Miley Cyrus reflects on Hannah Montana’s legacy and hints at special 20th anniversary plans for the beloved Disney Channel series.
Is Miley Cyrus gearing up for a Hannah Montana comeback? The pop icon is teasing something special as the hit Disney Channel show that launched her into superstardom approaches its 20th anniversary.
In a new interview on SiriusXM released July 22, Miley Cyrus opened up about the impact Hannah Montana had on her life and hinted that she’s planning something meaningful to mark the occasion. “I want to design something really, really special for it because it really was the beginning of all of this,” she shared. “Without Hannah, there wouldn’t really be this me.”
Miley Cyrus, now 32, shot to fame in 2006 as Miley Stewart, a teenager living a double life as the famous pop star Hannah Montana. The Emmy-nominated series, which also starred Emily Osment, Mitchel Musso, and her real-life father Billy Ray Cyrus, ran for four seasons and became a cultural phenomenon. It also catapulted Miley into real-life music stardom, spawning platinum albums and the massively successful Best of Both Worlds Tour, which earned more than $54 million.
Looking back, Miley Cyrus says it’s surreal to see the character she once struggled to separate from herself now be viewed with affection. “It’s crazy to think that I started as a character that I thought was going to be impossible to shed,” she said. “And now that’s something that… is looked at as this sense of nostalgia or something that you have from your childhood.”
While fans are already buzzing about the possibility of a Hannah Montana tour, the idea remains uncertain. Miley Cyrus has been open about her discomfort with large-scale touring in recent years. In a 2023 interview with British Vogue, she said, “Singing for hundreds of thousands of people isn’t really the thing that I love.” She described the experience as isolating and unnatural, admitting, “There’s no connection. There’s no safety.”
Still, her love for the character—and the fans—remains. In August 2024, Miley Cyrus was inducted into the Disney Legends hall of fame, making history as the youngest person ever to receive the honor. She dedicated the award to Hannah and the fans who’ve been with her since day one. “To quote the legend herself,” she said, “this is the life.”
Over the years, Miley Cyrus has been candid about the identity struggles she faced as a child star. In a 2021 interview, she revealed that playing Hannah made her feel valuable only when in character, sparking what she called an “identity crisis.” Despite the emotional complexities, she’s since embraced the character’s legacy. On the show’s 15th anniversary, she penned a heartfelt letter thanking Hannah—and the fans—for shaping her journey.
Whether or not a tour is in the cards, one thing is clear: Hannah Montana still holds a powerful place in Miley Cyrus’ heart—and she’s ready to celebrate her with the love and reverence that only 20 years can bring.
