5 Reasons to Watch the Radio Disney Music Awards Tonight

By Ingrid Meilan

The fifth-annual Radio Disney Music Awards were handed out on Saturday, April 29 in Los Angeles and will air on Disney Channel at 7 p.m. ET today. These are awards that are voted for by you, the fans, and the show is two hours of pure joy with a sprinkle of Disney magic. D23 was on-hand for the big night and we had a blast! Here are the five reasons why the 2017 RDMA was the most fun award show we’ve ever seen:

1. Good vibes

 “Radio Disney is like a huge family,” Singer Skylar Stecker told us. Mech-X4’s Alyssa Jirrels concurred, saying, “There’s so much youthful energy and we all get to celebrate music and our peers. That’s a beautiful thing.” And it’s true: everywhere we looked, we saw people hugging, laughing, grinning for the Smile Cam and dancing. Forever in Your Mind’s Ricky Garcia summed the RDMA up for us in one sentence: “It’s about the kids, the fun, the positive vibes going around and all the awesome performances.”

2. It’s music’s biggest night for families

Just like the tunes on Radio Disney, the RDMA can be enjoyed by fans of all ages. Elena of Avalor’s Constance Marie, whose date was her daughter Luna, 8, told us, “I’m a grown woman and I screamed out loud when I found out I got tickets to the Radio Disney Music Awards! My daughter and I listen to Radio Disney in the car together all the time.” Stuck in the Middle’s Nicholas Bechtel, 12, told us that the RDMA was awarded the parental seal of approval in his household. “Before I was on the Disney Channel,” the actor told us, “my mom always let me watch this show. It was the one award show she wasn’t worried about being inappropriate for me.”

3. It’s made for Disney fans, by Disney fans

 “It’s the Disney Grammys!” The Lion Guard’s Joshua Rush exclaimed. And truly, the RDMA is filled with magical moments for Disney fans. The crowd went wild at the world premiere of “Ways to be Wicked” from Descendants 2, sang every word along with Auli’i Cravalho, Alessia Cara, and Jordan Fisher’s gorgeous Moana medley and cheered when Noah Cyrus performed her hit single “Make Me (Cry)” while wearing a very cool Mickey Mouse shirt. Andi Mack actor Asher Angel confirmed that the stars are fans too when he excitedly told us, “I grew up watching the Disney Channel and it’s still crazy to think that I’m on it!”

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4. Britney Spears

Everyone we talked to told us that they were looking forward to former Mouseketeer Britney Spears being awarded the first-ever ‘Icon’ Award. And the big moment did not disappoint. Kelsea Ballerini, Sofia Carson and Hailee Steinfeld paid homage to the pop princess by performing a mash-up of her biggest hits. Spears’ little sister Jamie Lynn also made a surprise cameo, bringing the superstar to tears as the audience chanted her name.

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5. Heroes are in the house

 The RDMA doesn’t just reward the musically talented. The show also recognizes people who are making a difference. Nick Jonas was honored with the ‘Hero’ Award for his work with the non-profit organization Beyond Type 1 which helps people living with diabetes. Youth leaders were also given RDMA ‘Heroes for Change’ awards for the charitable work they’ve done in their own communities. As Jonas remarked, being a hero isn’t reserved for celebrities. “Being a hero isn’t that you wear a cape or you’re a performer like me,” the singer said. “Every day gives you an opportunity to be a hero. Be kind to someone who needs it… raise your voice in some way, it does make a difference.”