Months after it was announced GRAMMY and Academy Award-winning songstress H.E.R. will be portraying Belle in ABC’s forthcoming live ‘Beauty and the Beast’ 30th anniversary TV special, it’s being reported other big names will be joining her to breathe new life into some of Disney’s most beloved characters.

Details inside.

Ahead of the December 15th television premiere of the highly anticipated, Hamish Hamilton-directed venture, a slew of new cast additions have been announced.

Leading the collective is Queen of Country Pop Shania Twain who has signed on to portray Mrs. Potts (first brought to fame by late acting icon Angela Lansbury).  She’ll be joined by legendary actor-comedians Martin Short and David Alan Grier, who will play Lumière and Cogsworth respectively.

Elsewhere, Joshua Henry will bring life to the infamous Gaston while Rizwan Manji will be his loyal sidekick, LeFou.  Finally, Jon Jon Briones will play Belle’s father, Maurice.

Serving as the night’s narrator will be none other than EGOT-winning icon Rita Moreno.

The 2-hour special celebrates the 30th anniversary of Disney’s animated classic, ‘Beauty & the Beast,’ which made history when it became the first animated film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.  Its soundtrack’s title track, performed by Peabo Bryson and Celine Dion, went on to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1992.

[photo sources: Getty Images/AP Photos/Disney/ABC]

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