MUSIC'S BIGGEST EVENT FOR FAMILIES RETURNS FOR ITS SEVENTH YEAR, LIVE FOR THE FIRST TIME AND WITH A NEW NAME: 'ARDYs: A RADIO DISNEY MUSIC CELEBRATION,' SUNDAY, JUNE 16

-- Sofia Carson Set to Host --

Radio Disney is throwing a real-time live party for its most passionate fans, evolving music's biggest event for families to the newly rebranded "ARDYs: A Radio Disney Music Celebration" (for the past six years known as the "Radio Disney Music Awards"). Actress, singer, songwriter, Hollywood Records and Republic Records recording artist Sofia Carson (Disney Channel's "Descendants," Freeform's "Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists") is set to host the exciting music and star-filled event. For the first time, it will be a live telecast, originating from Los Angeles, on SUNDAY, JUNE 16 (8:00 p.m. EDT/re-airing at 8:00 p.m. PDT), on Disney Channel and in DisneyNOW, with a simulcast on Radio Disney. Multiple Emmy(R) and Producers Guild Award nominee Casey Patterson Entertainment ("Lip Sync Battle" and "MTV Movie Awards") will executive produce the show.

The ARDYs will celebrate the biggest and rising stars in music, television and movies and create an event designed to inspire and entertain today's families. Beginning May 20, and during the live ARDYs show, fans will be invited to be part of the planning for the live telecast. By visiting the DisneyNOW app, the Radio Disney app or online (Disney.com/ARDYs), fans can participate in polls that will help determine certain elements of the show.

Returning sponsors of the 2019 ARDYs include Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, KRAFT(R) Macaroni and Cheese Shapes, Nintendo's Super Mario Maker 2 video game on the Nintendo Switch system and The Walt Disney Studios.

"We're creating a next-level celebration of music to entertain and inspire families and over the next many weeks, we'll bring our fans into the celebration planning, getting their opinions during pre-production and bring it all to life, live, during the show," said Phil Guerini, vice president, Music Strategy, Disney Channels Worldwide and general manager, Radio Disney Network.

Casey Patterson is a six-time Emmy and three-time PGA Award-nominated executive producer who has created a wide array of groundbreaking programming. Patterson recently produced and directed legendary country singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn's star-studded tribute celebration in Nashville. Patterson's credits include "Lip Sync Battle," "MTV Movie & TV Awards," Dwayne Johnson's "Rock The Troops," Bill Murray's "A Very Murray Christmas" on Netflix, "One Night Only: Alec Baldwin," "Time and Punishment: A Town Hall Discussion With Jay Z," "The Concert of the Century" at the White House, "The Concert for New York City," "Saturday Night Live 25th Anniversary Special" and "Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis: A Fairytale of New York."