When Raven-Symoné speaks on Disney Channel history, she’s not just offering an opinion — she’s speaking as someone who helped define it.
So when the That’s So Raven star shared her personal “Mount Rushmore” of Disney Channel icons, it was always going to get people talking.
During a recent episode of Stepping Into the Shade Room, Raven was asked to name the four figures she believes represent the network’s legacy. Her answer? Confident, specific — and a little unexpected.
“I would say me, Hilary [Duff], Shia [LaBeouf],” she said, “I would also put in The Famous Jett Jackson,” Raven shared, referring to the late Lee Thompson Young who passed away in 2013. She also mentioned that he was the lead in “the first Black show on Disney.”
“He definitely deserves a spot,” she said.
It’s a lineup that reflects a very particular era of Disney Channel — one rooted in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, when the network was still shaping its identity and discovering what kind of stars it wanted to create.
Hilary Duff’s Lizzie McGuire helped define a generation. Shia LaBeouf’s Even Stevens brought a chaotic, comedic edge. And Lee Thompson Young’s The Famous Jett Jackson holds a unique place in the network’s history — both culturally and creatively.
And then, of course, there’s Raven herself.
That’s So Raven, which aired from 2003 to 2007, wasn’t just a hit — it was a cornerstone. It became one of Disney Channel’s most successful series and helped establish the network’s ability to center a Black female lead in a mainstream, comedic format.
But what really sparked conversation wasn’t who she included — it was who she didn’t.
When Miley Cyrus’ name came up, Raven responded quickly.
“No, not Miley,” she said, before clarifying, “I love you, Miley, but not Miley. She came after.”
The comment immediately raised eyebrows, especially considering the overlap between their shows. Hannah Montana premiered in 2006, during the final stretch of That’s So Raven’s run.
Still, Raven’s perspective seems less about timeline overlap and more about defining eras.
In many ways, Hannah Montana marked the beginning of a new phase for Disney Channel — one that leaned more heavily into music-driven stardom and global pop crossover. That era would go on to produce names like Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato, expanding the network’s reach in a different direction.
Raven’s list, by contrast, feels rooted in the foundation — the period when Disney Channel was building its identity through character-driven storytelling and breakout comedic talent.
