First Look Video: Country Bear Musical Jamboree at Magic Kingdom

Jul 10, 2024 in "Country Bear Musical Jamboree"

Country Bear Musical Jamboree characters
Posted: Wednesday July 10, 2024 9:24am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Cast Member and Media previews for the new Country Bear Musical Jamboree got underway this morning at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom ahead of the official July 17 opening.

 

Here is a look at the full 11-minute show.

Country Bear Musical Jamboree Song List

Country Bear Musical Jamboree features a brand-new lineup of songs, performed in a style that pays homage to the Opry-style shows of Nashville. The new show features twangin' interpretations of Disney songs in various genres of country music, including Americana – or A-"Bear"-icana! –  bluegrass, pop-country, rockabilly and more. Here is the full Country Bear Musical Jamboree track list:

  • "Country Bear Musical Jamboree" – a new original song written for the attraction
  • "Try Everything" from Walt Disney Animation Studios' "Zootopia"
  • "Kiss the Girl" from Walt Disney Animation Studios' "The Little Mermaid"
  • "A Whole New World" from Walt Disney Animation Studios' "Aladdin"
  • "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" from Walt Disney Studios' "Mary Poppins"
  • "Fixer-Upper" from Walt Disney Studios' "Frozen"
  • "Remember Me" from Disney-Pixar's "Coco"
  • "You've Got A Friend In Me" from Disney-Pixar's "Toy Story"
  • "Bare Necessities" from Walt Disney Animation Studios "The Jungle Book"
  • "Come Again" – an original song that debuted with Country Bear Jamboree in 1974

The Who's Who of Country Bear Musical Jamboree

Grizzly Hall in Frontierland is home to the zany and captivating performance that showcases the American musical heritage pioneered by Ursus H. Bear. Over the years, Ursus' grandson, Henry, has taken over to develop a thrilling new countrified musical.

Longtime fans of Grizzly Hall know and love the kooky cast of bear characters. For those new to joining the jamboree, here is the lineup of growlin' performers making a triumphant return to the stage in this refreshed show:

  • Ursus H. Bear: Ursus is the founder of Grizzly Hall. He invited tuneful bruins from all around to present zany vaudeville acts and live country-western and folk performances! 
  • Henry: Ursus's grandson Henry is now the master of bear-emonies. He helped develop the new show and co-wrote the opening song with the Five Bear Rugs.
  • Five Bear Rugs: The Five Bear Rugs include Zeke, Zeb, Ted, Fred, and a bear named Tennessee, who all have ol' country rhythm in their souls.
  • Trixie: One of the most veteran performers, Trixie, has tried everything! She found her niche performing with triplets Bunny, Bubbles, and Beulah. 
  • Bunny, Bubbles and Beulah: Originally known as The Sun Bonnets, these girls traded in their bonnets for Stetsons when they began singing with Trixie worldwide, ending up here at Country Bear Musical Jamboree.
  • Teddi Barra: Grizzly Hall is proud to present The Jewel of the Dakotas, Teddi Barra. Her rise in show business was meteoric after being discovered in an ice cream parlor.
  • Wendell: Wendell was a frustrated basketball, baseball and football player until Henry invited him to try and carry a tune. He's been part of the Country Bears since and is thrilled to finally sing a love song with Trixie.
  • Ernest the Dude: Ernest the Dude is one of the best-dressed bears at Grizzly Hall – he brings his entire wardrobe wherever he goes!
  • Terrence, aka Shaker: Terrence, also known as Shaker, was once a famous theater star until he fell from the balcony in "Romeo and Juliet." Ever since, he turned in his tights for a guitar and lassoed himself the limelight back onstage.  
  • Romeo McGrowl: This bear, otherwise known as the Miami Serenader, is ready to enter his next era singing rockabilly! 
  • Gomer: Gomer is the resident piano player who has been claws-ically trained since he was a cub. 
  • Big Al: Of course, there must be mention of the infamous Big Al. He's been playing the guitar since he was a cub because music is in this bear's blood.

Behind the Music of Country Bear Musical Jamboree

Walt Disney Imagineering turned to popular and upcoming country music talent to provide the vocals for the new setlist. Featured artists include record-breaking 10-time CMA Musician of the Year Mac McAnally who sings "The Bare Necessities" from "The Jungle Book." Country singer Emily Ann Roberts lends her voice to Trixie with a rendition of "Try Everything" from "Zootopia." Singer-songwriter Allison Russel and musician Chris Thile, voice Teddi Barra and Wendell, respectively, performing "A Whole New World" from "Aladdin." 

