Nick Jonas bombed Frozen audition for Kristoff, reveals on podcast
Synopsis
Nick Jonas walked into the Frozen audition for Kristoff with no sheet music, no song prepared, and — by his own account — bombed it spectacularly. The pop star revealed the story face-to-face with the actual cast of the film on his Hey Jonas Podcast, adding a rare and candid footnote to one of Disney's biggest animated franchises.
Key Takeaways
Nick Jonas revealed he auditioned for the role of Kristoff in Disney's Frozen but 'bombed' the audition due to being unprepared.
The disclosure was made on his Hey Jonas Podcast , in conversation with Kristen Bell , Josh Gad , and Idina Menzel .
Jonas arrived without sheet music or a prepared song, improvising with an unspecified musical theatre number.
The role ultimately went to Jonathan Groff , though Jonas said he genuinely enjoyed the film despite missing out.
Frozen , released in 2013 , has since grown into a full franchise including Frozen 2 and the upcoming Frozen 3 .
American pop star Nick Jonas has revealed that he once auditioned for the role of Kristoff in Disney's blockbuster animated film Frozen — and that the experience was, by his own admission, a disaster. Jonas made the disclosure during a candid conversation on his Hey Jonas Podcast, where he sat down with the film's principal cast: Kristen Bell, Josh Gad, and Idina Menzel.
What Jonas Said About the Audition
Jonas recounted arriving at the audition entirely unprepared, with no sheet music and no song ready. 'I auditioned for Frozen. I went in. For Kristoff. And I went in and they said, okay, what are you gonna be singing today? I said, oh, I don’t know. They said, what do you mean you don’t know? They’re like, do you have your sheet music?' he recalled.
When told he had none, Jonas improvised by requesting an unspecified musical theatre number — and the result, he said, was far from impressive. 'I said, no, no one told me I had. Okay, let’s, and so I just said, can you play something from — I don’t know what I said, some musical theater song, and I bombed the audition. It was terrible,' he said.
The cast members responded with characteristic wit: 'That must have been why you didn’t get in.'
Jonas on Jonathan Groff and the Film
Despite losing the role to Jonathan Groff, Jonas was quick to clarify there was no bitterness — but not without a playful dig. 'I love Jonathan Groff, but I do think it would have been better to cast me. Like, this feels real. This feels, like, authentic. Massive fans in our household. I didn’t spite watch it. I really did enjoy it the first time,' he said.
The remark drew laughs from the cast and underscored what appears to be a genuine affection for the franchise, even if Jonas missed his shot at joining it.
About Frozen and Its Legacy
Frozen was first released in 2013 and was produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. Directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, and written by Lee, the musical fantasy film is loosely inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's 1844 fairy tale The Snow Queen.
The film follows Anna (voiced by Bell), the princess of Arendelle, who embarks on a journey with iceman Kristoff (Groff), his reindeer Sven, and the snowman Olaf (Gad) to find her estranged sister Elsa (Menzel), who has accidentally plunged their kingdom into eternal winter.
The film's cultural and commercial impact spawned a full franchise, including the short Frozen Fever, the featurette Olaf's Frozen Adventure, a sequel Frozen 2, and the forthcoming Frozen 3.
The Podcast Setting
Jonas shared the anecdote via a video posted to Instagram from his Hey Jonas Podcast. The reunion-style format — bringing Jonas face-to-face with Bell, Gad, and Menzel — gave the confession an added layer of comedy, with the very actors who starred in the film reacting in real time to the story of his failed audition.
The clip has since drawn wide attention online, adding a fresh footnote to Frozen's storied production history.
Point of View
But what it quietly reveals is how casually even established pop stars approach major studio auditions — and how Disney's casting process, even for voice roles, demands professional rigour. Jonas's unprepared walk-in contrasts sharply with the polished, franchise-defining performance Jonathan Groff ultimately delivered as Kristoff. That Frozen went on to become one of Disney's highest-grossing animated films makes the 'what if' here genuinely interesting — not because Jonas would necessarily have been better, but because the story illustrates how contingent cultural phenomena can be on a single casting call. The podcast format, which placed Jonas opposite the actual cast, was smart content strategy: it gave the confession weight and immediacy that a solo interview never could.
NationPress
19 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Nick Jonas audition for Frozen?
Yes, Nick Jonas revealed on his Hey Jonas Podcast that he auditioned for the role of Kristoff in Disney's Frozen. He admitted he arrived unprepared, without sheet music or a chosen song, and described the experience as 'terrible.'
Why did Nick Jonas bomb the Frozen audition?
According to Jonas, he was caught off guard when asked what he would be singing and had no sheet music ready. He improvised with an unspecified musical theatre song but said the result was poor. 'I bombed the audition. It was terrible,' he said.
Who got the role of Kristoff in Frozen instead of Nick Jonas?
Jonathan Groff was cast as Kristoff in Frozen. Jonas said he loves Groff but jokingly suggested he might have been a better fit, while also expressing genuine admiration for the film.
Where did Nick Jonas reveal the Frozen audition story?
Jonas shared the story on his Hey Jonas Podcast, in a conversation with Frozen cast members Kristen Bell, Josh Gad, and Idina Menzel. He posted the video on Instagram.
What is Frozen and when was it released?
Frozen is a musical fantasy animated film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, released in 2013. Directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, it is loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen's 1844 fairy tale The Snow Queen and has since spawned a franchise including Frozen 2 and the upcoming Frozen 3.
