“Reading Rainbow” Theme's Original Performer, Tina Fabrique, Sings Song for “The View” Audience During LeVar Burton Appearance

Angela AndaloroFri, May 1, 2026 at 9:08 PM UTC

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Reading Rainbow (left), Tina FabriqueCredit: The View/Instagram -

LeVar Burton, who hosted Reading Rainbow for 23 years from the show's debut in 1983 until 2006, appeared on The View

There, he and the audience were treated to a special surprise when Tina Fabrique, who originally sang the Reading Rainbow theme song, was in the audience

Fabrique performed the tune for the studio audience, bringing delight to many who developed a love of reading from the show

Reading Rainbow fans were treated to a special moment by The View.

During a recent appearance on the talk show by LeVar Burton, there was quietly another special guest in the audience connected to the beloved PBS show, launched in 1983 and recently revived by KidZuko.

A clip of the special moment was shared on Instagram by the talk show, with a caption reading, "Talk about magic in the studio! ✨ Today's audience included Tina Fabrique, the original singer of 'Reading Rainbow' theme song, 'Butterfly in the Sky'! ❤️."

Fabrique also shared the moment on her socials, writing, "Yesterday on the @theviewabc I was able to bless the crowd with a childhood favorite ❤️ 🙏🌈."

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"Butterfly in the sky, I can go twice as high. Take a look, it's in a book, a reading rainbow," Fabrique sings, as the audience applauds.

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She continues, "I can go anywhere. Ways to grow and things to know, a reading rainbow. I can do anything. Take a look, it's in a book, a reading rainbow."

Many commenters noted just how much the inspirational lyrics, written by composer Steve Horelick and lyricists Dennis Neil Kleinman and Janet Weir, meant to them as children.

Burton discussed his years on Reading Rainbow on The View, including the special moment last spring, when graduates at Howard University's commencement sang the theme song as part of the celebration, in which he served as a speaker.

"It's extraordinary to think that, throughout the course of my career, I've been able to portray the Black experience in America from our enslavement to the stars," the actor, who got his start in the 1977 miniseries Roots, emotionally shared.

Fabrique has opened up before about her experience performing the theme song. When it began going viral as a TikTok sound in 2022, she told NBC News that when it came to recording it, "I don't think I did more than three takes."

Of the song's legacy, she added, "It was always amazing to me. I had no idea for a long time how it reached and touched people."

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”