Jan. 19, 2026, 9:01 a.m. ET
Former New York Giants tight end Martellus Bennett has brought his creative vision to Disney Junior with the recent premiere of Hey A.J.!, an animated series that debuted on January 8.
The hand-drawn show follows spirited young girl A.J. — inspired by Bennett’s 11-year-old daughter Austin Jett Rose — as she dives into vivid fantasies and life lessons alongside her parents (voiced by Bennett and singer Jhené Aiko), her best friend (Juliet Donenfeld), and her wisecracking toy rabbit (David Mitchell).
Musical numbers feature diverse genres, with guest stars including Meghan Trainor and Bootsy Collins, celebrating the breadth of Black musical influences.
Bennett, a Houston native who played for the Cowboys, Giants, Bears, and Patriots (winning Super Bowl LI), retired in 2018 to focus on children’s media through his Imagination Agency. The series expands his book series, born from a desire for more imaginative stories for kids of color.
“When my daughter was born, I realized we ran out of children’s books for girls of color that focused on fun,” Bennett said. “I started writing my own so she could have characters like her.”
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Episodes aired in a Disney Junior marathon, with streaming on Disney+ and more releasing throughout the year.
