The Hannah Montana anniversary special that Miley Cyrus willed into existence is here. And if you are even remotely a Disney kid, you will have all of the emotions about it. Can’t believe I cried over Miley’s closet.
Back in 2006, the Hannah Montana series began that had Miley Stewart (Cyrus) living a double life. Her father (Billy Ray Cyrus) helped her live a normal life by day and the life of a pop star at night but the show was a cultural touchstone for many fans. We all wanted to live the “best of both worlds.” Hannah Montana gave us plenty of songs that we still sing at karaoke. I just didn’t expect to sob over Miley Cyrus singing “The Climb” in 2026.
The special was a walk through memory lane. Cyrus sat down with her mother, Tish Cyrus, her father, and some fun guest stars to talk about the series. Hosted by super fan Alex Cooper, the entire special was a love letter to the series and to fans.
For the most part, Cyrus just wanted to celebrate the show that helped her understand who she is as a performer. She shared inside stories and even told Cooper that throughout her life, she learned how much of her was “Miley” and how much of her was “Hannah.” But it really was the final song that will leave you longing for the days when you too would scream sing “7 Things” by Miley Cyrus.
“Younger You” is a tearjerker
The end of the special included a song Cyrus wrote called “Younger You.” It came on so suddenly that I found myself sobbing and not knowing why. But with lyrics like “‘Cause somewhere along the way, we lost touch. We used to be so happy just because. I know you had to go eventually but don’t forget about me,” it isn’t surprising how much it hit. Especially when I’d just watched a special all about a show that was, for many, a childhood staple.
The song did remind us all though to still love the younger versions of ourselves, a message Cyrus echoed in the special. When we’re young, we can be hard on how people see us. And then it forces us to pivot and change to be more “acceptable.” But that isn’t necessarily a good thing and remembering the joy of being young and carefree is, often, more important than adjusting for the world at large.
So if you’re looking for something to cry over, the Hannah Montana 20th anniversary special is the kind of good cry we all need.
(featured image: Disney+)
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