Miley Cyrus manifested “Hannah Montana” 20th anniversary special with advice from Dolly Parton: 'No one can say no'
Miley Cyrus manifested “Hannah Montana” 20th anniversary special with advice from Dolly Parton: 'No one can say no'
Shania RussellWed, March 18, 2026 at 11:00 PM UTC
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Miley Cyrus at the 2024 Grammy Awards; Dolly PartonCredit: Neilson Barnard/Getty; Miller Mobley/NBC via Getty
Hannah Montana fans have Dolly Parton to thank for the nostalgia-fueled anniversary special arriving next week.
For nearly a year now, Miley Cyrus has been teasing something massive on the horizon to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Disney Channel sitcom that launched her career. But back when she first started dropping hints about the special, there weren't actually any formal plans to celebrate the so-called Hannah-versary.
"I learned this terrible habit — but I actually think it was good advice — from Dolly," Cyrus recently told Variety, referencing her relationship with the entrepreneur and country legend who happens to be her godmother. "She told me that if you want something to happen, promote it before it exists. Then no one can say no."
Cyrus admitted, "So I just started promoting a Hannah Montana 20th anniversary special that literally did not exist."
Miley Cyrus and Dolly PartonCredit: Katherine Bomboy/NBC via Getty
The fans took care of the rest.
After teasing the possibilities, Cyrus said she let the hype build before reaching out to Disney to show off the fan reactions, insisting, "I’m telling you, this would be huge."
Her story was corroborated by Charlie Andrews, Disney's EVP of live action, Disney Branded Television.
"She willed it into existence," Andrews told the outlet.
Though Cyrus started teasing the project in June, telling SiriusXM’s TikTok Radio that she wanted to design "something really, really special" to mark the occasion, no actual planning for the anniversary began until six months later. Andrews said it became a "mad dash" for Disney to realize Cyrus' vision.
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"The thing she was adamant about is that this is for the fans," he added. "That has gone into literally every decision she has made."
Though the final product doesn't arrive on screens until March 24, snippets and details about the special certainly reflect that fan-forward approach. Hannah Montana superfan and Call Her Daddy podcaster Alex Cooper will interview Cyrus for the special, which will also see Cyrus perform several of Hannah's classic hits, tour some set recreations modeled on the original show, and reunite with fellow Disney Channel alum Selena Gomez.
Cyrus said that while the company behind the hit sitcom may underestimate the show's enduring fanbase, she is constantly reminded of the love that people still have for Hannah Montana.
Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton on 'Hannah Montana'Credit: DISNEY CHANNEL/BYRON COHEN
"I think even Disney sometimes forgets the connection between me and Hannah. It's not just a TV show," she pointed out. "I see daily how important Hannah is to people. When I travel, people bring me Hannah merch. They ask, ‘Are you ever going to do another season?’”
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Debuting in 2006, the series follows teenager Miley Stewart who lives a double life as the titular pop singer. Just by donning a blonde wig, she's able to hide her identity and live a normal life as Miley while juggling her pop star career as Hannah. The children's sitcom launched Cyrus' career, catapulting her to stardom while also showing off her vocal chops with the show's chart-topping hits.
Cyrus officially announced the special earlier this month, sharing a video snippet of what's to come, including her newly dyed blonde hair, a hip-bump with her on- and off-screen dad Billy Ray Cyrus, and an emotional stroll down memory lane.
The Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary special premieres March 24 on Disney+.
on Entertainment Weekly
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