The Muppets have always had music at the center of their story. At D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2026, that history took center stage during The Muppets Musical History, a full-hour conversation featuring Seth MacFarlane, Paul Williams, Leonard Maltin, and Jessie Maltin.
The panel brought together four very different perspectives on the Muppets, from songwriting and film history to a lifelong appreciation for the music itself. More importantly, it became a celebration of why the Muppet songbook still matters 50 years after The Muppet Show first arrived on television.
Paul Williams and the Muppet Songbook
Few people are more connected to that musical legacy than Paul Williams. Williams, along with Kenneth Ascher, wrote the songs for 1979’s The Muppet Movie, including “Rainbow Connection.”
The song became one of the most recognizable pieces of Muppet music ever created. At the same time, it captured something at the heart of Kermit and the Muppets: optimism, longing, and the belief that something better might be just around the corner.
Williams later returned to the Muppets for The Muppet Christmas Carol, adding another collection of songs that have become fan favorites.
Hearing him talk about that history firsthand was one of the highlights of the D23 panel.
Seth MacFarlane Takes on the Muppets
Seth MacFarlane may be best known for comedy and animation, but he also has a deep appreciation for classic vocal and orchestral music. That connection led to Seth MacFarlane Sings The Muppets, a new project built around songs from across Muppet history.
During the D23 presentation, MacFarlane talked about his appreciation for the Muppet songbook and why those songs deserve to be treated as more than novelty numbers.
That may be one of the most interesting ideas behind the project.
Strip away the puppets for a moment, and many of these songs stand on their own as beautifully written pieces of music.
Leonard and Jessie Maltin Bring the History
Film historian Leonard Maltin and his daughter Jessie Maltin added another layer to the conversation. Rather than simply looking back at favorite songs, the panel explored how music helped shape the Muppets across television and film. That history matters.
The Muppets can be absurd one moment and deeply emotional the next. Music has always helped bridge those two sides. A ridiculous comedy number can be followed by something like “Rainbow Connection,” and somehow it all works.
That combination of comedy, music, and heart remains one of the reasons the Muppets have lasted for generations.
More Than a Look Back
What made The Muppets Musical History work so well was the mix of perspectives on stage. Paul Williams brought firsthand experience creating some of the most important music in Muppet history. Leonard and Jessie Maltin brought the perspective of film historians and longtime fans.
While Seth MacFarlane brought a modern appreciation for the music and a new project designed to present those songs in a different way. Together, the conversation became more than a retrospective.
It was a reminder that the Muppets’ musical history is still very much alive.
Watch the Full Muppets Musical History Panel
Now you can watch the complete presentation from D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2026.
From stories about the classic Muppet songbook to Paul Williams reflecting on the music he helped create and Seth MacFarlane discussing his own connection to those songs, this is one panel Muppet fans will want to see from beginning to end.
Stay with Sam’s Disney Diary for more full panels, presentations, interviews, and coverage from D23 2026.
Seth MacFarlane Sings The Muppets
If the panel leaves you wanting more, there is more on the way.
Seth MacFarlane Sings The Muppets takes 14 familiar songs and gives them a full orchestral treatment. The album was produced by Joel McNeely and recorded at Skywalker Ranch in Marin County, California, using musicians from both London and Los Angeles. The sessions were conducted by John Wilson.
Arranger Andrew Cottee described the project as a natural fit for MacFarlane and said the entire process — from choosing the songs to hearing the final mixes — was a joy.
For Muppet fans, the track list alone is enough to get your attention.
- “Together Again”
- “Somebody’s Getting Married”
- “Couldn’t We Ride”
- “Bein’ Green”
- “Hey, A Movie!”
- “Right Where I Belong”
- “I’m Going to Go Back There Someday”
- “Happiness Hotel”
- “Rainbow Connection”
- “Movin’ Right Along” featuring Liz Gillies
- “Steppin’ Out With a Star”
- “I Hope That Somethin’ Better Comes Along”
- “Halfway Down the Stairs”
- “The First Time It Happens”
That is a pretty remarkable tour through Muppet musical history.
There are obvious classics like “Rainbow Connection” and “Movin’ Right Along,” but I especially like seeing deeper cuts such as “Happiness Hotel,” “I’m Going to Go Back There Someday,” and “The First Time It Happens” getting the same orchestral treatment.
And after hearing MacFarlane and Paul Williams talk about the music at D23, the album feels less like a collection of covers and more like a celebration of just how strong these songs have always been.
Fifty years after The Muppet Show debuted, the music is still playing.
Stay with Sam’s Disney Diary for more full panels, presentations, interviews, and coverage from D23 2026.
