Six-year-old Charlotte-area rap phenom VanVan makes acting debut on ‘Abbott Elementary’ and will release book with MC Lyte

By Cameron Lee

February 27, 2025

Six-year-old Charlotte-area native and rap phenom Savannah “VanVan” McConneaughey can now add actress to her growing list of accomplishments, as she made her debut on the Primetime Emmy Award-winning television show Abbott Elementary on Wednesday night.

The talented Salisbury native took the social media world by storm in early 2023, with the help of her father, Reggie, sharing her rap skills on Instagram and TikTok. She quickly accumulated a large following with her viral song, “Playing Outside Every Day.”

 

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In December 2023, she performed alongside rap trailblazer MC Lyte at the Kennedy Center to honor legendary rapper and actor Queen Latifah, also performing at Essence Festival earlier that summer. In June 2024, McConneaughey performed at the BET Awards and independently released her debut album, VanVan, the following month.

She joined the cast of Snoop Dogg’s educational 3D animated series, Doggyland, in November, voicing the character Vancy the Dalmatian. McConneaughey appeared on The Jennifer Hudson Show on Monday, ahead of her primetime acting debut on Abbott Elementary on Wednesday night. In the episode, she plays a student named Margaret in Mrs. Howard’s class (played by Sheryl Lee Ralph), and they share a humorous exchange about Mrs. Howard’s age while McConneaughey is dressed like her teacher.

Cover of children’s book ‘Rhyme Time Adventures: VanVan and MC Lyte’s Magical Melodies’ set to be released in the coming weeks through MC Lyte’s Sunni Gyrl, Inc.

Recently signed to rap legend MC Lyte’s management company, Sunni Gyrl, Inc., VanVan will also be releasing a new children’s book in the coming weeks, Rhyme Time Adventures: VanVan and MC Lyte’s Magical Melodies. The book explores themes of self-esteem and problem-solving in a rhyme-filled “short but sweet summer story,” according to the synopsis. 

Her representatives through social media told us the book will be released within two weeks, and she is also back in the studio working on new music.

Check out the full appearance on Abbott Elementary via VanVan’s official Instagram:

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