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| Miley Cyrus at the World Premiere Of Disney+'s Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special (Image: Getty Images) |
It's been 20 years since Hannah Montana debuted on Disney Channel.
The show - about a teenager living a double-life as a pop singer - was a smash hit and made an international celebrity of its star, Miley Cyrus.
She has donned her well-known blonde wig once more for an anniversary special that was recorded in front of a studio audience and features some of the show's most memorable moments. BBC Newsbeat's taken a look back at the surprising history of Hannah Montana, and spoken to a super-fan who was invited to watch the anniversary special in person.
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| Hannah Montana ran for four seasons a total of 98 original episodes. (Image: Getty Images) |
When the first of Hannah Montana's four seasons aired, Miley Cyrus was just 13 years old. She played Miley Stewart, a normal high-school student who secretly performed as Hannah Montana, and episodes focused on her navigating her daily life while keeping her secret from her classmates.
Billy Ray Cyrus, a country music star and Miley's real-life father, played her father and manager Robbie Ray on the show. It was a monster hit for Disney, which produced merchandise, albums and live shows based on the series.
Miley Cyrus' public image became more provocative during the show's five years on screen, raising concerns at the time due to the contrast with Hannah's clean vibe. In the past, Billy Ray Cyrus stated that he regretted making the show and that it placed a significant strain on the family. He does, however, make an appearance in the anniversary special, despite the fact that he was absent from Monday's premiere in Los Angeles. Miley, now 33, received a Disney Legend award in 2024, and won a Grammy Award for her single Flowers.
With 198 million streams, the breakup song was 2023's most popular song.
In addition to Billy Ray Cyrus, other Hannah Montana stars were unable to attend the premiere of the new special. Emily Osment, who played Miley's best friend Lily Truscott, posted an Instagram video explaining that she was busy filming her sitcom Georgie and Mandy's First Marriage.
She wrote, "I can't tell you what your sweet messages mean to me and how lucky I feel to have been a part of this once in a generation Goliath of a television show." She was referring to the show's Goliath. Miley Cyrus is interviewed, special guests appear, and a musical performance is part of the anniversary special, which is hosted by Alex Cooper of the Call Her Daddy podcast.
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| Kelly recreating iconic Hannah Montana picture. (Image: Kelly Russell) |
Kelly Russell, a self-described superfan from Cornwall in the United Kingdom, tells BBC Newsbeat that she has adored Hannah Montana "since the first episode aired." She says, "I've just kind of grown up with Miley" and has supported her music ever since. The 27-year-old claims that Hannah's double life is now meaningful to her. She states, "We all have nine-to-five jobs or we might be full-time parents." "Then there is the other side of our lives, where we have our passions and hobbies and are so carefree. "Having those messages that still live on today is just so important to me to be able to live with those messages of dreaming big and just never giving up on your dreams." Kelly was one of a number of superfans who were invited to LA to watch the anniversary special being filmed, which she describes as a "surreal experience." She describes the experience as one off her bucket list when she saw the Hannah Montana logo behind the set. "Seeing that with my own eyes was just an experience I never anticipated," she says.
She also claims that meeting the Best of Both Worlds singer was just as enjoyable as she had anticipated. "She was so wonderful and she understood that people grew up with this show," she says.
"As a result of this show, they are now raising their own children; it is such a franchise that spans generations. "It was the perfect way to celebrate such an incredible and timeless show."
Source: BBC
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