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'Little Mermaid' Star Jodi Benson Tears Up Watching Daughter Sing 'Part Of Your World' On Stage

TikTok screenshot of Jodi Benson watching daughter sing; Ariel from the 1989 'The Little Mermaid'
@coolzjay/TikTok; Disney

Jodi Benson, who was the original voice of Ariel in 'The Little Mermaid' told 'Entertainment Weekly' she 'wept' while watching her daughter Delaney play the role in a stage production.

AB Keith
By AB KeithJul 19, 2024
AB Keith
AB Keith is an educator turned roadtripper who is currently teaching virtually while touring the USA. Her dream is to visit all the national parks and create a series of nonfiction children's books about NP adventures through the eyes of her dog, Backpack Benny.
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A clip of the original voice of Ariel, Jodi Benson, watching her daughter Delaney play the lead role in a stage production of The Little Mermaid has gone viral, and Benson revealed she was moved to tears by the performance.

Posted to TikTok, the video has already garnered more than 4.2 million views in only a few days, and people on the platform said they got a bit emotional, as well.

In the clip, Benson can be seen in the audience of the shorter, interactive stage version in Miami as Delaney approaches with a "dinglehopper" and begins to sing Ariel's iconic number "Part of Your World."

An absolutely beaming Benson looks on while Delaney continues with the song, sounding almost identical to the 1989 classic.

You can watch below.

@coolzjay

Watching @Delaney Benson play Ariel and @Jodi Benson being the most supportive mom was honestly such an honor!!! So lucky to have been able to witness this 😭 #thelittlemermaid #jodibenson #ariel #disney #miami

Benson gushed about Delaney's performance in a statement to Entertainment Weekly.

"I was completely blown away by Delaney’s brilliant performance."
"She was truly born to play Ariel."
"The whole experience was so surreal."

She added that she was in tears throughout the entire production.

"I wept throughout the show. I am so honored to pass on my treasured dinglehopper to my daughter."
"Delaney has created her character of Ariel with such love, strength, vulnerability, curiosity and honesty."
"I’m so incredibly proud of my daughter!"

And she wasn't the only one.

Fans on TikTok commented that they, too, were overcome with emotion watching Delaney sing so beautifully alongside her mother.

@coolzjay/TikTok

@coolzjay/TikTok

@coolzjay/TikTok

@coolzjay/TikTok

@coolzjay/TikTok

@coolzjay/TikTok

Several also said they were blown away by the likeness between Benson and Delaney, in both sound and appearance.

@coolzjay/TikTok

@coolzjay/TikTok

@coolzjay/TikTok

@coolzjay/TikTok

@coolzjay/TikTok

@coolzjay/TikTok

@coolzjay/TikTok

@coolzjay/TikTok

Of course, Delaney isn't the only Ariel for whom Benson has sung praises.

In an interview with Entertainment Tonight,, she had only great things to say about Halle Bailey's portrayal of the queen consort of Eric's kingdom in the 2023 live-action Little Mermaid remake.

"She doesn't need any advice from me!"
"She's brilliant."
"I did get to meet her a few times and chat with her and just tell her how proud I was of her, and I love that she has a purity of heart and a pure spirit, and you can see that vulnerability and that childlike bravery and courage coming through, and it's beautiful."
"I'm so thrilled for her and I'm so proud of her."

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