Watch Chris Stapleton Go to ‘Sesame Street’ With a New Song He Wrote About Friendship and Music

Someone finally told Chris Stapleton how to get to Sesame Street. The country star made a guest appearance on the 55th season of the show, alongside Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Bert, Ernie, Cookie Monster, and Grover, singing a new song “You’ve Got a Friend in Music.”

In the episode, Stapleton reminds kids that “music is the universal language.” Elmo says, “Music brings people together, Chris Stapleton reminds us that music is a universal language.” Abby Cadabby adds, “He’s teaching us all about music and friends,” says Abby in the scene. Stapleton responds, “That’s right, Abby,” before breaking into “You’ve Got a Friend in Music.”

Music is the sound of your friends gathering around / And the smiles and the frowns on their faces, Stapleton sings, before the muppets join him on Music helps you feel / Feelings true and real,

For his episode on the show, Stapleton wanted to write an original song, which he worked out with Bill Sherman, music director for Sesame Street, over Zoom. “Chris Stapleton really wanted to write his own song,” said Sherman. “It was one of the most surreal two-hour Zooms that I really ever had in my life.”

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Stapleton joins a long line of country music guests who have starred on the series throughout the decades, including Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Garth Brooks, Thomas Rhett, Tim McGraw, and Faith Hill.

The 55th season of Sesame Street kicked off with a line of stars, including Reneé Rapp (January 16), followed by Michael B. Jordan (January 23), Samara Joy (February 6), Noah Kahan (March 6), SZA (Thursday, April 10), and Stapleton on July 24.

Upcoming guests, who will join Sesame Street characters in songs and lessons, include Jonathan Van Ness (August 21) and Billie Jean King (August 28).

Celebrating its 55th year on air, Sesame Street first aired on public television on November 29, 1969. The children’s educational show continues to send out early development and education curriculum to kids across more than 150 countries.

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The series has won more than 11 Grammy Awards and 200 Emmys, along with two Peabody Awards and the Kennedy Center Honor for lifetime artistic achievement, the first for a television show.

The 55th season features episodes focused on “emotional well-being, helping children learn accessible strategies to comprehend and cope with big feelings through fun, lighthearted, relatable, and engaging stories,” according to Sesame Street.

“New episodes of Sesame Street will help young viewers understand and express their feelings, learn new mindfulness practices, and, as always, have a blast with their favorite furry and funny friends,” said Sal Perez, executive producer of Sesame Street, in a statement.

“Whether it’s taking a volcano breath when angry, learning to give yourself a hug when frustrated, or wiggling it out when disappointed,” adds Perez, “we are empowering children with the strategies to help build resiliency and the foundational skills for emotional well-being.” 

Photos: Zach Hyman/Sesame Street