'Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special' to include set tour, original music, and more as release nears
Miley Cyrus is ready to revisit her famous alter ego in the 'Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special,' which is set to drop at 3 a.m. ET on March 24 on Disney+. 'Hannah Montana,' which followed the teenager Miley Stewart as she led a secret life as the titular pop singer, aired from 2006 to 2011 on the Disney Channel and became a generation-defining series. Now, its lead star, Miley Cyrus, is bringing back the magic for the next generation of teens in the hour-long streaming special. The 'Flowers' singer will channel Hannah Montana with her blonde bangs and take a trip down memory lane to mark 20 years of the show's premiere.
The anniversary special was filmed in front of a live audience of 215 lucky millennials at the Sunset Gower Studios in Hollywood. Cyrus will be interviewed by 'Call Her Daddy' podcast host Alex Cooper, who managed to get Selena Gomez, fellow Disney kid and guest star on the series, to pay a visit during filming. "I love Selena, but I didn’t know how much our friendship meant to the fans," Cyrus later told Variety about Selena's appearance. The special opens with Cyrus driving from Malibu to the soundstage, an idea that was suggested by Cooper, a self-described 'Hannah Montana' superfan. The 'Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special' will be high on nostalgia and feature several nods to the series, such as the hair flips, the Disney Channel wand commercials, and the 'Ooh-whoa-ooh-whoa-ooh-ooh-whoa' transition music.
Cyrus told Variety in her cover story that she wanted to pay homage to the iconic Disney character. "I didn’t want to do this modern approach to Hannah. I wanted to keep it preserved." Disney has re-created the sets of the Stewart house, and Cyrus will give fans a tour of the living room, kitchen, and her futuristic bedroom closet. She will also reflect on her time filming the hit series with both her parents. Her mom, Tish, will share fan letters, scrapbooks, and outfits that she personally saved. Her father, Billy Ray Cyrus, who played her dad Robby Ray Stewart on the series, is also set to wow fans with stories from their audition process.
There's no word on which 'Hannah Montana' cast members will appear in the anniversary special, but Emily Osment and Jason Earles have shared their excitement for the 'Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special' on social media. Also, some of the show's most famous alums, such as the Jonas Brothers, John Cena, and Dolly Parton, are speculated to appear, but no official announcement has been made so far. As seen in the trailer, Cyrus will don a sparkling black dress to perform hit numbers like 'This Is the Life,' 'The Climb,' and 'The Best of Both Worlds,' increasing anticipation for the release. She is also set to debut her new, original song in the special. So put on your wigs and get out your sparkly accessories to enjoy the best of both worlds.
