- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Miley Cyrus Celebrates 20 Years of 'Hannah Montana' with Special
The Disney+ special features the pop star reflecting on her breakout role and surviving child stardom.
Mar. 30, 2026 at 6:04pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The 'Hannah Montana' 20th-anniversary special celebrates Miley Cyrus' enduring pop star power and the glitz of her Disney Channel stardom.Today in NashvilleMiley Cyrus, who starred as the titular character on the hit Disney Channel series 'Hannah Montana' from 2006 to 2011, is celebrating the show's 20th anniversary with a special on Disney+. The special features Cyrus performing classic songs from the show and reflecting on her experience as a child star, including the challenges she faced in the public eye as her fame grew. Despite the scrutiny, Cyrus has emerged as one of the most reliable and intriguing performers today, having evolved beyond the Hannah Montana persona.
Why it matters
Cyrus' journey from Disney Channel star to established pop icon serves as a rare success story among child actors, many of whom struggle to transition into adulthood in the public eye. The 'Hannah Montana' special provides insight into Cyrus' personal growth and artistic development, offering a model for how young performers can navigate the challenges of fame.
The details
On 'Hannah Montana,' which ran from 2006 to 2011, Cyrus played a school-aged girl living a double life as both Miley Stewart, a normal teen, and the title popstar. The show was a defining moment of the Disney Channel era, with Cyrus becoming a global sensation. However, Cyrus faced intense media scrutiny, including a controversial Vanity Fair photoshoot and a leaked video of her smoking salvia, that threatened to derail her career. Despite these challenges, Cyrus has emerged as one of our most reliable and intriguing performers, seamlessly integrating her past as Hannah Montana into her current public persona.
- Miley Cyrus starred on 'Hannah Montana' from 2006 to 2011.
- The 'Hannah Montana' 20th-anniversary special premiered on Disney+ on March 30, 2026.
The players
Miley Cyrus
The pop star who rose to fame as the lead actress on the Disney Channel series 'Hannah Montana' from 2006 to 2011.
Billy Ray Cyrus
Miley Cyrus' father, who played her on-screen dad on 'Hannah Montana'.
Chappell Roan
A pop star who is five years younger than Cyrus and appears in the special to acknowledge the criticism Cyrus faced as a child star.
What they’re saying
“The world took it out on you, and you absorbed a lot of that criticism so that younger stars might not have to.”
— Chappell Roan, Pop star
What’s next
Miley Cyrus is expected to continue promoting the 'Hannah Montana' 20th-anniversary special and reflecting on her journey from child star to established pop icon.
The takeaway
Miley Cyrus' ability to navigate the challenges of child stardom and emerge as one of our most reliable and intriguing performers serves as an inspiring model for young artists seeking to build lasting careers in the entertainment industry.
