‘Superstar: Aaliyah’ Tribute TV Special a Ratings Winner for ABC

Published: Saturday 24th Jun 2023 by Rashad

After shining a biographical spotlight on some of the music industry’s most prized figures via its top-rated series ‘Superstar‘ (i.e. Whitney Houston, George Michael, Reba McEntire, and more), ABC added late R&B princess Aaliyah to the ranks during the show’s sophomore season.

Aired last Wednesday (just two months before the 22nd anniversary of the singer’s untimely passing), the one-hour TV special chronicled her life and enduring legacy with never-before-seen videos, photos, and more.

From exploring her relationship with embattled R&B legend R. Kelly to her meteoric rise to fame, the circumstances around the plane crash that caused her death in August 2001, and so much more, ‘Superstar: Aaliyah’ also featured exclusive interviews with those who knew her best including Barry Hankerson (her uncle, manager, and label head) and former fiance Damon Dash (music executive) as well as music hitmakers will.i.am, Justine Skye, and Sevyn Streeter.

Look inside to see how ‘Superstar’ fared in the night’s ratings battle.

Viewership: 1.34 Million

Despite pulling in the series’ lowest viewership to date, the numbers were still enough to land the June 14 episode of ‘Superstar’ in the upper rankings of Wednesday’s final ratings count.

For its viewership hour, ‘Superstar: Aaliyah’ ranked #1 on the list of most-watched airings among the day’s top-rated unscripted programming on broadcast and cable (excluding news and sports).

Among all non-news or sports unscripted programming, ‘Superstar’ ranked #5 following ‘Judge Steve Harvey’ (3.2m), ‘Masterchef‘ (2.3m), ‘Let’s Make a Deal’ (2.1m), ‘Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars’ (1.6m).

The show aired just a week after it was announced the late GRAMMY nominee bested Mary J. Blige, Beyonce, Anita Baker, Janet Jackson, and other big names for the honor of being one of 20 selected for inclusion in the 2023 class of R&B Hall of Fame inductees.

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  1. marilyn monH🪩E ® 👠(#1 DIVA) June 24, 2023

    Her first man R.Kelly Will definitely make a cameo💅🏾

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  2. Christopher I. Gomes June 24, 2023

    We love you Aaliyah!!

    • Daniel Degrate June 25, 2023

      Absolutely!! Miss her so much ❤️😢

  3. Ken June 24, 2023

    Just looks like a bunch of views about how great she was in the eyes of other celebs. Where’s the revealing info, the stuff we DIDN’T already know?

  4. Keeping it real 💯💯 June 24, 2023

    now we need her biopic to be redone right cause the mess of a lifetime one was not it.
    But only if the family gives their blessing.

    • Anne June 24, 2023

      She should have had a big screen movie like Selena and Ritchie Valens both of whom died young and Valens very similarly in a plane. Aaliyah was just as deserving.

      • eric June 24, 2023

        It’s never too late for them to do it right and with Aaliyah’s family. Elvis didn’t get a biopic til 45 years.

      • DaAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaa June 25, 2023

        Or like the one they did for Amy winehouse

    • Keeping it real 💯💯 June 24, 2023

      Who should play her?

  5. eric June 24, 2023

    I haven’t been able to watch it. Every time I try I have to turn it off. They made it too sad with the solemn background music and everyone talking about how much she’s missed.

    • t June 25, 2023

      nobody needed it a bunch of fancs who talks about her give us information a docu with stuff we didnt know. I hate when they try to make fans comments important

  6. Keira Hixson June 25, 2023

    great

  7. KeyLoLo June 25, 2023

    This wasn’t all that but I did watch bc it’s Aaliyah..I was actually pissed off more than anything…who told the lady with the big teeth who wrote that book that she is the spokesperson for Aaliyah? She’s the reason why Aaliyah’s 20th anniversary went downhill bc she overstepped her boundaries as a journalist..she made me so mad in this special, talking as if she really knew who Aaliyah was..everyone in this special is suspect except Seven Streeter, everyone else was just talking out of the side of their neck..that one guy who produced the “Rock The Boat” behind the scenes special pissed me off too..it’s just something about him that ain’t right; can’t put my index on it..he knows more than what he has been saying..I’m down for anything Aaliyah though but this special wasn’t it…it was rushed af

  8. Shantel Alexander June 25, 2023

    I’m not dead you stupid freaks. I’m Shantel Alexander in Lafayette Louisiana 70501… you people will pay for this . I’m not dead stop hiding me. Still a stupidest people I’ve known..

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