Lifetime’s upcoming biopic, I Was Honey Boo Boo, explores the life of Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson, who first rose to fame as a child star on the hit reality series Toddlers & Tiaras. In Touch takes a look at the film’s premiere date, cast, and more.

What Is ‘I Was Honey Boo Boo’ About?

I Was Honey Boo Boo is Lifetime’s latest addition to their I Am/I Was franchise that has previously featured well-known figures in pop culture, including Elizabeth Smart, Lorena Bobbitt, Octomom and more.

“While on the kids’ pageant circuit, Alana became known as ‘Honey Boo Boo,’ as the world discovered her and her colorful family, led by her mother, Mama June. Alana’s dynamic persona captivated audiences and caught the attention of producers, catapulting her and her family to meteoric stardom as reality TV stars,” the official press release for the biopic read.

The press release continued, “But behind closed doors were forced smiles, silent tears and the lingering sense of uncertainty for what the future held for Alana and her family. After a series of scandals and legal troubles, Alana’s world was turned upside down and she was ultimately placed in the care of her older sister, Pumpkin. Now in college, Alana is determined to shake off the labels that have followed her, shed light on the darker side of child stardom and forge a path to overcome generational trauma and challenges.”

Who Stars in ‘I Was Honey Boo Boo’?

Alana narrates the film, offering personal insights about her time in the spotlight as a young pageant queen. Vale Cooper stars as a young Honey Boo Boo, while Isabelle Ayres takes over the role as Alana ages. Chelsea Larkin plays June “Mama June” Shannon, Georgia Small stars as Lauryn “Pumpkin” Efird and Emily Nevitt is featured in the role as Jessica Shannon.

Is There a Trailer for ‘I Was Honey Boo Boo’?

A trailer for I Was Honey Boo Boo premiered on April 25, 2025. In the opening scene, a casting director asks Alana, played by Vale, “what she likes about pageants.”

“Winning,” Alana replies. “A dolla makes me holla honey boo boo child!”

The line is followed by the real Alana saying, “With that one line, I became America’s favorite redneck little girl. I’m Alana Thompson. You may know me as Honey Boo Boo.”

The rest of the trailer features clips from the biopic that depict the pressure Mama June placed on Alana as her reality TV stardom began to pay off. In one scene, Mama June refers to Alana as “her little money maker,” while another features the real Alana saying that her mother’s love for her felt “transactional.”

Where Do Alana and Mama June Stand Now?

Fans have seen Alana and June’s family drama play out in their WE reality series, Mama June: Family Crisis. In a March 2024 episode, Alana accused June of stealing money from her Coogan account after Lauryn found that only $33,000 remained in the fund. The Coogan account, a special type of trust account set up to protect the earnings of child performers, was initially set up to hold the money Alana made from her career in reality TV, and she was supposed to gain access to the money when she turned 18 in August 2023.

Mama June found herself at the center of backlash from fans after the episode aired and she eventually posted a TikTok video where she acknowledged that she did owe Alana $30,000. She went on to give fans details on her plans to pay Alana back and said that her daughter Anna’s battle with cancer required all of her focus and caused her payments to be delayed.

When Does ‘I Was Honey Boo Boo’ Premiere?

I Was Honey Boo Boo premieres on May 17, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on Lifetime.