1997 | Cinderella

: Over 60 million people tuned in for the premiere, making it the most-watched television musical in decades.

Houston’s presence changed the tone of the film entirely. She wasn't a whimsical, tiny old lady with a wand; she was a glamorous, powerful force of nature. When she belts out "Impossible," it feels less like a lullaby and more like a motivational speech. Her chemistry with Brandy was electric—two generations of Black musical royalty passing the torch.

Here’s a feature based on the 1997 film Cinderella (often called Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella ), starring Brandy Norwood as Cinderella and Whitney Houston as the Fairy Godmother. cinderella 1997

Here's a piece from the 1997 TV movie "Cinderella" starring Selena Gomez:

Would you like more information about this film or the original Cinderella story? : Over 60 million people tuned in for

Long before "diversity and inclusion" were industry buzzwords, the 1997 Cinderella pioneered on a massive scale. The royal family featured a White father (Victor Garber), a Black mother (Whoopi Goldberg), and a Filipino-American son (Paolo Montalbán).

It taught a generation of children that princesses could look like anyone, that princes could be gentle and kind, and that "impossible things are happening every day." It remains a shining example of how to honor a classic story while making it entirely, beautifully new. When she belts out "Impossible," it feels less

Today, the film is preserved in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." It paved the way for modern diverse casting in fantasy, influencing everything from The Princess and the Frog to the live-action Little Mermaid .