China Anne McClain, star of the Disney Channel series "A.N.T. Farm," grew up in a musical household. Her father's a record producer; her mother's a songwriter and along with her sisters -- Sierra and Lauryn -- she performed as the McClain Sisters.

And Friday night, in an episode of the cable series called "influANTces," China gets to connect with some important musical women when she transforms into Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald and Janet Jackson. The special is pegged to Black History Month.

"Growing up, Beyonce was my big influence," says China. "As I studied these women, I came to admire them for all of their achievements."

In the episode, her character, Chyna Parks, (spelled differently than the actress) and the ANTs have to come up with a special project for Black History Month. The young songwriter, who's struggling with the assignment, locks herself in a recording booth until she comes up with a great song. When she falls asleep, Chyna takes a journey back in time to become Fitzgerald, Franklin and Jackson.

Each musical time leap came with a different look.

"It was weird, so weird when I would look in the mirror," China says. "My parents really got into it though."

The Disney series, about a group of students in the gifted program Advanced Natural Talents (A.N.T.), has always promoted the importance of education and the arts. That's one reason China likes working on the show so much. But, she takes additional pride in this episode.

"It makes me feel so amazing and honored to be a part of something like this. There was a different feel on set. There was a more serious feel," China says. "I want the kids to really understand how far African-Americans have come, the impact these women have made on our lives.

"I'm glad to be able to teach the viewers something about these people and the great things they have done for this world. They have inspired me."