Fans of Hannah Montana, who were excited about the 20th anniversary special, are questioning why key original cast members were missing while newer faces like Alex Cooper and Chappell Roan took centre stage alongside Miley Cyrus.
Within hours of its 24 March premiere on Disney+, social media was asking: where were Lilly, Oliver, Jackson, and Rico?
A Nostalgia-Driven Special With a Different Focus
The one-hour special, filmed with a live audience at the El Capitan Theatre, leaned heavily into Cyrus' personal journey rather than a full cast reunion.
Structured around an extended interview led by Cooper, the show featured recreated sets, archival footage, and live performances of Hannah Montana songs — some of which Cyrus had not performed in over a decade. She also teased new music and revisited defining moments from her transition out of the Disney era.
The format itself set expectations apart from what many fans had hoped for. Instead of a reunion-style special, it played more like a reflective sit-down centred on Cyrus, with select guests entering that narrative.
Who Showed Up And Who Didn't
Cyrus was joined by a mix of familiar and unexpected faces.
Selena Gomez made a surprise appearance, revisiting her role as Mikayla, while Billy Ray Cyrus returned for a father-daughter moment on the recreated living room set. Tish Cyrus also appeared in a more personal segment.
However, Roan's cameo stood out as one of the more emotional moments, as she met Cyrus inside the show's iconic closet set and credited her for shaping a path for younger artists.
For many viewers, the absence of the original core cast overshadowed those appearances. Emily Osment, Mitchel Musso, Jason Earles, and Moisés Arias, who played central roles in the series, were not part of the special itself.
According to reports, some did attend the premiere, but their absence from the broadcast became the defining talking point.
Most fans described the special as incomplete without the characters who defined the show's core dynamic. Many questioned why time was given to Cooper and Roan — both positioned more as fans than original contributors — instead of bringing back the actors who helped build the series.
Alex Cooper's Role Draws Mixed Reactions
Cooper's presence as host also became a focal point as many questioned her interviewing style.
Best known for her podcast Call Her Daddy, she led the interview that anchored the special. While her connection to Cyrus dates back several years, some viewers felt her role pulled focus away from the show's original cast.
So we couldn't have actual original Hannah Montana cast member interviews in the special because we had to make time for Alex Cooper and Chappell Roan who had nothing to do with the original series other than being fans of the show? Ok 🙄
— Tess (@tessmhanson) March 25, 2026
A moment that quickly went viral showed Cyrus jokingly calling Cooper a 'kinda creepy' superfan and neighbour, referencing how they had gone from interview subject and host to living in the same area.
Chappell's Appearance Comes With Complicated Timing
Roan's cameo, intended as a full-circle tribute, arrived under unexpected scrutiny.
Days before the premiere, she had addressed a viral incident linked to her time at Lollapalooza Brazil, where Flamengo midfielder Jorginho accused a member of her security team of confronting his stepdaughter. Roan clarified that the individual was not part of her personal team and said she had no direct involvement, while also offering an apology.
That context followed her into the special.
However, despite the backlash, parts of the special were widely praised. Cyrus' performances, the recreated sets, and the archival footage resonated strongly with longtime viewers.
