{"id":24283,"date":"2025-12-19T15:37:41","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T15:37:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cnews.topnewsource.com\/?p=24283"},"modified":"2025-12-19T15:38:12","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T15:38:12","slug":"i-was-genuinely-terrified-on-stage-aulii-cravalho-admits-queen-latifahs-ursula-voice-silenced-the-entire-live-action-set-like-an-opera-exorcism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cnews.topnewsource.com\/?p=24283","title":{"rendered":"\u201cI Was Genuinely Terrified on Stage\u201d \u2014 Auli\u2019i Cravalho Admits Queen Latifah\u2019s Ursula Voice Silenced the Entire Live-Action Set Like an Opera Exorcism."},"content":{"rendered":"

In the high-stakes world of live television, there is no “second take.” This was the reality for Auli\u2019i Cravalho (the voice of Moana<\/i>) and the legendary Queen Latifah during the 2019 production of The Little Mermaid Live!<\/i> on ABC. While the special celebrated the 30th anniversary of the animated classic, the night belonged to a single, commanding performance that turned a family musical into a masterclass in vocal power.<\/span><\/p>\n

Auli\u2019i Cravalho, who played Ariel, recently revealed that being on stage with Latifah during the performance of “Poor Unfortunate Souls” was far more than a simple acting exercise\u2014it was a genuinely “terrifying” experience that felt less like a song and more like a force of nature.<\/span><\/p>\n

An “Exorcism” of Vocal Power<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

When Queen Latifah was cast as Ursula, she faced the daunting shadow of the original voice actress, Pat Carroll. However, Latifah didn’t just mimic the original; she leaned into her background as an Oscar-nominated actress (Chicago<\/i>) and a pioneer of hip-hop to bring a “heavy, operatic” weight to the sea witch.<\/span><\/p>\n

The production utilized a hybrid format of live performance and animation. When the lights dimmed for Ursula\u2019s signature number, Latifah descended from the rafters draped in massive, writhing tentacles.<\/span><\/p>\n

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“She has this power that you can’t describe until you’re standing three feet away from it,” Cravalho admitted. “It didn’t feel like acting. Her voice has this resonance that feels like an exorcism\u2014it vibrates through the floor and right into your chest. I was genuinely terrified right there on stage.”<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The Data: A “Queen” Among Mortals<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

While the overall special received mixed reviews for its hybrid format, Latifah\u2019s performance was the undisputed statistical and critical outlier of the night:<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Massive Viewership:<\/b> The special was watched by 9.01 million viewers<\/b>, making it the highest-rated made-for-TV musical since 2016’s Grease Live!<\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Critical MVP:<\/b> Nearly every major critic singled out Latifah as the “MVP.” The Hollywood Reporter<\/i> called her performance “the best moment of the evening,” noting she “nailed her notes as well as Ursula’s inky growl.”<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Viral Impact:<\/b> Clips of “Poor Unfortunate Souls” garnered millions of views overnight, with fans famously petitioning for her to take the role in the subsequent 2023 live-action theatrical film.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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    The “Touch of Fire” Professionalism<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

    The intensity of the performance was so high that it even led to a small, unnoticed injury on live television. During the climax of the song\u2014filled with pyrotechnics and smoke machines\u2014Queen Latifah accidentally touched a scorching-hot set piece.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Sharp-eyed viewers noticed a millisecond where she flicked her hand in pain. Cravalho, who was in character as a frightened Ariel, actually broke character for a split second to look at Latifah in genuine concern. Like a true professional, the “Queen” didn’t miss a beat, finishing the song with a flourish that brought the house down.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Conclusion: A Voice That Commands the Sea<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

    For Auli\u2019i Cravalho, the experience was a “baptism by fire.” While her performance of “Part of Your World” was praised for its earnestness, she openly acknowledged the difficulty of playing the hero when the villain possesses the gravity of a supernova. Queen Latifah\u2019s Ursula proved that some roles require more than just a good voice\u2014they require a presence that can silence an entire room. On that night, she didn’t just play a witch; she became a force of nature that left her co-stars and the audience breathless.<\/span><\/p>\n