Hello, people to whom the acronym HSM:TM:TS means absolutely nothing: We’re here to discuss Joshua Bassett. You might think you have no idea who he is, but trust: If you’ve ever scream-cried alone in your shower to Olivia Rodrigo’s “Drivers license,” you def do. Aside from being the ~alleged~ subject of Olivia’s song, Joshua is the star of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (aka HSM:TM:TS), and he’s also a singer and also the subject of a lot of IRL Disney relationship drama. In other words, he’s a triple threat, and we’re here to discuss just, like, a whole buncha facts about him so we’re all on the same page. That page being Knowing Way Too Much Info About Disney Stars™.
He’s 20 Years Old and 5’11”
Listen, I know it’s weird to kick this thing off with Joshua’s age and height, but inquiring minds want to know. BTW, his birthday is December 22, which makes him a Capricorn, so you may or may not be compatible.
Joshua Got His Start in HSM:CT
Yes, thank you, HSM:CT *is* in fact an acronym I just made up. It stands for High School Musical Community Theater, which Joshua was part of almost a decade ago. He played J.V. Jock No. 2, which is almost—but not quite—as fancy as his job playing Ricky Bowen in HSM:TM:TS. Although FYI, his first gig wasn’t actually in acting. Joshua told Billboard that he worked “at a frozen yogurt shop” but was “making bank as a local videographer when I was 12.”
He Was Almost Harvey in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina!
IKR? Can you imagine? Joshua revealed this nugget of info in an interview with Buzzfeed Celeb:
“I mean, I started coming out to L.A. when I was about 16. I mean, there were a handful of roles. I was really close to the role in Sabrina the Teenage Witch. It was down to me and Ross Lynch. And he got it, I’m super happy for him. But yeah, I was definitely, like, really hoping for that one. There’s a couple others. But that one, I guess, stands out to the one where…I was like, I got really close. And I was really excited about it. And it just didn’t work out. But ultimately, everything worked out.”
Joshua Just Released an EP
It’s self-titled, it dropped on March 12, and the debut single “Lie Lie Lie” should probably be read into immediately. Mostly because of the visual similarities to “Drivers License,” which we’ll get to in a moment:
He and Olivia Dated During HSM:TM:TS
At least, that’s what fans speculated after seeing their chemistry onscreen, the way they always cozied up to each other in interviews, and all the flirty comments they left on each other’s Instagrams. And they actually cowrote this song for the show!
He’s Maybe (?) Dating Sabrina Carpenter
Joshua started hanging out with Sabrina last summer and fully did a couples Halloween costume, prompting speculation that they were dating.
@joshuatbassett dream a dream u little bleep #sharkboyandlavagirl @sabrinacarpenter
And then? Then Olivia dropped “Drivers license,” which I think we can all agree has some pretty !!! lyrics, including some that seem to definitely/maybe be about Sabrina and Joshua (Olivia’s denied it, but, like…c’mon.)
Note: Sabrina has blonde hair and is four years older than Olivia. Ahem.
Anyway, more info on that WHOLE SAGA this way, but just note that Sabrina went ahead and released a song of her own called “Skin” with the literal line, “Maybe you didn’t mean it / Maybe blonde was the only rhyme.” Oh, and Joshua congratulated Sabrina about it. But he also congratulated Olivia after the release of her new song “Deja Vu,” so who knows what the hell is going on.
His Dramatic Personal Life Was Made Into a SNL Sketch
Dude was literally name-checked.
He responded both in the below TikTok and also in an interview with Billboard, saying, “I was like, ‘I think I’m honored?’ They poke fun at everyone and everything. That’s the point of the show. I thought it was hilarious.”
@joshuatbassett dream come true?
He’s Basically a Musical Genius?
At least by my standards as a person who has no skills whatsoever! Meanwhile, Joshua can play multiple instruments:
He Was on Disney’s Stuck in the Middle
He played Aiden Peters! Remember? Anyone? No? K.
His Dreams Are VERY INTENSE
While I’m busy dreaming that I forgot to file my taxes (I believe that’s called a nightmare), Joshua told Interview that his dreams are…never not doing the most. To quote: “Sometimes I dream up entire symphonies, movie ideas, full plots, and other times old emotional traumas. You know, the normal stuff.”
And Finally: He Has a HUGE Family and You Should Probs Meet His Sisters
As in, he’s one of six siblings. In fact, Joshua has five sisters and their vibe is incredibly cute. Proof: this video of him singing at his sister’s wedding:
Welcome to the family Pierre!
My sisters and I put together a surprise Phineas & Ferb medley for the wedding… PART 1 OF 2 pic.twitter.com/ajXq3Ihbh8— Joshua Bassett (@joshuatbassett) January 11, 2020
Kay, that’s all.