For a generation of Disney Channel viewers, she was the voice behind every sleepover soundtrack, the face on every pencil case, and the reason millions believed they really could have the best of both worlds. Now, Miley Cyrus is inching back toward the character that started it all.
At a time when Disney is doubling down on nostalgia-driven content, the star behind Hannah Montana has confirmed she’s preparing something special for the show’s upcoming 20th anniversary. Just don’t call it a reboot — at least, not yet.
Cyrus’ long-running relationship with Disney has never been simple. Launched in 2006, Hannah Montana quickly became one of the most recognizable shows in Disney Channel history, turning then-13-year-old Miley into a household name.
The series followed Miley Stewart – an average California teen living a double life as a global pop sensation, with Cyrus’ real-life father Billy Ray Cyrus portraying her onscreen dad – and became a cultural juggernaut, catapulting its star to dizzying levels of fame both onscreen and off.
By the time the show ended in 2011, Cyrus had grown into a multiplatinum artist, but also a lightning rod for controversy. From pole dancing at the Teen Choice Awards to a leaked video showing her allegedly smoking salvia, her attempts to shake the squeaky-clean Hannah image drew widespread media attention — and concern from many parents.
Yet the character never truly left her. Last year, Cyrus was inducted as the youngest-ever Disney Legend at D23, where she openly paid tribute to her former alter ego. “I stand here still proud to have been Hannah Montana because she made Miley in so many ways,” she said. “This award is dedicated to Hannah and all of her amazing, loyal fans, and to everyone who has made my dream a reality. To quote the legend herself, ‘This is the life.’”
Miley Cyrus Confirms Hannah Montana Plans
During a recent appearance on Sirius XM, Cyrus opened up about her shifting relationship with Hannah — and revealed that something new is in the works.
“It’s crazy to think that I started as a character that I thought was going to be impossible to shed, but now that’s something that when I walk into a space, it’s looked at as this sense of kind of, like, nostalgia or something that you have from your childhood,” Cyrus said. “I’ve now been integrated into everyone’s life as the character itself.”
🚨| Miley Cyrus confirms a Hannah Montana project for 20th anniversary!!
🚨| Miley Cyrus confirms a Hannah Montana project for 20th anniversary!! pic.twitter.com/FmkyM1EwVk
— Miley Cyrus Updates (@MileyCyrusBz) July 22, 2025
With 2026 marking two decades since Hannah Montana first premiered, Cyrus confirmed that she’s preparing something meaningful. “I want to design something really, really special for it,” she said, “because it really was the beginning of all of this.”
What that “something” is remains unclear — but fans are already speculating. Some are hoping for a concert or re-recordings of classic Hannah tracks like “Rockstar” or “Just Like You,” now that Cyrus can legally perform them again following her Disney Legend status. Others have floated the idea of a retrospective documentary or a limited-edition merchandise drop.
Not Quite a Reunion
As for a full cast reunion or series reboot, that seems far less likely. Other stars of the original show have distanced themselves from the idea, including Emily Osment, who portrayed Miley’s best friend on the show, Lily.
Still, the idea of Cyrus once again embracing the character — if only in spirit — has struck a chord with fans who grew up with the show. The pop icon once joked on SNL that “She was murdered” when referring to her Disney alter ego. Today, that sentiment seems to have softened.
What comes next may not be a comeback in the traditional sense, but it’s clear that Hannah Montana is no longer just a chapter Miley Cyrus is trying to leave behind.
And for those who once sang along to every word, that may be the best news Disney has delivered in years.
Would you like to see Miley Cyrus as Hannah Montana again?
I not sure if it will be worth waiting for. I watched Hannah Montana with my daughter and it was good show. Now I don’t care for Miley Cyrus now. We’ll see