LOS ANGELES — Variety put the spotlight on some of entertainment’s fastest-rising young talent at its 2026 Power of Young Hollywood celebration, presented by Disney+.
This year’s honorees included actor Malachi Barton, who received the Rising Star Award, and Tyriq Withers, named recipient of the New Leading Man Award. Grammy-nominated artists Tate McRae and Sombr were also recognized, with McRae earning the Triple Threat Award and Sombr honored as Songwriter of the Year.
Barton, who launched his Disney career on Disney Channel’s “Stuck in the Middle,” has steadily evolved from scene-stealing younger brother roles into a full-fledged leading man. His growing Disney résumé includes “ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires” and “Camp Rock 3,” further cementing his place in the studio’s franchise universe. He is also set to star in Disney’s “Coven Academy,” a new witchy young adult series expected to premiere later this year.
And his momentum is only building. Barton is preparing to hit the road for the “Worlds Collide Concert Tour,” a live event bringing together performers from “Descendants,” “ZOMBIES” and “Camp Rock” for a major crossover concert experience.
On The Red Carpet caught up with Barton at the event to talk about the honor and the fast-moving chapter he is currently experiencing in his career.
“Keep it on the DL, because I’m trying to be nonchalant about it, but like, I’m nervous. Like, are you kidding me? 100%. I’m about to stand up and like, talk, in front of a bunch of people? That’s scary,” he told us. “I usually just talk behind a camera, and then that’s enough, so. I’m excited though. It’s going to be fun. It’s gonna be super chill. I’m like, beyond grateful for it.”
As Barton’s profile rises, comparisons to young Disney stars who came before him have become increasingly common. Rather than resist the attention, he is choosing to embrace it as motivation.
“It’s such an amazing opportunity to be compared to somebody. I think there’s such a, a negative, like ideal of comparison, but it, like, it can be really cool because like, I take it as a compliment because they’re all so amazing. They’re all so talented. And for me to be able to be the next generation of that is so cool,” he said. Looking ahead, Barton said he hopes the next wave of young performers will be “looking up to me in the same way, I hope.”
When it comes to those leading men, Barton said the Jonas Brothers have given him some words of wisdom.
“They just told me to like, not take things too seriously, enjoy myself. And it’s such a basic piece of advice. But like in this business, it means more than you know. Like, being able to actually not take things seriously. Just have fun, enjoy yourself, and live in the moment and like, truly cherish every single memory is so, so important.”
You can watch Barton star in “Camp Rock 3,” premiering Aug. 13 on Disney Channel and the next day on Disney+.
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