Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special: Miley Gets Real About The True Cost Of Being A Teen Popstar

One of my core memories from childhood has to be growing up with my favourite shows on television. The show that stands out the most has to be ‘Hannah Montana’. From the iconic songs that made us dance to the high-fashion outfits that Hannah served, this show had everyone in a chokehold. Coming back home to watch this show and singing 90% of the title track with wrong lyrics and 100% confidence, ‘Hannah Montana’ set the tone for teen shows everywhere. What started in the early 2000s is now being celebrated by fans worldwide with  ‘The Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special’.  While many people focus on the glitter and the chart-topping hits, this special took a different turn. Get ready to get the ultimate dose of nostalgia with this raw look at the life of Miley Cyrus. Let’s dive in to find out about Miley’s experience of being the teen popstar, Hannah Montana, here!

How Miley Became Hannah Montana: The One-in-a-Billion Childhood

From being a 11 year old girl in Nashville, Tennessee, to becoming a Disney legend, Miley’s journey has been a crazy one. After booking this role, Miley’s family packed up their bags and came to live in Los Angeles to support her. The most striking takeaway from this special was Miley’s reflection on the ‘true cost’ of her stardom. After 20 years of the show, many would think that Miley would talk about the harsh truths of being a teen pop star, but she didn't frame it as a tragedy. Instead, she described her experience as a wholesome, whirlwind adventure that no other teenager on the planet could truly understand.

While her peers were navigating high school cliques and prom drama, Miley was living a double life that mirrored her onscreen persona. She even spoke fondly of the "lightning in a bottle" energy on set, and how the success of the show wasn’t a drive for her, it was the fans. She spoke about sharing the screen with her father, Billy Ray Cyrus, and her experience of performing for millions before she was even old enough to drive. It was a childhood built on creativity that provided her a sense of purpose most people don't find until decades later.

ALSO READ- Hannah Montana At 20: Miley Cyrus Returns, Release Date And Leaked Photos From Set

The Fame Of Hannah Montana: The Weight of the Wig

During the special, Miley shared how the line between her real self and her character became a beautiful blur. "I was the only person in the world who knew what it felt like to be her," Miley shared during the sit-down interview with Alex Cooper. She continued saying, "Everyone else had a piece of Hannah, but I was the only one who had to live as both." 

 

 

 

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Many would think that being a teen popstar would be a lonely experience, but it was an exclusive one for Miley. She described the wholesomeness of being a role model, the pure joy of seeing a sea of fans in an arena, while acknowledging that she was sacrificing a normal childhood to provide that joy. The cost of being the iconic popstar was her anonymity, but the payment was getting the legendary status that has allowed her to evolve into the fearless artist she is today. 

ALSO READ- Hannah Montana To Drake & Josh: 5 Early 2000s Sitcoms That You Can Watch On OTT

Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special: A Celebration Of Growth And Gratitude

The ‘Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special’ kick-started with a dynamic performance from Hannah Montana herself. The blonde hair, Y2K fashion and the same popstar energy we became obsessed with 20 years ago, all back on stage. She opened the documentary by performing the show’s title track, ‘Best of Both Worlds’. 

After leaving fans nostalgic and awestruck with her performance, Miley got off stage and took a trip down memory lane by visiting the set. As soon as Miley entered the set, she called it ‘home sweet home’ and continued walking around the Stewart house. Next, we got to see her interview with Alex Cooper, and the two discussed Miley’s early Disney days. Fans also got to see Hannah’s closet again and got to know how Miley's mother, Tish Cyrus, was the visionary behind the pop star’s iconic fashion that had everyone obsessed. 

 

 

 

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Fans also got to see cameos from Billy Ray Cyrus, Selena Gomez and Noah Cyrus, making this special all the more iconic. 

As Selena Gomez rightly described Hannah Montana as the one who created culture, Miley Cyrus is the true Disney legend who will always be a part of millions of childhoods. Seeing her evolve into a great artist and growing up watching her has been a wonderful experience. We hope to see more of Miley Cyrus soon, and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to separate Hannah from Miley. 

Image Credit: Instagram, IMDb

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