story by editor-in-chief: Ashly Nicole

It’s been a few days since the premiere of the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special, or the Hannaversary if you will, and we are still coming down from The Climb. After only three days, the special surpassed 6.3 million views across Disney+ and Hulu. The special also spurred a nearly 1,000% increase in viewership for the original Hannah Montana catalog that same week. Sweet niblets, that’s a serious return on investment.

This past week, while we didn’t have the privilege of attending the premiere itself, we still got to take part in the Hannaversary magic. We stopped by the Stoney Clover Lane celebration, dressed up in some of our favorite Hannah-inspired fits, and yes, dug that old blonde wig out of our childhood closets. We also made our way to Hollywood to check out the festivities, the signage, and all the adorable fans, and even caught a glimpse of the carpet before it was torn down. Unfortunately, no photos of her were allowed, but we were there in spirit.

Photos by Ashly Nicole

Now! Let’s take mix it all together and dive into what is dubbed by Miley as a celebration and a gift to the fans and herself. First of all, how sweet is Miley for wanting to create something that everyone could feel and be a part of in some capacity? She expressed in her sit down Hannahversary interview that she not only wanted to do something for the 20th anniversary for her younger self, but also for every fan that’s been on this journey with her; Miley said that she wanted to try and create something that everyone could be a part of, whether they were there in person, at the premiere, having a watch party, or simply watching from their couch. She stated that a show or two would feel too exclusive to just the people lucky enough to snag a ticket, and she didn’t want that, she wanted everyone to be able to celebrate Hannah.

One of the more unexpected choices surrounding the special was having Alex Cooper step in as the host. While she’s no stranger to high-profile interviews, the decision definitely caught fans off guard, especially for something so rooted in Disney Channel nostalgia. At the premiere, Miley Cyrus even joked that Alex was “the only option” they had for hosting, which only fueled more conversation online. While Alex held her own, fans couldn’t help but imagine how full-circle it would have felt to see a familiar face from the original cast take on that role instead. Names like Jason Earles, Mitchel Musso, or
Emily Osment were top of mind, not just as hosts, but as potential surprise guests that would have added an extra layer of emotional payoff for longtime fans.

Even with all the speculations and “what if’s” the special still delivered some genuinely heartfelt moments, including a brief but meaningful appearance from Chappell Roan. Her interaction with Miley felt especially personal, with the two touching on the idea of navigating a double life and the pressure that comes with fame and navigating a space that not everyone in their personal lives can relate to.
It was subtle, but it hit, especially coming from two artists who have both had to define themselves beyond the personas they’ve brought on stage and into the spotlight.
Still, it’s hard not to think about who else could have been part of this moment. Sabrina Carpenter feels like such a natural fit for this conversation, not just because of her Disney Channel roots, but because her story is so closely tied to Miley’s. From winning the Are You a Superstar? contest, hosted by Miley on MileyWorld.com at just 10 years old, to eventually becoming a Disney star, and now a full-fledged pop artist, her trajectory mirrors that same evolution in a way that would have added even more depth to the special. Even a quick appearance between the two would have felt like a full-circle moment for a generation of artists shaped by Hannah Montana. Unfortunately, Sabrina was booked and busy, but the thought alone feels like something we would all love to see happen one day.

Photos courtesy of Disney / Billboard | Getty

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Hannah Montana moment without a little bit of iconic Disney Channel crossover history, and maybe discovering some plot holes now that we’re older, but Selena Gomez delivered exactly that. Her appearance felt like stepping straight back into the cattiness of the Hannah vs. Mikayla, a rivalry that was equal parts petty, iconic, and honestly ahead of its time in terms of those witty insults and comebacks between the two Hannah-verse popstars. The two reminisced on their on-screen dynamic with so much ease, it almost felt like no time had passed. What once played as a dramatic pop star feud now reads as something a lot more fun and self-aware, especially seeing them laugh about it as adults; Selena even joked, “I was so mean to you! I felt so bad, you were so nice! I’m sorry!”
It was one of those moments that reminded you just how interconnected that entire Disney era really was, and how much of it still lives rent-free in our brains. On Selena’s way out after her moment with Miley, the girls even brought up about how crazy it is that they’ve known each other for nearly 20 years.

