While it feels like yesterday for many millennials and Gen Zers, it has officially been 20 years since the world was first introduced to Miley Cyrus as Hannah Montana on the hit Disney Channel series of the same name.
To commemorate the milestone anniversary, Cyrus, 33, is grabbing her sparkly microphone once again for the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special, which airs on Disney+ on Tuesday, March 24.
“I used to think of Hannah as something separate from myself,” the multihyphenate told Variety in an interview published on Wednesday, March 18. “This special is my reclaiming of merging Hannah and Miley together.”
In celebration of 20 years of the fictional pop icon — and the show that launched Cyrus’ epic career — we broke down some fun facts in the latest issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now. Keep scrolling to read 25 things you don’t know about Hannah Montana:
1. At 11 years old, Cyrus originally auditioned for the role of Lilly Truscott on Hannah Montana.
2. Producers encouraged Cyrus to try out for the main role of Chloe Stewart (later renamed Miley Stewart), only to reject her because she was too young. Not taking no for an answer, she kept coming back until she secured the part a year later.
3. During one of her auditions, Cyrus rocked a T-shirt that read, “I should have my own TV show.”
4. Art imitating life: After Cyrus was cast, producers changed her character’s first name to match her own, incorporated her Tennessean roots and even cast her real-life father, Billy Ray Cyrus, as her dad on the show.
Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus in ‘Hannah Montana’ Joel Warren / © Disney / Courtesy Everett Collection
5. Other young stars in consideration for the lead role included JoJo, Taylor Momsen and Aly Michalka.
6. Miley was born Destiny Hope Cyrus. Her parents, Billy Ray and Tish Cyrus, nicknamed her “Smiley,” which was eventually shortened to “Miley.” In 2008, the star legally changed her name to Miley Ray Cyrus.
7. Before Hannah Montana, Miley made her acting debut on her dad’s TV series Doc.
8. The first episode of Hannah Montana aired on March 24, 2006, to the highest ratings in the channel’s history with 5.4 million viewers.
9. Hannah Montana aired 98 episodes over four seasons from 2006 to 2011.
10. Jason Earles, who portrayed Miley’s 16-year-old brother Jackson Stewart, was nearly 29 years old when the show began.
Jason Earles in ‘Hannah Montana’ Scott Garfield / © Disney Channel / Courtesy Everett Collection
11. The title of each episode was inspired by a real-life song. (For example, “Don’t Go Breakin’ My Tooth” came from “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.”)
12. The exterior of the Stewart family home is the same as that of Reese Witherspoon’s character in Big Little Lies. “There might be a plot twist here that you actually had a roommate — that you lived with Hannah Montana,” Miley told Witherspoon during an interview once.
13. Mitchel Musso, who played Oliver Oken, kept his hair long for most of the series to hide the fact that his ears were pierced.
Emily Osment, Miley Cyrus and Mitchel Musso in ‘Hannah Montana’ Dean Hendler / © Disney Channel / Courtesy Everett Collection
14. Musso’s brother Mason met Miley’s brother Trace on the set of Hannah Montana, and the pair formed a band called Metro Station.
15. Hannah Montana’s name was originally Alexis Texas — until Disney realized that was the name of an adult film star.
16. In 2016, Miley claimed she was the “least paid person” on the Hannah Montana cast because “I didn’t know any better.”
17. The entire series ends with Miley telling Lilly, “I love you so much,” and Lilly responding, “I know.” Emily Osment, who played Lilly, revealed in 2017: “I ad-libbed that so I could have the last line of the whole series.”
18. Miley requested her real-life godmother, Dolly Parton, be written into the show as “Aunt Dolly.”
Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton in ‘Hannah Montana’ Disney Channel / Courtesy Everett Collection
19. Miley’s sisters, Noah and Brandi Cyrus, made several appearances as extras on the show.
20. Many other famous faces appeared on Hannah Montana over the years, including Larry David, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Jesse McCartney, Lisa Rinna, Ray Liotta and Jay Leno.
21. Brooke Shields starred as Miley Stewart’s deceased mom during flashback sequences.
22. Miley hit the road as both herself and Hannah Montana in the Best of Both Worlds Tour, which was meant to differentiate the real actress and performer from her onstage character.
23. The 2007 double album Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus featured the soundtrack for the second season of the show and Miley’s debut studio album as herself.
24. Hannah Montana: The Movie, released in theaters in 2009, was shot just miles away from Cyrus’ childhood home in Tennessee.
25. Taylor Swift sang “Crazier” in the movie in her first-ever acting role. (She also penned the final song “You’ll Always Find Your Way Back Home.”
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