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Julie Johnson (born November 16, 1958 in Whitewright, Texas)[2] is a country singer and actress. Johnson has portrayed many roles in various musicals such as Memphis, Sweeney Todd, Always, Patsy Cline, Look Homeward, Honky Tonk Angel and Come Fly Away. Johnson has also been in films such as Pure Country with George Strait and The Apostle with Robert Duvall.

Among her many acting roles, she is best known as the original voice of Baby Bop on Barney & Friends.

Career[]

Barney[]

Barney & The Backyard Gang[]

Johnson got a call from her agent in regards to the Barney & The Backyard Gang video series. Her agent suggested that she go audition for the series. Around this time, Johnson played Sister Mary Amnesia for the musical Nunsense. During the audition for Barney & The Backyard Gang, Johnson looked at the Baby Bop costume, unsure of what she would do, and thought of the voice of a whining child desiring for a toy in a store. Johnson's voice for Baby Bop was also similar to her voice for Sister Mary Amnesia. After doing the gig for the video series, Johnson didn't hear anything back from the crew due to it being suggested that Baby Bop would be a one-time character.

Barney & Friends[]

A few months later, Johnson's mother saw an article that discussed Barney & The Backyard Gang becoming a series on PBS. Unsure if she would retain her role, Johnson was contacted three days later in regards to joining the show. Johnson portrayed Baby Bop from 1991 until 2010.

Credits[]

Barney[]

Baby Bop[]

  1. The Today Show (February 16, 1993)
  2. Barney Street Celebration (April 3-18, 1993)
  3. A Day at Shea with BJ (September 27, 1993)
  4. Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (1994, 1997, 1999-2004)
  5. Barney at Grand Ole Opry (September 16-17, 1995)
  6. Kids for Character (1996)
  7. Live with Regis and Kelly (January 23, 2006)

Other[]

Year Title Role Notes
1997 Barney Under The Sea Hootin' Annie Voice role
1998 Barney's Halloween Party Featured Extra On-camera role
2000 Come on Over to Barney's House Jill Voice role
2005 The Land of Make Believe Parrot
2006 "Mother Goose" Mother Goose On-camera role

Gallery[]

Barney[]

Behind the scenes[]

Trivia[]

  • Johnson's son was in several episodes of Barney & Friends as an extra on set.
  • Prior to being on Barney, Johnson knew Patty Wirtz, the original voice of BJ, from doing the musical Nunsense together and worked together at Casa Mañana Theatre in Fort Worth, Texas.
  • For a while, Johnson was available for public and private shows. Carey Stinson, one of the costume performers of Barney, was the contact for her booking information.
  • Sonny Franks, who was in Come on Over to Barney's House and Let's Go to the Fire House, wrote a few songs for Johnson's discography.[3]
  • Johnson was meant to be interviewed for the documentary of I Love You, You Hate Me, but due to conflicts between her time on tour and when the crew could film, it didn't work out.[4]

Videos[]

Interviews[]

References[]

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