Miley Cyrus is going back to where it all started. Nearly two decades after Hannah Montana first hit Disney Channel, the global phenomenon is getting a full-circle moment with the upcoming 20th Anniversary Special, arriving March 24 on Disney+ and Hulu. And for Cyrus, the connection is still deeply personal.
“Hannah Montana is the beginning for everything that I’ve been able to become — the person that I’ve been able become,” Cyrus said during an interview at the Disney Legend Awards Ceremony in 2024. “She is such a part of me and taught me everything that I know.”
That sense of gratitude carries through the special, which looks back at the series that didn’t just launch a career, but helped define a generation of fans. Hosted by Alex Cooper, the anniversary event features an in-depth conversation with Cyrus, revisiting the music, the memories, and the cultural impact of a show that blurred the line between character and real-life stardom.
When Hannah Montana debuted in 2006, it quickly became more than a hit series. It reshaped kids television, influenced fashion and pop music, and turned Cyrus into a multiplatinum, GRAMMY-winning artist. The franchise went on to produce 14 platinum and 18 gold albums globally, along with two feature films.
And the audience never really left.
To date, the Hannah Montana catalog has generated more than half a billion hours streamed worldwide on Disney+, a testament to its staying power long after its original run ended in 2010.
For Cyrus, being named the youngest-ever Disney Legend is less about personal achievement and more about the people who made it possible. “It’s all about the fans,” she said. “My favorite part of this event is that you can put faces to all these fans who are responsible for giving us this life and these opportunities.”
Ahead of the special, Disney+ is also rolling out a full Hannah Montana collection, including all four seasons, the Best of Both Worlds concert, and the 2009 feature film, giving longtime fans and new audiences alike a chance to revisit the story of Miley Stewart, the teenager living a double life as a global pop star.
Because for Cyrus, Hannah Montana was never just a role.
It was the foundation.
The Geek is a working screenwriter, director and screenwriting instructor.
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