A nostalgic pop culture debate is heating up, and this time it’s getting a thoughtful twist from Demi Lovato. The question sounds simple, but sparks strong opinions: Who truly belongs on Disney Channel’s Mount Rushmore?
The conversation started when Raven-Symoné—one of the network’s earliest defining figures—shared her picks during a March 10 interview with The Shade Room. Her lineup included herself, Hilary Duff, and Shia LaBeouf. But it was who she left out that caught attention.
“I would say me, Hilary Duff, Shia LaBeouf,” Raven said. When Miley Cyrus was suggested, she pushed back: “No, not Miley. I love you, Miley, but not Miley. She came after.”
Raven-Symoné’s Picks Spark Generational Debate
Raven didn’t stop there. She also highlighted Lee Thompson Young, the late star of “The Famous Jett Jackson,” emphasizing his impact. “He is no longer with us, but he was the first Black show on Disney,” she said, referencing the groundbreaking series that aired from 1998 to 2001.
Her comments immediately stirred conversation across generations of Disney Channel fans. Was this Mount Rushmore about originators, cultural impact, or peak popularity? That’s where Lovato stepped in with a more layered perspective.
Demi Lovato Expands the Disney Legacy Conversation
Speaking on the March 18 episode of “Chicks in the Office,” Lovato acknowledged the weight of Raven’s list while questioning whether the debate should go even further back.
Raven’s choices “definitely resonated,” Lovato said, before bringing up an earlier era tied to The All-New Mickey Mouse Club. “[There were] people that were on Disney Channel prior,” she explained, referencing stars like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. “Does that come first? Does that count? But, maybe not.”
© GC ImagesLovato ultimately drew a clear distinction. “They were on Disney, but they didn’t transform Disney Channel into what it is,” she said, separating early Disney talent from those who defined the channel’s modern identity.
The Case for a “Second-Era” Disney Mount Rushmore
Instead of narrowing the list, Lovato proposed a more flexible approach: Disney Channel greatness can’t be contained to just one era. “I think Raven really did, Hilary really did that,” she said, crediting them as foundational figures of the network’s identity. When reminded that LaBeouf was also part of Raven’s picks, Lovato reacted candidly: “I’m okay on that one.”
© Dave Benett/WireImageShe then introduced the idea of a second-generation Mount Rushmore, one that reflects the era many millennials grew up with. Her suggested lineup included the Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, and “hopefully me.”
“They came before us, you know what I mean?” Lovato said of earlier stars. “They paved the way.”
A New Generation Is Already Rising
Looking ahead, Lovato acknowledged that the Disney Channel legacy continues to evolve. She pointed to newer stars like Zendaya and Sabrina Carpenter as part of the next wave shaping the brand.
© WireImageHer take reframes the debate entirely. Instead of a single Mount Rushmore, Disney Channel may have multiple, each representing a distinct era, cultural shift, and audience.
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