Throughout the special, some things definitely hit close to home and brought in some family ties. Tish, Miley’s ride or die, always there, best friend, part time stylist, and forever cheerleader, her mom, was there through the entire process of this special. She sat through the 1-on-1 interview, adding commentary and confirmation of memories, and even took her first trip into Hannah’s closet! I cannot believe she never got to see Hannah’s closet when the series was filming, but Miley talked about how she made her parents remodel her own closet at home to function just like Hannah’s, and I don’t blame her, it’s truly the closet of every girl’s dreams…even now!
But some of the most emotional moments came with Miley’s reconnection with her dad, Billy Ray Cyrus. It added a layer of depth that went far beyond nostalgia. The two reflected on their relationship then versus now, and you could feel the weight of everything unsaid being acknowledged a bit. It wasn’t overly polished or performative, it felt real, which made it hit even harder. That emotion carried into one of the most nostalgic and reminiscent parts in the special, when Miley and Billy Ray read one of their last scenes together from the Hannah Montana finale. Hearing those words again, realizing they never lost it, but this time seeing it all through the lens of who she is now, was enough to get anyone a little choked up. You could see it all over her face, that mix of gratitude, vulnerability, and closure.

It was a full-circle moment in the truest sense, not just revisiting the past, but finally making peace with it.

Photos courtesy of Disney / Ser Baffo

That same sense of closure didn’t just live in the conversations, it carried straight into the music.

Miley opened with “Best of Both Worlds,” a choice that could have easily felt predictable, but instead felt earned. It was light, it felt comforting and familiar, like being transported right back to 2006. This performance was like easing everyone back into that world before things got deeper, and let me tell you, it definitely had us reaching for the tissues. Hearing her sing that song again brought us right back to hearing it 20 years ago on Disney Channel, and truly had the tears flowing; I didn’t expect to ever get emotional over hearing Best of Both Worlds, but in that moment, I was 11 years old again, sitting on my couch, and it really just healed something in me.
Throughout the special, Miley wove in “This Is the Life,” which felt like a nod to the fans who have been there since the beginning, and “The Climb,” which hit with a completely different weight this time around, like Miley reclaiming every part of her past. The concert segments didn’t feel like just another performance, they felt reflective, like she was standing in everything that each song has come to represent over the years for not only the fans, but for her.

Photos courtesy of Disney / Ser Baffo

And then, she brought it all back to that feeling of letting go. Miley recreated that iconic scene of Miley Stewart moving from that Malibu house we all grew up in with her, by leaving through the doors and blowing a kiss to the set. As she left, she shut off the lights to the recreated Hannah Montana set, and she closed the special with her new song, “Younger You.”
Behind her, clips from the original series and Hannah Montana: The Movie played, almost like memories unfolding in real time, leaving us all in yet another puddle of our nostalgic tears.

Photos courtesy of Disney / Ser Baffo

That feeling of looking back didn’t just come from the performances or reunions, but it also showed up in the quieter, behind-the-scenes moments. One of the most unexpectedly touching segments came when Gary Marsh, former head of Disney Channel casting, sat down with Miley and her mom, Tish, to revisit how it all began. He walked them through the decision to cast Miley as Hannah, admitting that at the time, it wasn’t the obvious choice. There were doubts, risks, and a lot of unknowns, especially with Miley having very little previous acting experience, but something about her stood out enough to take that chance anyway. Gary even brought a print out read the email, the one he sent to the casting team when he made the final call, the email that changed Miley’s life, and all of ours for the better, which read,

“We pride ourselves not just on creating great television, but on creating stars.I'm ready to pull the trigger on Miley.”

Hearing those words back, knowing what that one decision would eventually turn into, added a whole new layer to the story. It wasn’t just about landing a role, it was about the moment everything changed, before anyone even realized how big it would become. You could feel it in Miley’s reaction too. It wasn’t loud or overly emotional, but it landed. The kind of moment that quietly puts things into perspective, not just for her, but for anyone watching who grew up with it. It made everything that came after feel even more intentional, like this wasn’t just luck or timing. It was a leap of faith that ended up shaping an entire generation.

Although the special was truly that, special, some fans couldn’t help but feel it may have been rushed and was a bit lackluster, but in all honesty, we’re just grateful Miley & Disney came together to pull any of this off, and sort of help us heal our younger selves. For Miley, she let us all know that this was never about “closing a chapter” or …”killing off Hannah”, it was never that. This 20th Hannaversary was about reclaiming Hannah Montana; it was about realizing that Hannah was never something to leave behind, but something that will always live within her. Truly though, there was never anyone more perfect to be Hannah Montana than Miley Cyrus.

We’re just lucky we got to grow up with her. And now this is our love letter to YOU. Thank you Miley.