It is really a climb for the youngest-ever star to receive Disney Legend status, Miley Cyrus.
Miley Cyrus has become the youngest-ever star to receive Disney Legend status. The singer, who rose to fame playing Hannah Montana in the Disney Channel series that first aired in 2006 when she was 13, expressed pride in her climb to this honor
At 31, Cyrus received the Disney Legend award at the D23 Expo on August 11, where she was met with a standing ovation from a crowd of 12,000. In an emotional speech, she recalled her start on the Disney series in 2005 and expressed that Hannah Montana will live in her heart forever.
Cyrus shared, “I stand here still proud to have been Hannah Montana,” dedicating the award to the character and her loyal fans. She also offered a heartfelt insight into being a Disney Legend, stating, “Legends get scared, too… It’s legendary to be afraid and do it anyway. There is no such thing as failure when you try.”
Thank you. Such an honor to be inducted as a Disney Legend. This award is dedicated to Hannah Montana and all of her fans. You’ve shown me legendary love & loyalty. Forever grateful. pic.twitter.com/q7vvL4Iz8V
— Miley Cyrus (@MileyCyrus) August 12, 2024
The Honda Centre in Anaheim, California, was the backdrop for this historic moment, where Cyrus reflected on the changes and constants in her life since her breakout role, “A little bit of everything has changed,” she noted, “but at the same time nothing has changed at all.”
The Rise of Hannah Montana’s Legacy
Miley Cyrus reflected on her journey to becoming a Disney Legend, recalling her early auditions for the Disney Channel show Hannah Montana. She noted, “In 2005, Disney was on a mission to rebuild the company. That’s why they hired Bob Iger, and me,” she said, acknowledging the Walt Disney Company CEO.
Although she initially didn’t get the role, being told she was “too small and too young,” she was called back a year later to film a new pilot after the first casting did not work out. “I had gotten a taste of what my life could be, and from that moment on, I did not want anything else,” she remembered.
Overcome with emotion, she reminisced about her first performance as Hannah, explaining how footage was needed of her playing sold-out concerts despite her being unknown at the time. Tickets were given away at a shopping center, where she held her first free concert. “In reality, I was a little girl in a blonde wig at the mall with a big dream. But in my heart, I was Hannah Montana and I was so proud to be,” she said.
She dedicated her award to Hannah and her loyal fans, stating, “This award is dedicated to Hannah and all of her amazing, loyal fans, and to everyone who has made my dream a reality. To quote the legend herself, ‘This Is The Life.’”
At the D23 Expo, the spotlight shone not only on Miley Cyrus but also on a stellar group of individuals honored as Disney Legends. Among the 14 artists celebrated were Harrison Ford, renowned for his roles in Star Wars and Indiana Jones, and Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis. This year’s prestigious list also included Angela Bassett, James L. Brooks, James Cameron, and a range of influential figures such as composer John Williams, theme park designer Joe Rohde, and animator Mark Henn.
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