Ms. Rachel
Rachel Anne Accurso (née Griffin; born November 30, 1982), better known as Ms. Rachel, is an American YouTuber, educator, singer-songwriter, and activist. She created the YouTube series Ms. Rachel (originally Songs for Littles), which combines original songs and classic children's music with a focus on early language development for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. As of 2026, the channel has more than 21 million subscribers and over 16 billion views.
Accurso, who holds master's degrees in music education and early childhood education, began the series in 2019 after struggling to find media resources for her son, who had a speech delay. The show became popular during the COVID-19 pandemic and has drawn comparisons to Mister Rogers' Neighborhood for its grounding in childhood development research. Netflix began streaming compilation episodes of Ms. Rachel in 2025 and the series became one of the platform's most-watched children's shows that year. The series received two nominations at the 4th Children's and Family Emmy Awards in 2026. Accurso has also received a Streamy Award and a Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award, among other honors.
Accurso is an activist for children affected by the Gaza war and by immigration detention. Beginning in 2024, she raised funds and publicly advocated for children in Gaza, drawing both support and accusations of antisemitism from several pro-Israel organizations. She has campaigned against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's detention of migrant children, including petitioning to close a family detention facility and meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill in June 2026.
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