Reneé Rapp is getting musical on Sesame Street alongside beloved residents Cookie Monster, Elmo, and Abby Cadabby. In the freshly released trailer for the show's 55th season, the 24-year-old singer-actress harmonizes with her Muppet friends about embracing and expressing emotions. "Feelings are real so let them show," the group croons, highlighting the importance of letting oneself be vulnerable. Elmo even points out that music can help soothe a wide range of feelings.
Beyond Rapp's appearance, this season features a star-studded roster of musical guests, including SZA, Chris Stapleton, Noah Kahan, and Samara Joy. Other big names—like Michael B. Jordan, Billie Jean King, and Jonathan Van Ness—are also slated to visit the iconic street. Online, fans rejoiced over Rapp's debut, saying they were moved to tears by her duet with Cookie Monster and Elmo.
Ahead of its January 16 premiere, Sesame Street has revealed that season 55 will spotlight mindfulness, resiliency, and healthy emotional expression for kids. Meanwhile, the show's future distribution is under discussion as the current deal with its longtime streaming home winds down. Still, creators promise it will remain accessible to generations of viewers in the years ahead.