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Who Is Brant Daugherty? 5 Things About Hallmark’s ‘Joyeux Noel’ Actor on October 29, 2023 at 4:00 pm Us Weekly

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Brant Daugherty. Eric Caro/Hallmark Media

Brant Daugherty made a splash on Hallmark Channel after his stint on Pretty Little Liars, which ended in 2016.

Daugherty’s introduction to the network began with a holiday hit, Mingle All the Way, which premiered in 2018. He has since starred in multiple rom-coms for Hallmark and two festive features, including 2023’s Joyeux Noel.

In his latest feel-good film, Daugherty, 38, plays seasoned journalist Mark, who is paired with copy editor Lea (Jaicy Elliot) to “uncover the love story behind the popular Mon Fleur painting” in a French village. Their investigation into the legend leads them to a magical Christmas market — and perhaps their own happily ever after.

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Related: Hallmark Declares the Holidays Are Here With ‘Countdown to Christmas’

Hallmark Media hit the ground running in 2023, releasing six new films — and that was only the beginning. The network’s January releases included three new installments of the Wedding Veil trilogy, starring Lacey Chabert, Autumn Reeser and Alison Sweeney on Hallmark Channel and an all-new Hallmark Movies & Mysteries franchise, Family History Mysteries: Buried Past. […]

Over the years, Daugherty has embraced the heartwarming style of Hallmark films and the diverse characters and stories they portray. “I really agree with everything they’ve been doing,” he exclusively told Us Weekly in October 2022. “I had a son a few months ago and I think a lot about what I put into the world and what he can watch. … These are movies that I’m very comfortable with him watching, and I think that’s something that I can share with [him] that’s very special.”

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Joyeux Noel airs on Hallmark Channel Sunday, October 29, at 8 p.m. ET.

Scroll down to learn more about Daugherty:

1. When Did Brant Daugherty Join Hallmark?

The Ohio native made his Hallmark debut in 2018 with Mingle All the Way. He has since starred in 2019’s Timeless Love, 2021’s The Baker’s Son and 2022’s A Royal Runaway Romance and #Xmas. 2023’s Joyeux Noel, which filmed partially in France, marks his sixth project with the network.

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Related: A Guide to (and Unofficial Ranking of) Hallmark’s Royal Movies and Tropes

Hallmark Channel movies transport viewers into a different world, and the network’s royal-themed films bring a whole different level of fantasy. While fans expect to suspend reality, when it comes to Hallmark’s royal rom-coms — there are almost too many tropes to count. The main culprit? Boy meets girl — and girl is blindsided by […]

2. Who Is Brant Daugherty’s Wife?

Daugherty married actress Kimberly Hidalgo in June 2019. The pair have costarred in several projects, including TV movies A Christmas Movie Christmas and Alone in the Dark, both of which Daugherty wrote and produced.

Courtesy of Brant Daugherty/Instagram

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3. Does Brant Daugherty Have Any Kids?

The actor shares son Wilder, born in March 2021, with his wife. The couple announced in October that they are expecting baby No. 2.

Related: A Guide to Hallmark Channel’s Leading Men

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Over the years, Hallmark Channel has cemented itself as the go-to network for feel-good films, holiday magic and a handsome lineup of leading men. Whether it’s the charmers from When Calls the Heart — including Kevin McGarry and Chris McNally — or the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries franchise heroes, fans always have eye candy to […]

4. What Is Brant Daugherty’s Connection to Ashley Tisdale and Vanessa Hudgens?

Tisdale and Hudgens served as bridesmaids in Daugherty’s wedding as they are longtime friends with his wife. Both Hudgens and Hidalgo were also part of Tisdale’s bridal party when she married Christopher French in 2014.

Courtesy of Brant Daugherty/Instagram

5. Who Did Brant Daugherty Play on ‘Pretty Little Liars’?

Outside of Hallmark, Daugherty is best known for portraying Noel Kahn on Pretty Little Liars from 2010 to 2016. Throughout the series, his character dated Aria (Lucy Hale), Mona (Janel Parrish) and Jenna (Tammin Sursok).

Brant Daugherty made a splash on Hallmark Channel after his stint on Pretty Little Liars, which ended in 2016. Daugherty’s introduction to the network began with a holiday hit, Mingle All the Way, which premiered in 2018. He has since starred in multiple rom-coms for Hallmark and two festive features, including 2023’s Joyeux Noel. In 

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Miley Cyrus Is Engaged to Maxx Morando

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Miley Cyrus is officially off the market: the pop superstar is engaged to musician Maxx Morando after four years together, and the speculation about “that ring” has finally been put to rest. The engagement caps a quietly steady relationship that has unfolded mostly out of the spotlight, marking a new chapter for Miley after years of highly public romances.

Engagement finally confirmed

Reports from major entertainment outlets confirm that Cyrus and Morando are engaged following her recent red-carpet appearance in Los Angeles.

Observers noticed a new diamond ring on her left-hand ring finger, and sources close to the singer have since confirmed that the jewelry is indeed an engagement ring. The news comes after days of online buzz and fan speculation, which began almost as soon as photos from the event hit social media.

The love story with Maxx Morando

Maxx Morando is a drummer and musician who has performed with bands like The Regrettes and has also worked as a producer and collaborator behind the scenes. He and Miley were first linked in late 2021, reportedly after meeting through mutual friends and hitting it off on a low-key first date that eventually grew into a long-term relationship. The pair have kept things relatively private, appearing together at select fashion shows, award events, and premieres rather than turning their romance into constant social-media content.

That very on-trend engagement ring

The ring that set the internet on fire features a cushion-cut diamond set on a chunky yellow gold band, a bold, fashion-forward design that fits Cyrus’s eclectic style. The piece is reported to be by designer Jacquie Aiche, whose jewelry is frequently worn by celebrities and known for mixing bohemian influences with luxury materials. Commentators note that the thick band and substantial stone are in line with the current trend toward statement engagement rings that feel modern and personal rather than traditional and dainty.

