Kelly Macleod Is Coming Up As The New Voice Of Milhouse On 'The Simpsons'

The singer’s debut comes just under the wire as the series’s 36th season finale airs Sunday

Remember Milhouse van Houten from The Simpsons? He’s back! In never-really-left-but-has-a-new-voice form! Bart’s timid and awkward blue-haired friend is about to debut his new voice in this Sunday’s season 36 finale, “Estranger Things” 6 months after it was revealed that his original voice actor, Pamela Hayden, had retired. That new voice is singer Kelly Macleod.

The official description for “Estranger Things” reads "When Bart & Lisa stop watching Itchy & Scratchy together, Marge fears that they’ll start to drift apart... but she has no idea how bad things are about to get!" And if the description for Milhouse’s role is any indication, there’s either going to be a fantasy or a single-scene flashforward where Bart, Lisa, and Milhouse will be seen as adults, likely showing what the estrangement can lead to. It will be a very brief debut for Macleod, as it is that scene will feature Milhouse’s one line for the episode.

Pamela Hayden Retiring From 'The Simpsons'

Macleod began her career as a member of the rock band Private Life, which released two albums. The band's song "Touch Me" was featured on the soundtracks of both Wayne's World and Gremlins 2: The New Batch. In 2009, she acted in the short film Slice of Pie, and began spending the next decade with another band, The Sweet Potatoes. She released a solo album, titled Wide Open, in 2021. She even already comes with Simpsons experience having guest-starred the season 33 episode “Bart the Cool Kid” in 2022, which boasted The Weeknd as its major guest star. There, she performed "Two Badges, One Mind".

Hayden’s retirement statement, which was made leading up to her final linear episode on Fox, “Treehouse of Horror Presents: Simpsons Wicked This Way Comes”, read The time has come for me to hang up my microphone, but how do I say goodbye to The Simpsons?……not easily. It’s been an honor and a joy to have worked on such a funny, witty, and groundbreaking show, and to give voice to Milhouse and Jimbo Jones, Rod Flanders, Janey, Malibu Stacy, and many others. I’ll always have a special place in my heart for that blue-haired 10-year-old boy with glasses.” Rod, the older of Ned’s sons, was given to Chris Edgerly as of “The Man Who Flew Too Much”, which aired around Christmastime. Edgerly has been with the show since season 22, mostly serving as a stand-in for guest stars and other absent cast members at table readings. MadTV alum Mo Collins took over Jimbo Jones 5 weeks prior in “P.S. I Hate You”, and makes them the two newest cast members to hop on for the 60+ episodes of The Simpsons over the next 4 years. Hayden’s final episode as Milhouse was the Disney+-exclusive “Yellow Planet”, which released on Earth Day. Milhouse is one of the iguanas in Bart’s setting, overseen by Chalmers and Skinner. Of course, he doesn’t survive, but he goes out with “Here for a good time, not a long time”.

The Simpsons finishes its 36th season with “Estranger Things” on Sunday, May 18 at 8 PM ET/PT on Fox.

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Source: Entertainment Weekly