.

Since its debut in 1969, “Sesame Street” has become a global phenomenon, airing in over 150 countries and winning numerous awards, including 200 Emmys and 11 Grammys. The show continues to innovate, blending education with entertainment to teach children valuable life skills.

The 55th season will also be available on PBS stations and PBS Kids in the fall, ensuring that the beloved program reaches a wide audience. Fans of the show are eagerly anticipating the new episodes, with many expressing excitement online about the guest appearances. “Reneé Rapp on Sesame Street im sobbing,” one fan tweeted, while another wrote, “I can’t wait to watch Reneé sing and have fun with Elmo and the rest of the crew.”