While it seems like yesterday for a lot of millennials and Gen Zers, it has officially been 20 years because the world was first introduced to Miley Cyrus as Hannah Montana on the hit Disney Channel series of the identical name.
To commemorate the milestone anniversary, Cyrus, 33, is grabbing her sparkly microphone once more for the Hannah Montana twentieth Anniversary Special, which airs on Disney+ on Tuesday, March 24.
“I used to consider 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 profession — we broke down some fun facts within the latest issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now. Keep scrolling to read 25 belongings you don’t find out 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 check out for the primary role of Chloe Stewart (later renamed Miley Stewart), only to reject her because she was too young. Not taking no for a solution, she kept coming back until she secured the part a 12 months later.
3. During certainly one of her auditions, Cyrus rocked a T-shirt that read, “I must have my very own TV show.”
4. Art imitating life: After Cyrus was forged, producers modified her character’s first name to match her own, incorporated her Tennessean roots and even forged 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 modified her name to Miley Ray Cyrus.
7. Before Hannah Montana, Miley made her acting debut on her dad’s TV series Doc.
8. The primary episode of Hannah Montana aired on March 24, 2006, to the very best rankings within the channel’s history with 5.4 million viewers.
9. Hannah Montana aired 98 episodes over 4 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 every episode was inspired by a real-life song. (For instance, “Don’t Go Breakin’ My Tooth” got here from “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.”)
12. The outside of the Stewart family home is identical as that of Reese Witherspoon’s character in Big Little Lies. “There is perhaps a plot twist here that you simply actually had a roommate — that you simply lived with Hannah Montana,” Miley told Witherspoon during an interview once.
13. Mitchel Musso, who played Oliver Oken, kept his hair long for a lot of the series to cover the incontrovertible 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 forged because “I didn’t know any higher.”
17. Your entire series ends with Miley telling Lilly, “I like you a lot,” and Lilly responding, “I do know.” Emily Osment, who played Lilly, revealed in 2017: “I ad-libbed that so I could have the last line of the entire 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 through 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 each herself and Hannah Montana within the Better of Each Worlds Tour, which was meant to distinguish the true 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” within the movie in her first-ever acting role. (She also penned the ultimate song “You’ll All the time Find Your Way Back Home.”