A new video from Walt Disney Imagineering reveals three of the new songs for the upcoming Country Bear Musical Jamboree at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.
Tracks will include "A Whole New World," "Try Everything," and "Bear Necessities."
Paying homage to the musical revues of Nashville, Imagineers worked alongside record-breaking 10-time CMA Musician of the Year, Mac McAnally, on the music — McAnally is a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame and Alabama Music Hall of Fame. For the voice of the beloved bear, Trixie St. Claire, country singer Emily Ann Roberts added her twangy vocals to "Try Everything." Allison Russell and Christopher Scott Thile slowed things down a bit with a mandolin-style of "A Whole New World" for Wendell and Teddi Barra.
"I’ve never done anything like this, where the song is truly coming to life before folks' eyes," shared Emily Ann. "It was really neat to hear the whole concept and then being able to stand behind the mic and think ‘how do I put myself in Trixie’s shoes?"'
Watch the latest "We Call It Imagineering" installment to see behind-the-scenes of a recording session and listen to the new Country Bear Musical Jamboree songs.
The refreshed Country Bear Musical Jamboree is set to open this summer, but Disney has yet to provide a specific date. Current best estimates suggest an August 2024 opening.
The new show pays homage to the Opry-style shows of Nashville. While the Country Bear Musical Jamboree will include easter eggs from the beginning to the end including a familiar tune fans may remember, the bears will sing new, reinterpreted Disney tunes in different genres of country music – like bluegrass, pop-country, Americana, rockabilly and other styles.
Get Walt Disney World News Delivered to Your Inbox