Going from a series of books to a series of Disney TV movies to an actual touring girl pop band, The Cheetah Girls began as fictional characters in Deborah Gregory’s novels for young-adult readers. The series launched in 1999, and its popularity with tween girls convinced Disney to adapt the story line into a made-for-TV movie in 2003. The film starred Raven-Symoné, singers/actresses Adrienne Bailon and Kiely Williams of the group 3LW, and actress/singer/dancer Sabrina Bryan. The movie was such a big success that it spawned a soundtrack, the 2005 Christmas-themed album, Cheetah-licious Christmas, as well as the Cheetah Girls 2 movie and soundtrack. That same year, The Cheetah Girls became a living, breathing, touring act, hitting the road with Vanessa Hudgens of Disney TV’s other phenomenon, High School Musical. A live album arrived in summer 2007. In September of that same year, The Girls, who were by now a trio – Raven-Symoné had departed soon after the first album – released their first non-soundtrack record, TCG. Another movie soon followed. Over six million viewers tuned in to watch the network premier of The Cheetah Girls: One World in 2008. The One World soundtrack arrived that same summer. The Cheetah Girls continue to tour the globe.
