Brandy Norwood became the first African American to play Cinderella. This version broke viewership records when it debuted, and it holds the record for the best-selling video for a made-for-TV movie.
This is the first multi-racial cast to perform Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella.
Whitney Houston was producing Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Cinderella" and was to star in it until she decided that Brandy Norwood would make a better Cinderella. Brandy would not do it unless her idol Whitney Houston took the Fairy Godmother role.
In an interview with Rosie O'Donnell, Bernadette Peters revealed that she hardly plays an evil character and it was hard being mean to Brandy.
Brandy said that Whitney Houston's presence on set made her feel comfortable and allowed her to be herself.