Whoopi Goldberg, the well-known star of the Sister Act film, welcomed the soulful voices that gave us one of the most memorable movie choirs ever—the animated group from ‘Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit’. It was a joyful reunion on The View.
The ties among Sister Act 2’s cast members are stronger than ever as the group celebrated its 30th Anniversary last year. Whoopi Goldberg reunited with the original film choir for a special celebratory performance of “Oh Happy Day” and “Joyful, Joyful” on the most recent episode of The View.
The power of the moment was so overwhelming that it brought Goldberg to tears after the soul-stirring “Joyful, Joyful” performance, a testament to the emotional depth of the occasion.
The song, first published as a hymn in 1755, has a unique meaning in the film. The choir’s moving rendition of “Oh Happy Day” persuaded the school administration to allow them to participate in the All-State Choir Championship, which they eventually won!
Reflecting on the movie’s enduring impact, Goldberg said, “Worldwide, it doesn’t matter how old you are, you are the age of those kids when you see the movie… You’re their age, and you remember your time and how happy you were that you didn’t have to go to Catholic school. But then you remember how sorry you are that you didn’t get to go to Catholic school, and you missed out on teachers like this. So I think people just feel themselves here.”
In honor of the beloved comedy sequel’s 30th Anniversary, Goldberg, who played Deloris Van Cartier, also known as Sister Mary Clarence, returned to her role and introduced the former students she assisted in turning from rowdy teenagers into a gospel powerhouse. The energy of the show was palpable.
The crowd cheered as well-known actors like Ryan Toby—who portrayed the reserved but talented vocalist Ahmal—took the stage. The choir recreated the magic that captured hearts and had audiences humming along back in 1993, with the help of a few more members of the original cast and some recently hired singers recruited from LaGuardia High School of Music & Art students.
