Miley Cyrus Drove ‘Hannah Montana’ 20th Anniversary Special After Initially Pitching a Project That Didn’t Exist

Hannah Montana will mark its 20th anniversary with a new special on Disney+, but the project was not the result of long-term planning by the network. According to Miley Cyrus, the idea originated with her, before there was any formal production in place.

In a recent interview, Cyrus said she began publicly promoting a 20th-anniversary special despite the fact that no such project had been approved or developed at the time.

“I just started talking about it like it already existed,” she said, describing a strategy she credits to Dolly Parton. Parton, who is also Cyrus’ godmother, had advised her to speak about ideas as if they were already in motion. The approach, Cyrus suggested, created momentum that made it more difficult for decision-makers to dismiss the concept.

Cyrus first began referencing a potential anniversary project in mid-2025 during an interview, where she said she wanted to create something meaningful to mark the milestone. At that point, however, there was no confirmed special, no production timeline, and no formal agreement with Disney.

The comments quickly generated speculation among fans, with discussions ranging from a possible cast reunion to a concert or new content tied to the original series. According to Cyrus, that reaction played a role in moving the idea forward.

She later presented the level of fan interest to Disney as evidence that the project had strong potential. Planning for the special reportedly began months later, with development accelerating toward the end of the year.

Cyrus’ involvement reflects a shift in how she has publicly engaged with Hannah Montana over time. In the years following the show’s conclusion, she often distanced herself from the character, at one point joking that “Hannah” had been left behind entirely.

More recently, she has taken a different approach, emphasizing the impact the series continues to have on audiences. She said the connection between her and the character remains significant, particularly for fans who grew up with the show.

“It’s not just a TV show,” she said. “I see how important it still is to people.”

As the project moved into production, Cyrus said she focused on making decisions that would reflect how fans experienced the show, rather than how she did while filming it. She consulted with Alex Cooper, who is involved in the special, to evaluate ideas and determine what would resonate with audiences.

According to Cyrus, some early concepts were set aside after those discussions. The goal, she said, was to avoid treating the anniversary as a parody or a self-aware retrospective.

“We didn’t want it to feel ironic,” she said. “This wasn’t meant to be a joke or something designed just to get attention.”

The special, scheduled to premiere on March 24, ultimately moved from an informal idea to a confirmed production within a matter of months. Cyrus framed the process as a response to sustained fan interest rather than a top-down initiative from Disney.

She emphasized that the project is intended as a reflection of the audience that supported the series over time. “My entire career is because of that loyalty,” she said.