Two decades ago, Disney Channel made Miley Cyrus a household name. The daughter of Billy Ray “Achy Breaky Heart” Cyrus, first donned Hannah Montana’s blond wig on March 24, 2006. Almost overnight, the character became a global phenomenon that influenced music and fashion and helped to launch Cyrus’ pop music career. On March 24, Disney+ will present the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special to commemorate these achievements.
Hosted by Alex Cooper, the special will feature an exclusive interview with Cyrus in front of a live audience. According to Disney, the conversation will offer an intimate look at the creation and the lasting impact the show had on fans around the world. Cyrus will revisit the moments, music and memories that defined an era.
Some of the show’s sets will be recreated for the special (the Stewart family living room and the Hannah Montana closet) and never-before-seen archival footage will be shown for the special.
On the show, Miley played a 14-year-old middle school student with duo personalities. The kids at school knew her as Miley Stewart but with the help of that blond wig she was able to live her double life as a famous pop singer. Billy Ray played her father. Emily Osment and Mitchel Musso played her best friends who were in on the secret. Cyrus played the character for five years.
At first, the fame was exciting for Cyrus. The TV show helped to churn out 14 platinum and 18 gold albums worldwide, as well as two feature films: Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert (2008) and Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009). But the pressure of being put on a pedestal and being a good role model was taxing for the young singer.
By the time the show came to an end in 2011, Cyrus couldn’t wait to dive into more adult material and unfortunately some of her personal choices caused some backlash with fans.
Cyrus stated in 2019 that many fans viewed her as a “Disney mascot” rather than as a person while working on the show. She felt that many fans couldn’t see the difference between “Miley” and “Hannah”. However, she was able to make peace with the character saying that she was proud of her work on the series. Her recent comments echo that.
“Hannah Montana will always be a part of who I am. What started as a TV show became a shared experience that shaped my life and the lives of so many fans, and I’ll always be thankful for that connection,” said Cyrus. “The fact that it still means so much to people all these years later is something I’m very proud of. This ‘Hannahversary’ is my way of celebrating and thanking the fans who’ve stood by me for 20 years.”
“Hannah Montana opened the door for so many fans to dream big, sing loud, and embrace every side of themselves, which is why its legacy continues to shine across generations,” said Ayo Davis, president, Disney Branded Television. “Partnering with Miley on this special is a dream, and we want it to be a love letter to the fans, who remain as passionate today as they were when the series debuted almost 20 years ago.”
Starting on February 19, fans of the show can dive even deeper with Disney+’s dedicated non-stop stream – The Hannah Montana Collection – which includes all four seasons and both movies.
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