Crafting a Fan-Focused Celebration

The monumental task of honoring the show’s legacy fell to showrunner Ashley Edens, who previously collaborated with Disney and Alex Cooper on a special installment of “Call Her Daddy” featuring Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas. However, Edens emphasizes that the creative direction was firmly guided by Cyrus. “It was so important that the special be for the fans—I think that was the lens in which we looked at everything we decided to put in,” Edens explained. “The fans would have loved more and more and more, but for the hour special, it was important that we give them everything that we could that felt authentic to Miley.”

That authenticity translated into a format centered around an intimate interview with Cooper, interwoven with a live performance before a crowd of enthusiastic fans, and bolstered by surprise appearances from family and fellow stars. Selena Gomez and Chappell Roan’s cameos, in particular, generated significant buzz. Edens described the production as “lightning in a bottle,” marveling at how quickly everything came together – the interview filmed on day one, the performance on day three.

Edens reflected on the unique energy surrounding the project. “I’ve done a lot of shows and specials, and this is one of those bucket list moments where… you can’t explain it or put your finger on it, but the energy and the support and the excitement and the passion from everybody was unlike anything I’ve been on in a long time. That comes from Miley, quite honestly, and Tish.” She lauded Tish Cyrus-Purcell’s multifaceted role as mother, manager, and producer, stating, “No one knows better than Tish.”

The Cameo Puzzle: Selena, Chappell, and a Near Miss

Securing Selena Gomez’s participation was a priority, stemming from the genuine friendship between the two stars. “Selena and Miley are friends. They talked at the Grammys earlier, and if their schedules worked out, we just thought, ‘who else?’ No one else has walked in their shoes and they are genuinely friends,” Edens revealed. “It’s just a cool moment for two powerful, successful women that grew up in this world to support one another.”

Chappell Roan’s inclusion represented a connection to a new generation of fans. “Chappell is a massive Miley fan, and she represented a younger artist, someone in Gen Z who grew up on Miley and Hannah and really related to the story. She saw herself in that role, and so that was a special moment,” Edens shared. “I don’t think they’d ever met, so it was really sweet.”

However, not all desired cameos materialized. Sabrina Carpenter was initially slated to appear but ultimately became unavailable. “She really wanted to be a part, because, much like Chappell, she grew up on Miley and Hannah, and had a relationship there. She was just not available,” Edens explained.

Focusing on Miley’s Journey

A frequent question surrounding the special concerned the absence of original cast members. Edens clarified that the decision was driven by a desire to center the narrative on Miley Cyrus’ personal experience. “We toyed around with what was the most heart-led for Miley. If maybe we had a two-hour special, there would have been room, but I really think this is about Miley and her experience, and I hope that comes across in the special.”

She emphasized that this wasn’t a reflection of any strained relationships. “It wasn’t that she didn’t want anyone else there—I think her love for all those classmates comes through—but in the hour special, we really just leaned into Miley and her experience and it being through her lens.”

Did You Know?: The “Hannah Montana” 20th Anniversary Special was filmed in just three days, a testament to the efficient collaboration between Miley Cyrus, Ashley Edens, and the Disney+ team.

A Family Affair and a Powerful Scene

The inclusion of Miley’s father, Billy Ray Cyrus, was particularly poignant, given their complex relationship, which Miley addresses within the special. The decision to recreate a scene from the series finale proved deeply emotional. “When I watched that scene back, still, it’s so emotional. No other family’s gone through this, and it was very unique to the Cyrus—it was their real life,” Edens said. “Miley was so excited to have her dad there. It was genuine. It encapsulated not only what a TV character, a celebrity, goes through, but that’s a very honest and real representation for a parent and child as well.”

Recreating Iconic Moments

Fans were thrilled by Miley’s recreation of her viral goodbye moment from the show. Edens detailed the meticulous effort involved. “Miley was just so down to do it, and she wanted to be in that outfit. We knew we wanted it to come after the performance, and that’s the thing about Miley—she leaned all the way in. She wanted to perfect it. We did it a couple of times, left, right—she’s taller now, so we had to have her scoot down a bit, then she would watch it again and just make sure it was perfect.”

She added, “She knew she was giving the fans what they love. [Originally] that was in the ‘Younger You’ video in the screen projection we had that moment. She was like, ‘No, no, no… let me do it for real and then not give it away there.’”

The Jukebox and the Enduring Legacy

Some fans speculated about the significance of the jukebox remaining illuminated as the set faded to darkness. Edens offered a playful response. “I don’t think that was a choice. I think that wasn’t on the same house power as everything else. I would love for it to have a deeper meaning.” When prompted about the theory that it symbolized the enduring power of the show’s music, she conceded, “We love that—let’s go with that: The music lives on.”

“Younger You” and a Full-Circle Moment

Miley’s new song, “Younger You,” became a powerful centerpiece of the special. “Miley said that she had a song she thought was very fitting to end the special, and we got to hear it and I was blown away. The lyrics are incredible,” Edens shared. “We started talking about how could we really include how Miley Stewart grew up, and what would Miley Stewart be doing today? So when you see her in the field as an adult, that was all part of continuing if Miley Stewart had grown up today.”

Edens continued, “It just was such a powerful way to end the special, and that lesson of not forgetting who we were as kids and Miley loving and really embracing her life. My nieces are in their 20s, and they called me just bawling crying. I think that song just touches all of us—not forgetting where we came from and who we are—and Miley singing, she’s just so powerful and commanding. The imagery of watching Miley Cyrus grow up, I thought that was a perfect ending to the special.”

What do you think is the most enduring legacy of “Hannah Montana”? And how does this special contribute to that legacy?

Untold Footage and Future Possibilities

Alex Cooper revealed that there was enough footage for a special spanning two to three hours. Edens acknowledged the possibility of releasing the full interview. “That is something that ‘Call Her Daddy’ and Disney will need to sort out. But yes, [the interview] was an incredible two and a half hours, and it was a big task to whittle down, because Alex did a brilliant job with Miley and there was so much there. It was not an easy task to make it into just an hour special, but the best thing you can do is leave fans wanting more, versus ‘that was a little bit too long.’”

Frequently Asked Questions About the ‘Hannah Montana’ Anniversary Special