NEW YORK — The beloved children’s program “Sesame Street” is gearing up for its 55th season, showcasing an impressive roster of musical talent that would impress any music festival lineup. Artists such as SZA, Chris Stapleton, Noah Kahan, Reneé Rapp, and Samara Joy will be making appearances throughout the season.
The new season is set to launch on January 16 on MAX, with episodes premiering every Thursday. In addition to streaming on MAX, “Sesame Street” will also be available on PBS stations and accessible through PBS Kids starting this fall.
Elmo is particularly enthusiastic about the upcoming season. The spirited 3-and-a-half-year-old monster expressed his excitement, noting the educational value of music: “There’s a lot to learn from music — yeah, timing and harmonies and melody and different styles and different cultures. It’s really cool!” Elmo eagerly anticipates the musical contributions from artists like Reneé Rapp and SZA.
Music on “Sesame Street” often delivers valuable life lessons, blending entertainment with education. For example, SZA tackles the theme of gratitude in an alt-R&B-pop track, while Rapp focuses on feelings in an acoustic piece. Elmo joyfully shared how he learned the meaning of gratitude through his collaboration with SZA.
The secret behind a captivating “Sesame Street” song, according to Bill Sherman, the Tony and Grammy-winning music director, is creating catchy tunes which he refers to as “earworms.” He explains that while most pop songs focus on the chorus as the hook, children’s music needs to pack its essence into a shorter time frame, usually about a minute and a half.
Typically, the writers present the music team with scripts and lyrics that encapsulate the episode’s lesson, alongside details about the guest artist. This collaboration allows Sherman and his team to craft music that genuinely reflects each artist’s genre and style. The involvement of guest musicians varies, but their contributions are consistently remarkable.
This season also includes exciting performances like Kahan’s lively folk song about feelings, Joy’s jazz take on taking turns, and Stapleton’s heartfelt ode celebrating friendships through music. Sherman recounted a memorable Zoom songwriting session with Stapleton, who was eager to create a new song, bringing along his guitar for the session.
Unlike most artists, Samara Joy chose to sing live for her segment. Sherman noted that live performances are a rare occurrence on “Sesame Street,” but Joy was determined to maintain authenticity, expressing that the episode theme revolved around improvisation and spontaneity.
The underlying theme among these performances is the idea of connection. Elmo himself summarized it well: “Elmo thinks that music brings people together. People with different tastes can unite because they share a love for the same kind of music, and that’s kind of cool!”
Since its inception, “Sesame Street” has been thoughtfully designed by educators and child psychologists. It is broadcast in over 150 countries and has garnered numerous accolades, including more than 200 Emmy Awards, 11 Grammy Awards, two Peabody Awards, and a Kennedy Center Honor for lifetime artistic achievement—the first time a television show received this prestigious award.
Over the years, “Sesame Street” has welcomed countless musical guests. When asked about artists Elmo would love to see in future episodes, he excitedly mentioned Taylor Swift as a dream artist to collaborate with. “Maybe she could revisit her ‘Red’ era?” he added, expressing his admiration for that album. He also expressed keen interest in performing with Beyoncé, reminiscing about Destiny’s Child’s previous appearance on the show.
