Demi Lovato is a pop superstar who is also known for her acting skills, having been a staple on the Disney Channel for years. Given her ability to sing and act, fans might be wondering if Demi Lovato was ever in Glee.
Demi Lovato was in Glee. During the hit show’s fifth season, Lovato played Danielle or “Dani” as she was often referred to in the show, a waitress with a penchant for singing and roller derby.
Read more below about how teen sensation Demi Lovato joined the cast of Glee.
Glee Club Comes to Hollywood
Glee is a musical dramedy, the brainchild of co-creator Ryan Murphy (famous for his hit anthology series, American Horror Story), that follows members of a high school glee club through the trials and tribulations of being a teenager, all while navigating controversial issues. The show was an instant hit with critics and audiences alike, even nabbing a Golden Globe for Best Television Series during its first season.
Glee premiered on Fox in 2009, snagging the spot after the long-running competition show, American Idol. The show was unlike anything else on networks at the time, and Entertainment Weekly gave it a rave review, writing, “There may never have been a more aptly named TV show; glee is a quality it both embodies and inspires.”
Glee was composed of an ensemble cast, many of whom had a musical theater or Broadway background. Demi Lovato was in the spotlight from a young age, with several television shows and studio albums to her name, so she was an obvious choice when it came time to cast the role of “Dani” and Glee cast members were happy to have her on the show.
Lovato’s Childhood Career
Demi Lovato was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico and it’s safe to say performing was in her blood. Lovato’s mom, Dianna De La Garza, was a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader.
While growing up, Lovato took piano and guitar lessons and was cast in the role of Angela on the hit children’s show Barney and Friends. Not only did Lovato have the acting chops to hold her own against the other children, but she also had the singing talent to back it up, with crew members recalling that Demi passed her singing audition with “flying colors.”
Singing Success to Small Screen Stardom
By the time Glee premiered in 2009, Demi Lovato had already released her first studio album and her second album, Here We Go Again, was released a little over two months after the show premiered. She was also a mainstay on the Disney Channel, appearing on multiple shows for the network and going on tour with The Jonas Brothers.
Despite some high profile issues, Lovato’s career was still on the rise when she was cast as “Dani” on Glee’s fifth season. Her acting and musical talents made her a great addition to the cast and her character appeared in a multi-episode arc, even getting a romantic storyline opposite Naya Rivera.
Not only was Lovato thrilled to have the chance to work on the set, but during an interview with Ryan Seacrest, she expressed excitement that her storyline represented the LGBT community, saying, “I want people to take from it [that] this is actually an incredible step in our generation today where I’m able to play a young lesbian on prime tv.”
By all accounts, Demi enjoyed working on the show and the Glee cast enjoyed having her on set,too. Naya Rivera shared a snap on Instagram of the two actresses hanging out during a break in filming.
Lovato’s story arc was initially supposed to be over the course of six episodes, but Demi only appeared in four episodes that aired from October to March in the show’s fifth season. No reason was given as to why the character was written out of the show early, but Demi Lovato’s music has been used in the show, as well.
Glee ended its run in 2015, so there won’t be any more appearances from Lovato in the future, but her stint on the series was another great show that the pop superstar added to her already extensive filmography.