Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special: Did It Live Up to the Hype?
The “Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special” premiered on Disney+ this week, fulfilling a long-held desire of Miley Cyrus but prompting questions about whether the special fully met the expectations of devoted fans.
In an interview featured within the special, Cyrus revealed that one of the most valuable pieces of professional advice she received from her godmother, Dolly Parton, was to “start promoting something publicly before you have confirmation, so they can’t say no.” Cyrus applied this strategy to the anniversary project, publicly discussing a potential celebration months before formal conversations with Disney began. The resulting fan enthusiasm, she explained, made it impossible for the studio to decline the project.
Was the Special a Fitting Tribute?
Disney+ billed the special as a “love letter to the fans,” promising nostalgia and heartfelt reflection. The special largely delivers on that promise, structured around a concert performance and a behind-the-scenes look at Cyrus’s personal archive and recreations of iconic sets from the original series.
The concert portion of the special features three songs: “Best of Both Worlds” (the show’s theme song), “This Is The Life,” and “The Climb,” a song Cyrus co-wrote for the 2009 “Hannah Montana: The Movie.” The performance is described as a mature and self-aware showcase of the pop star who first gained prominence on Disney Channel. The setlist, still, omits the fan-favorite “You’ll Always Find Your Way Back Home.” A highlight of the concert is the debut of “Younger You,” an original song written by Cyrus specifically for the anniversary special, reflecting on her past as she views images from the show.
The behind-the-scenes segment features an interview with Alex Cooper, a podcaster and self-described superfan of “Hannah Montana,” who guides Cyrus through a revisiting of memorable moments and previously untold stories. The interview is interspersed with archival footage and appearances from surprise guests, including Selena Gomez, who played Mikayla Skeech, a rival to Hannah Montana, and Gary Marsh, the former president of Disney Channel, who recognized Cyrus’s star potential at age 12. Chappell Roan, likewise a fan of the series, makes an unexpected appearance.
Cyrus is joined by her parents, Tish and Billy Ray Cyrus, who played significant roles both on and off screen during the show’s original run.
Notable Absences
Despite the celebratory nature of the special, several key cast members were notably absent. Emily Osment (Lilly Truscott), Mitchell Musso (Oliver Oken), and Jason Earl (Jackson Stewart) were not invited to participate in the special, a decision that disappointed many fans who had hoped for a full cast reunion. This omission prevented the actors from sharing collective memories and reflecting on their experiences together. While Cyrus and the dual identity of Hannah Montana were central to the show’s success, the supporting cast and their contributions were also integral to the series’ appeal.
Cyrus has previously spoken about the complex relationship she has had with the “Hannah Montana” legacy, acknowledging the pressure it created and, more recently, embracing and appreciating the character that launched her career. Her decision to forgo the iconic blonde wig, opting instead for a hairstyle mirroring her own, visually represents a merging of Miley and Hannah, a moment described as particularly moving for fans.
However, the series was more than just Miley, and failing to celebrate the contributions of the entire ensemble cast is a significant oversight.