Miley Cyrus Marks 20 Years of *Hannah Montana*
Miley Cyrus is celebrating the 20th anniversary of *Hannah Montana*, the Disney Channel sitcom that catapulted her to stardom. However, a special on Disney+ released today was missing several key characters, which fans noticed immediately.
The show originally aired from 2006 to 2010, spanning four seasons, a movie, and even a concert tour. It followed Miley Stewart (Cyrus), a teenager juggling her life as a regular student by day and a renowned pop star by night. With the support of her father, Robbie Ray Stewart (Billy Ray Cyrus), brother Jackson Stewart (Jason Earles), and best friends Lily Truscott (Emily Osment) and Oliver Oaken (Mitchell Musso), Miley managed to keep “Hannah’s Secret” hidden for years, even as her escapades threatened to reveal her double life.
To mark this milestone, Miley returned to iconic locations from the series, like the famous closet and the Malibu beach house. While the special was filled with nostalgia, it felt incomplete with the absence of beloved cast members like Osment, Musso, and Earles. Keep reading for details about who was—or wasn’t—included in the *Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special*.
Reasons for the Absences of Emily Osment and Mitchell Musso
Notably, Emily Osment and Mitchell Musso were absent from the *Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special*, despite their significant roles throughout the series. Osment’s representative explained that, due to work commitments, she couldn’t join the celebration but expressed her gratitude to her fans for their unwavering support. She is currently busy filming a spin-off of *Young Sheldon* called *Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage*.
As for Musso, inquiries regarding his absence went unanswered before publication, but he did take to Instagram to share his appreciation for *Hannah Montana* and its fans.
Even though they were not present, Miley reminisced about her first meeting with Musso, recalling how she thought he was “cute.” She also remembered their early hangouts, like a memorable Panda Express outing involving Diet Coke poured over white rice—classic Miley!
Jason Earles’ Participation
Interestingly, Jason Earles, who played Miley’s quirky brother Jackson, was also absent from the special. Efforts to reach out to his representatives didn’t yield any comments by the time of publication.
However, Earles did attend a premiere screening with Miley and other original cast members. He’s currently busy reflecting on his past experiences with *Hannah Montana* through his new podcast, *The Best of Both Worlds*.
Who Was Included in the Special?
You might be wondering who made appearances in the *Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special*. While the special didn’t reunite Miley with Lily and Oliver, it did feature significant figures from her life, both on and off-screen: her father Billy Ray Cyrus, who played her dad in the series, and her mother, Tish Cyrus, who was heavily involved in the show’s behind-the-scenes happenings, particularly regarding fashion.
Selena Gomez made a special appearance, reminiscing about her short but memorable role in *Hannah Montana*. Also included was Chapel Lawn, who discussed the impact Miley has had on future stars. For a sweet touch, Miley’s sister, Noah Cyrus, surprised her with a *Hannah Montana* cake during the credits.
How to Stream the Special
The *Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special* is currently available for streaming on Disney+.
Disney+ offers various subscription options. The ad-supported plan is priced at $10.99 monthly, while the ad-free version costs $18.99 per month or $189.99 annually. There’s also a bundle including Hulu, Max, and ESPN+, with monthly options starting at $12.99 for ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu, going up to $32.99 monthly for ad-free packages.
