Miley Cyrus, 31, was honored as the youngest Disney Legend at the D23 event in Anaheim, California, on Sunday, August 11. The Hannah Montana star, who first captured hearts as Miley Stewart in the hit Disney Channel show, teared up as she accepted the award, reflecting on her journey from a teenage sensation to an entertainment powerhouse.
Standing before a cheering audience, Cyrus shared that she had prepared two speeches: "one long, [for] the badass I'm supposed to be, and one short, if I get scared." In a poignant moment, she reminisced about her early days with Disney, humorously noting that she "definitely wasn't created in a lab" as a typical "Disney kid."
Cyrus spoke about the beginnings of Hannah Montana in 2005, revealing that she wasn't initially cast in the iconic role. However, after experiencing what her life could be, she knew she wanted nothing else. "A little bit of everything has changed, ... but at the same time, nothing has changed at all," she said. "I stand here still proud to have been Hannah Montana."
She dedicated her award to the character of Hannah Montana and the loyal fans who have supported her throughout her career. "To quote the legend herself, 'This is the life,'" Cyrus added, referencing one of the show's famous lines.
Disney CEO Bob Iger praised Cyrus in a press release, stating, "To be named a Disney Legend is the highest honor our company can bestow on anyone... The fourteen individuals to be honored as Disney Legends this year have each made extraordinary creative contributions across the worlds of Disney."
Other honorees at the event included Angela Bassett, Harrison Ford, Jamie Lee Curtis, and John Williams.
Cyrus first brought Hannah Montana to life in 2006, leading the show through four successful seasons and starring in Hannah Montana: The Movie in 2009. She also headlined the Best of Both Worlds tour in 2011, solidifying her place as a pop culture icon.
Reflecting on her journey, Cyrus marked the 16th anniversary of Hannah Montana in 2021 by sharing a video of herself performing "Hoedown Throwdown," one of the show's biggest hits. On X (formerly known as Twitter), she wrote, "16 years ago my life changed forever when HM premiered... Because of your loyalty and support, I've had the honor to travel the world for over a decade and perform for fans that bring so much greatness into my life."
As for the future, Cyrus hasn't ruled out bringing Hannah Montana back. "I definitely would like to resurrect her at some point," she said in 2020. "She needs a big makeover because she's kinda stuck in 2008."