Fans react to Miley’s new chapter

Longtime fans who have watched Miley grow from Disney Channel star to Grammy-winning artist see this engagement as another milestone in her evolution. On social platforms, many have highlighted how different this relationship feels compared with her past, pointing to the couple’s low-key approach and shared creative interests as signs of a more grounded partnership. Others are already speculating about wedding plans, guest lists, and whether the singer might channel her “Flowers” era energy into a bridal look that breaks all the rules.

What this means for Miley’s image

Cyrus has spent the last few years redefining herself musically and personally, from the success of “Flowers” to acclaimed live performances and a more polished public image. This engagement to Morando reinforces that arc, presenting her as an artist who has found balance between rebellion and stability, independence and partnership. While no wedding details have been announced yet, the announcement alone ensures Miley and Maxx will remain at the center of pop culture conversations for months to come.

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Mariah Carey’s One Holiday Hit Pays her $3.3 Million a Year

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Mariah Carey did not just land a Christmas hit; she locked in a seasonal paycheck for life. Every year, All I Want for Christmas Is You is estimated to pull in somewhere between 2.5 and 3.3 million dollars in royalties, from streaming, radio, licensing, and all those store playlists that flip her on the second the Halloween decorations come down. Over three decades, that adds up to tens of millions tied to a single song, turning one holiday anthem into a textbook example of how a perfectly timed pop track can become a retirement plan in glitter.

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden and Santa Claus present pop superstar Mariah Carey with a framed certificate honoring her induction into the 2023 Library of Congress National Recording Registry for “All I Want for Christmas is You,” December 14, 2023. Photo by Shawn Miller/Library of Congress. Note: Privacy and publicity rights for individuals depicted may apply.

What keeps it so sticky is how audiences respond to it emotionally. Fans describe the song as an instant mood-lifter: the kind of track that makes people abandon their carts in Target, sing in the dairy aisle, or scream the chorus in the car like a full-blown music video moment.

People love the mix of old-school Motown-style production, sleigh bells, and Mariah’s big, joyful vocals—it feels nostalgic without sounding dated, and romantic without being corny to most listeners.

For a lot of millennials and Gen Z, hearing that opening piano riff is the unofficial signal that the holidays have “officially started.”

Of course, the obsession is loud enough that the backlash is, too—but even the complaints prove its impact. Some listeners say they are tired of hearing it everywhere, from October onward, but that is partly because it dominates every Christmas playlist, radio rotation, and TikTok trend. Whether people are passionately belting it out or dramatically rolling their eyes, the engagement keeps the streams flowing—and the royalties stacking. Love it or hate it, All I Want for Christmas Is You has become the soundtrack to December, and Mariah collects a festive multimillion-dollar “thank you” every single year.

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How The Grinch Became The Richest Christmas Movie Ever

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The Grinch didn’t just steal Christmas—he stole the box office. The 2018 animated film The Grinch turned holiday chaos into serious cash, grossing around $540 million worldwide on a modest $75 million budget, making it the highest‑grossing Christmas movie of all time. That is more than seven times its production cost, which is the kind of holiday return every studio dreams about.

Meanwhile, the 2000 live‑action How the Grinch Stole Christmas with Jim Carrey laid the groundwork for this green empire. That version pulled in roughly $345–347 million worldwide on a $123 million budget, turning a prickly Dr. Seuss villain into a perennial box‑office player and a meme‑ready holiday icon. The nostalgia around Carrey’s performance is a big part of why audiences were ready to show up again almost two decades later.​

The Money Behind The Mayhem

The 2018 film did not just earn big—it earned smart.

It opened to more than $$67 million domestically in its first weekend and kept playing steadily through November and December, ultimately pulling in about $272 million in the U.S. and roughly $267 million internationally.

Holiday timing, family‑friendly branding, and the Illumination animation style (the same studio behind Despicable Me) helped it become a go‑to choice for parents seeking something safe, colorful, and chaos‑free for kids.

Then there is the profit. Trade estimates peg the film’s net profit in the neighborhood of nearly $185 million once theatrical revenue, home entertainment, and TV/streaming deals are baked in. That is before counting years of reruns, licensing, and holiday programming packages—every December, the Grinch gets another quiet deposit while everyone else is wrapping gifts.

Grinch vs. Everyone: Who’s Really On Top?

Here is how the Grinch stacks up against other Christmas heavyweights by worldwide box office:

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FilmYearWorldwide Gross (approx.)Notes
The Grinch (animated)2018$510–540 millionHighest‑grossing Christmas movie ever
Home Alone1990~$476 millionLongtime champ, now second place
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (live‑action)2000~$345–347 millionBuilt the modern Grinch brand
The Polar Express2004~$315 millionHoliday staple, trails both Grinch movies

Different sources list slightly different totals, but they all agree: the 2018 Grinch sits at the top of the Christmas money mountain.

Why The Grinch Keeps Printing Money

The secret sauce is that the Grinch is more than a movie—he is a business model. Every version of this character hits a different emotional lane: Jim Carrey’s 2000 Grinch is pure chaotic energy and quotable nostalgia, while the 2018 Grinch is softer, cuter, and perfectly engineered for modern families and global audiences. Together, they keep the character relevant across generations, which is exactly what studios want from an evergreen holiday IP.

On top of box office and home sales, the character feeds theme‑park attractions, holiday events, branded specials, apparel, toys, and seasonal marketing campaigns. The Grinch went from “I hate Christmas” to “I own Christmas,” quietly turning grouchiness into one of the most profitable holiday brands on the planet.

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