If you spent any part of the '90s trying to explain your life to a camera or waiting for a talking black cat to give you advice, you know Melissa Joan Hart. She wasn't just a child star. She was the child star who actually made it out the other side without the stereotypical Hollywood meltdown.
Honestly, it’s kinda rare.
But what is Melissa Joan Hart today actually up to in 2026? Most people think she’s just living off Sabrina royalties in a house built of magic dust, but the reality is way more industrious. She’s transitioned from being the face of a network to being the person running the set, and she’s doing it with a level of normalcy that’s almost jarring for someone who’s been famous since age four.
The Director Behind the Scenes
You might have missed her name in the credits, but Melissa has become a go-to director for major network sitcoms. We’re talking Young Sheldon, The Goldbergs, and the iCarly revival. She didn't just "try" directing; she mastered the multi-cam format that defined her early career.
It makes sense.
When you spend a decade on sets like Clarissa Explains It All and Sabrina the Teenage Witch, you learn the mechanics of a joke better than any film school could teach you. Recently, she’s been leaning heavily into her production company, Hartbreak Films, which she runs with her mom, Paula. They’ve moved beyond just acting vehicles and are now a powerhouse in the "cozy" content space.
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The Christmas Queen Reign
Speaking of cozy, we have to talk about the movies. You’ve probably seen her on Lifetime or Netflix during the holidays. She recently produced and starred in A Merry Little Ex-Mas (2025), a project she’s been vocal about because it let her work with fellow '90s icon Alicia Silverstone.
She basically invented the modern holiday TV movie genre with Holiday in Handcuffs back in 2007. Since then, she’s turned it into a year-round business. In 2025, she pivoted slightly with a thriller called Killing the Competition, playing a helicopter mom who goes way too far. It was a sharp turn from her usual "witch next door" persona, and it reminded everyone that she’s actually got serious dramatic range when she’s not dodging falling buckets of slime or talking cats.
What Happened to the Podcast?
For a while, everyone was listening to What Women Binge. It was her weekly hang with friend Amanda Lee where they’d just talk about what they were watching and eating. It felt like sitting in her kitchen.
However, in mid-2024, they aired a bittersweet final episode.
The "Last Binge" wasn't a goodbye to the public, but a pivot toward new ventures. She’s been spending more time on the road lately, doing live stand-up shows with Caroline Rhea (Aunt Hilda herself). If you’ve ever wanted to hear the "real" stories from the Sabrina set that weren't Nickelodeon-approved, those live shows are where the tea gets spilled.
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Family Life in Nashville
Melissa doesn't live in the Hollywood bubble anymore. She moved her family—husband Mark Wilkerson and their three sons, Mason, Braydon, and Tucker—to Nashville a few years back.
She’s a "football mom" now. Literally.
If you follow her on social media, it’s less about red carpets and more about Eagles games and high school jerseys. She’s talked openly about how her "Nashville era" is about being present. She’s picky about roles now. If a project takes her away from her boys for too long, she just won't do it unless it "moves the needle" significantly for her career or her bank account.
Faith and Philanthropy
Another huge part of her life today is her work with World Vision. She’s been an ambassador since 2019, traveling to places like Zambia to support clean water and education initiatives. For Melissa, her Christian faith has become a public cornerstone of her identity, influencing the projects she picks and the way she handles her "reinvention" in her late 40s.
The Big Question: Is a Sabrina Reboot Coming?
Every time she does an interview, this comes up.
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Here is the truth: She’s open to it, but the red tape is a nightmare. The rights are tangled between various entities, and she’s adamant that it would have to be "done right." She doesn't want a gritty Chilling Adventures of Sabrina vibe for her version; she wants the heart and the humor.
While we wait for the lawyers to figure that out, she’s staying busy hosting high-profile events. Just this week, she was announced as the host for Steven Tyler’s "Jam for Janie" Grammy viewing party, rubbin elbows with rock royalty like the Black Crowes and Belinda Carlisle.
How to Keep Up With Her Now
If you want to follow the current chapter of her career, don't look for her in the tabloids. She’s not there. Instead, look at the director credits of your favorite sitcoms or the upcoming Lifetime premiere schedule.
Practical ways to support her work today:
- Watch her directorial work: Check out episodes of Young Sheldon or The Goldbergs—her timing as a director is impeccable.
- Look for the Hartbreak Films logo: Whenever you see her production company listed, you know it’s a project she’s personally steered from the ground up.
- Check out World Vision: If you're moved by her philanthropy, she frequently promotes the World Vision Gift Catalog, which supports artisans and families in need globally.
- Catch a live appearance: Keep an eye on 90s Con or local theater listings for her stand-up dates with Caroline Rhea.
Melissa Joan Hart has managed to do what very few child stars do: she grew up, stayed employed, and kept her sanity. She might not be casting spells on our TV screens every Friday night anymore, but she’s arguably more influential behind the scenes now than she ever was in the denim vests of the '90s.