The popular Disney Channel series “Hannah Montana” premiered on March 24, 2006. For the 20-year anniversary of the show’s premiere, Disney and Miley Cyrus worked together once again and produced a behind-the-scenes special for the occasion. 

If you are unfamiliar with the iconic Disney Channel show, it follows Miley Stewert’s teenage years living a secret double life as a pop star. She navigates the ups and downs of adolescence while dealing with the hardships of being famous.

The anniversary special opened with Cyrus, the star of the original cast, driving to the set in an old Mustang with “Rockstar” playing in the background. Once she arrived at the studio, she performed the original show’s theme song. The performance of “Best of Both Worlds” reminded viewers of how much the show meant to them, transporting them back in time to when they were watching the show in their youth.

Cyrus revisited a replica set where she discussed different moments from the show and the time spent growing up on it. She opened-up about the iconic fashion of her characters, how she got the part of Hannah and the relationships she formed with the cast and other Disney stars. 

Once she entered the set kitchen and opened the fridge, a couple of references from the show were highlighted. In the fridge was a bottle of ketchup labeled “moisturizer,” which was a call back to the pilot episode when Miley and her friend Lilly (Emily Osmet) were in their school’s cafeteria. Also in the refrigerator were sweet niblets, referring to a catchphrase Miley often said in the show. Another food that brought back memories for Cyrus was a pie that replicated the one shoved in her face during the pilot episode. 

The format of the special felt a little disappointing. The host, Alex Cooper, asked Cyrus questions that did not feel deep or detailed. However, I still found surprising information surrounding Cyrus’s time on the show. For example, she talked about dating another Disney star, Dylan Sprouse, which was news to me. 

I also felt that more guests could have been incorporated into the anniversary from the show’s original cast. The moment Cyrus shared with Selena Gomez was incredibly sweet. They acted as rivals in the show’s plot but had a touching moment as friends, reminiscing on the crazy outfits and rudeness their characters displayed. In one episode, Gomez had to wear blue alien ears while Hannah locked her outside. 

After Gomez visited, Chappell Roan came in. This guest felt out of place and the connection she had to Hannah Montana felt forced just because she grew up as a fan. 

In the middle of the special, Cyrus performed two songs. She performed “This is the Life” because it was the very first song she sang as Hannah. She also performed “The Climb” because of the message to her fans within the lyrics to persevere through hard times. “The Climb” was originally sang in the “Hannah Montana: The Movie.”

Later, she sang a fourth song called “Younger You” to close out the special. The new song acted as a reflection on her younger self and how the show shaped her. The performance was emotional and captivating as a montage of moments from the original show played on a screen in the background.  

Although the show and I are now the same age, I still grew up watching it. As a fan, it was nice to see Cyrus on the set one last time. Hannah Montana was a huge part of my childhood. My sister and I would sing the songs to one another, and we had Hannah Montana merchandise like dolls, clothes, guitars and more. Several lines serve as inside jokes between our family too.

A part of me will always hold the show close because of how much it taught me about friendship and confidence. I am glad Cyrus can look back on the show fondly because of the impact Hannah Montana has had on both her and her fans. 

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