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Nick Jonas Reflects on His Disney “Graduating Class” of Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus, and Demi Lovato: “Tremendous”
Dec
Nick Jonas, who shot to fame during his teenage years as part of Disney‘s star-making machine, recently shared his appreciation for the unique “graduating class” of talent that emerged alongside him. Speaking at the Red Sea Film Festival in Saudi Arabia, Jonas reflected on his Disney Channel experience and the careers of his peers, including Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus, and Demi Lovato.
“I absolutely look back at [Disney] as a creative school,” Jonas said, according to Variety. “It was also school, to be honest. I was between the ages of 14 and 18, which is my high school years. That graduating class of Miley, Selena, and Demi, it was all of us coming up together, and you can see, frankly, the length of our careers and the success we’ve all been able to have.”
Rising Stars of Disney
Jonas, who starred in Disney’s Camp Rock movies and the TV series Jonas alongside his brothers Kevin and Joe, credited Disney as a launching pad for his career. He also acknowledged his contemporaries, including Selena Gomez (Wizards of Waverly Place), Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana), and Demi Lovato (Camp Rock and Sonny With a Chance), who have all gone on to achieve lasting success in both acting and music.
“It’s a tremendous thing to see them thriving,” Jonas said. “I think that’s a real testament to Disney’s ability to find and foster talent and understand what makes someone unique while finding a way to make it work within their ecosystem.”
Thriving Careers Beyond Disney
Gomez, a Golden Globe nominee, recently reprised her iconic Wizards character in the revival show Wizards Beyond Waverly Place and stars in Netflix’s Only Murders in the Building. Meanwhile, Cyrus continues to dominate the music scene with hits like “Flowers” from her acclaimed Endless Summer Vacation album. Lovato has similarly enjoyed critical success with projects like her 2022 album Holy Fvck.
Jonas himself remains active as both a solo artist and a member of the Jonas Brothers, while also branching out into acting. In 2025, he will make his Broadway debut in The Last Five Years.
Overcoming Challenges Post-Disney
Jonas also touched on the challenges he faced transitioning from Disney stardom to broader roles. He recalled moments of rejection, even after his Disney success, noting that before he was cast in the TV series Kingdom (2014–2017), some casting directors hesitated to take a chance on him.
“There were projects I went after where the feedback was, ‘There was no way they were going to take a chance on casting you,'” Jonas said. “That was really discouraging.”
Despite those hurdles, Jonas has carved out a multifaceted career, proving that Disney’s star-making power can provide a foundation for long-term success.
