'Going back to where it all began': Miley Cyrus to grace 'Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special'
The Hannah Montana fandom can look forward to a nostalgic treat this March.
In a joint Instagram post with Disney+, Grammy-winning pop star Miley Cyrus, who played lead Miley Stewart in all four seasons of the Disney series that aired from 2006 to 2011, announced the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special, set to stream on Disney+ on March 24.
"Going back to where it all began," the caption read.
According to Disney+, the pop star will appear live to take part in an in-depth conversation with host Alex Cooper about one of pop culture's most iconic characters.
In the series, Cyrus portrayed a fictional pop star who hid behind her stage name Hannah Montana. Cyrus' real-life father, country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, played her dad.
Cooper's interview with Cyrus, 33, will delve into the show and her character's lasting impact on fans around the world. She will be revisiting some of the show's most memorable moments and talk, in particular, about the music and her own memories of filming the series.
Along with Cyrus' appearance, the audience will be shown never-before-seen footage of the beloved series. Select Hannah Montana sets will also be reconstructed, including the fictional pop star's closet and the Stewart family living room.
The entire anniversary special will be aired in front of a live studio audience.
With the global success of Emmy-nominated Hannah Montana, at least two other feature films followed: Hannah Montana: The Movie and Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: The Best of Both Worlds Concert. Both projects starred Cyrus. The series also produced 14 platinum and 18 gold albums worldwide.
"Hannah Montana will always be a part of who I am. What started as a TV show became a shared experience that shaped my life and the lives of so many fans, and I'll always be thankful for that connection," Miley Cyrus said. "The fact that it still means so much to people all these years later is something I'm very proud of. This 'Hannahversary' is my way of celebrating and thanking the fans who've stood by me for 20 years."
Ayo Davis, president of Disney Branded Television, echoed Cyrus' appreciation for the series: "Hannah Montana opened the door for so many fans to dream big, sing loud, and embrace every side of themselves, which is why its legacy continues to shine across generations. Partnering with Miley on this special is a dream, and we want it to be a love letter to the fans, who remain as passionate today as they were when the series debuted almost 20 years ago.
Aside from appearing as a talent, Cyrus is also one of the anniversary special's executive producers, along with her mother Tish Cyrus-Purcell, Alex Cooper, and Matt Kaplan.
Ahead of the show, fans can whet their appetite with the Hannah Montana Collection on Disney+. Starting Feb. 19, the channel will have a dedicated non-stop stream of all four seasons of Hannah Montana, as well as its two feature films.
According to Disney+, the Hannah Montana catalog has racked up over half a billion hours of streaming globally to date.
