A Disney legend delivers a pop‑culture masterclass after the crowd blanks on a 90s heartthrob.
Disney living legend Hilary Duff had a moment on The Jennifer Hudson Show that every millennial felt deep in their soul. What started as a sweet exchange — Jennifer telling Hilary that Jacob Elordi recently named her as his celebrity crush — quickly turned into a generational pop‑culture crisis.
When Hilary revealed her first celebrity crush, she expected instant recognition. Instead, she got silence.
Jonathan Taylor Thomas. The gasp heard around the 90s.
Hilary looked out at a room of blank faces and immediately clocked the age gap. “Do you remember JTT?” she asked, only to realize half the audience had no idea who she was talking about. Cue Hilary launching into a full‑blown cultural refresher.
She reminded everyone that JTT wasn’t just a crush — he was the crush. Home Improvement. The Lion King (yes, the voice of young Simba). Man of the House. Tom and Huck. Wild America. The VHS‑era holy trinity.
And because Hilary is Hilary, she didn’t stop there. She threw in another classic: the youngest Hanson brother — Zac — because of course she did.
Watch Hilary school the room — and relive your own JTT era — in the clip from The Jennifer Hudson Show.
From there, the conversation drifted into Hilary’s world:
• mandatory family walks sung like a musical number
• her kids hiding to avoid them
• her youngest collecting leaves and rocks and stuffing them into her shirt • the post‑show ritual of asking everyone, “Was it good?”
• the nerves that never go away, even after decades in the spotlight
She even shared the moment she knew she wanted to perform — watching Michelle Pfeiffer in Grease 2, singing on a ladder, and thinking, I want to do that.
Related: 11 Years Ago, Hilary Duff Released Pop Dance Gem ‘Sparks’
And then came the career pivot: after Lizzie McGuire, Hilary was determined to be known for more than one role. So she pushed into music at a time when actresses crossing into pop wasn’t exactly embraced. She did it anyway — and it worked.
The entire segment is a reminder of why Hilary remains such a beloved figure: funny, self‑aware, nostalgic, and still teaching the kids a thing or two about the icons who came before.
Rest of thee extended interview clips right below!
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