The twentieth anniversary special of “Hannah Montana” was packed with nostalgia, featuring recreated sets, interviews and songs that defined a generation growing up in the 2000s.
The special opened with Miley Cyrus performing “The Best of Both Worlds” for a crowd of devoted fans. The song was transposed to a lower key to fit her more mature voice, a subtle but symbolic change. That small adjustment made the moment emotional and showed how much she has grown and entered a new phase of life.
Cyrus said that when she first considered a twentieth anniversary, or “Hannahversary,” she thought of her godmother, Dolly Parton. She advised her, “If you want something to happen, promote it before it exists. Then no one can say no,” according to USA Today. Cyrus began publicly mentioning the idea, building excitement among fans before the special was confirmed.
One of the most jaw-dropping moments came when Cyrus walked into a reconstructed version of the show’s original living room set. The attention to detail, from the lizard decorations to the famous leg table, was impressive. Because the first episode of “Hannah Montana” began in that space, seeing Cyrus return as an adult added emotional weight to the segment.
Another amazing part of the special was the recreation of Hannah Montana’s iconic closet, a dream for many young viewers. Cyrus walked through the closet with her mother, sharing stories behind memorable outfits while clips from the show played. This segment added a personal touch and felt especially meaningful for longtime fans.
Alex Cooper, host of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, interviewed Cyrus, offering insight into the behind-the-scenes experiences of filming the series. This portion helped deepen the audience’s understanding of the show’s impact and production. Cooper and Cyrus discussed what the audition process was like, and Cyrus mentioned that during the audition, she was more worried that she would get replaced on the cheer team than getting the role, which I thought was a funny anecdote.
One surprising element was the appearance of Chappell Roan. She said Cyrus “walked so I could run,” which made the segment feel somewhat unnecessary and out of place within the special. Roan did not add much to the special, and I would rather have had a super fan or a “regular” person be featured.
The special also featured Selena Gomez, who joined Cyrus to reminisce about their time on the show. While this was a nice addition, the absence of the main cast members such as Emily Osment, Jason Earles and Mitchel Musso was noticeable, given their larger roles in the series.
The special closed with Cyrus performing a new song and reflecting on this milestone: “It’s been an honor to celebrate 20 years with Hannah Montana, and I’ve looked back at every memory with a heart full of love,” Cyrus said. “Hannah, she gave me my start, but my fans gave me this life.”