"I first saw the Country Bears as a teenage musician and it bolstered my pride in the acoustic musical heritage of the rural south," said McAnally, the voice of Terrence, aka Shaker, in Country Bear Musical Jamboree. "I next saw the show with my own kids and sat amongst multiple generations of families from all over and felt that common bond that lasts a lifetime. It is my great blessing to get to be a part of the continuation of the tradition and I have done my best to honor the spirit of the Bears and the great Disney songbook, as well as the heart and soul that runs through the veins of Country music. And just maybe it explains why I've been singing in a Bear voice for several decades before this opportunity came up."

"This is an opportunity that I never even dreamed big enough to dream," said Emily Ann Roberts, voice of Trixie St. Claire in Country Bear Musical Jamboree. "It is such an honor to be a part of a show that has been so loved for so many years. I hope when folks hear Trixie's song about trying new things, failing and trying again, that they will be encouraged to do the same."

The Bears also have new costumes, drawing inspiration from classic country singer culture, including classic looks that might look at home at The Grand Ole Opry, a live country-music broadcasting studio in Nashville. Be sure to keep a look-out for all the easter eggs and Nashville notes scattered throughout the attraction. 



The Country Bear Musical Jamboree officially opens to all guests on July 17, 2024 in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.

Discuss on the Forums

Get Walt Disney World News Delivered to Your Inbox

View all comments →

Comped24 days ago

I saw it about 2 weeks ago and was disappointed. Everything felt pretty rushed, and only one or two songs even got close to working for me personally. The group I was with commented that "the costumes look cheap", although I tried to assure them that almost certainly was not the case. A lot of segments felt like an attempt by Disney to perhaps advertise a new country album, more so than fitting concept of the show and country music into the Disney canon. Which is funny because Disney definitely has a history of taking songs from one medium and putting them into another, most notably jazz during the '90s - but always with a little bit more care than whatever happened with the orchestration of most of these songs. Very disappointing. A huge letdown musically, even more so than when I saw the taped performances when it originally opened. Used to be a show I would see probably at least once a month, now I probably won't go back until they redo it or close it permanently.

tanc24 days ago

Saw it back on Nov 8th, great show! The updates are phenomenal, while the original is preserved in Tokyo, the new look of everything is spectacular in WDW.

JD8029 days ago

I saw it for the first time two weeks ago. Loved it.

EagleScout61029 days ago

Or they could've had the gag of them running around backstage like they did from the skunk in Vacation Hoedown

zipadee99929 days ago

They could’ve at least played backup for some of the other bears like they did with Ernest in the OG show

Steamboat7130 days ago

The Five Bear Rugs were done dirty in this new show. Bear-ly any showtime.

Charlie The Chatbox Ghost30 days ago

From what I've heard, they tried to keep Sammy as a hat, but couldn't get it to work with Henry's new cowboy hat. Having him behind the amp was a compromise to keep him in the show instead of cutting him altogether.

TrainsOfDisney30 days ago

Yes…. Although the 2 have been plopped together so much they are practically the same song now! Haha.

Mike S30 days ago

Do you mean You’ve got a Friend in Me?

TrainsOfDisney30 days ago

I saw country bears yesterday - overall I like it. “Try Everything” is too modern sounding and is the worst of the updates - the other songs sound country enough that they work. Friend Like me is strange too…. Not sure why he’s playing a modern electric guitar… they should have kept the raccoon cap as that was pretty iconic and would have worked well with friend in me as well. But overall the show feels like the same country bears and I’m very happy they survived!

JohnDNov 06, 2024

I saw it last week. I liked it for what it was. It's clever and current. I liked that they found a way to bring back the fiddle portion. Of course I'll miss the old show. I wish they could have kept the Bear Band Serenade as a connection to the old show in introducing the Five Bear Rugs.

Charlie The Chatbox GhostOct 14, 2024

I'd be shocked if they still have either costume, but I'd LOVE to see Henry and Teddi.

Cmdr_CrimsonOct 13, 2024

I know they have updated the bears outfits for M&G's but, couldn't they bring out the rarest of the bears like Henry for example..They had made one for Disney on Parade..Along with the Sun bonnets. But, if turns out..There was a Teddi Beara character as well...Shame they aren't out..

Ghost93Oct 13, 2024

Zip A Dee Doo Dah would be a great fit for the Country Bears. But I don't blame Disney for cutting it. After 2020 there was a renewed scrutiny for anything remotely connected to SOTS and if the song was part of the show there would be clickbaity articles and Twitter users complaining about it and condemning the company for profiting off of SOTS.