LOS ANGELES – Miley Cyrus, rocking her iconic “Hannah Montana” blonde hair and bangs, recently celebrated a huge milestone: the 20th anniversary of the beloved TV show that kickstarted her journey to pop stardom.
On Monday evening, Cyrus reunited with her fellow cast members in Los Angeles for the premiere of the “Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special.” Speaking with The Associated Press, she reflected on how this anniversary has allowed her to view her character and the series through a new lens.
“Getting to be on the outside now, getting to be grown and be a part of it in a way that I couldn’t when I was in the middle of it before, and all the chaos and the schedule and the performing of it all,” Cyrus expressed. “Now it just gets to be a celebration. So it is a new perspective. I love that.”
The anniversary special began streaming on Tuesday via Disney+ and Hulu, marking two decades since the show first aired. Filmed in front of a live audience, the special showcases archival footage and features an interview with Cyrus, now 33 and a successful pop star, conducted by podcast host Alex Cooper.
Musical performances are a highlight of the special, starting with the unforgettable series anthem “The Best of Both Worlds” and concluding with a new song dedicated to Cyrus’ younger self. The show also includes appearances by family and friends, such as her father, Billy Ray Cyrus, and Selena Gomez, who famously played one of her rivals.
During the premiere event, Cyrus made sure to acknowledge both her fellow cast members and the dedicated fans. “Without you all, this show would have never been what it is, and I love saying what it is, not what it was,” she stated.
She emphasized that the celebration was not just about the past but also about the ongoing impact of the show today. “Tonight isn’t about looking back into the past, but it’s about what it means to us still tonight,” she added.
Jason Earles, who portrayed Miley’s brother Jackson, shared his thoughts, noting that revisiting the show now highlights how much time has passed. “If you go back and you watch the episodes, there’s enough dated references, like old flip phones and stuff, that you go, ‘Oh no, no, this show was a little while ago,’” he remarked.
Cody Linley, who played Miley’s on-and-off boyfriend Jake Ryan, reflected on the unique experience of being a teen heartthrob. “It’s hard to believe that there were girls that had pictures of me with my shirt off in their locker,” he shared. “It’s hard not to let it go to your head, because you have to remember that it’s an image that they are seeing. It’s not you.”
Also present at the premiere was country singer Lainey Wilson, who reminisced about her early career as a “Hannah Montana” impersonator. “From 8th grade to 12th grade, five years of my life, I would open up the show as Lainey Wilson, I would run behind a tree and put on my ‘Hannah Montana’ get-up,” she recalled. “I did birthday parties, fairs, festivals … I was hitting the roads.”
