Miley Cyrus Reveals How Hannah Montana Boosted Her Confidence
Miley Cyrus marked her Innovator Award victory at the iHeartRadio Music Awards with an emotional acceptance speech honoring her Hannah Montana beginnings.
The “Slide Away” artist, aged 33, stepped onto the stage at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Thursday, March 26, to receive the accolade.
During her speech, Cyrus reminisced about celebrating 20 years of Hannah Montana, describing the milestone as “a dream come true.”
“My double denim and gold scarf thank you, because they’ve been waiting over a decade to leave the house,” she quipped.
Cyrus expressed her gratitude to Hannah Montana for shaping her real-life experiences, noting that the character “inspired me so much in my own career.”
“I fell in love with the idea that you can create a persona that gives you the confidence and the courage to perform authentically, and that sometimes the fake you can actually reveal the real you,” she shared.
“For me, innovation hasn’t been about abandoning who I’ve been, but rather making the journey of self-discovery a lot of fun,” she said. “I’ve always created songs and told stories because I love it, and winning awards for that work is naturally rewarding, but it’s not my guiding principle; if it were, I might end up quite lost.”
She added: “When the success isn’t just recognition but creating art that touches the hearts of those I may never meet, it fills me with a kind of joy that is profoundly meaningful. Younger me is so honored to share this moment with you. I’m proud to stand here and express how much you mean to me.”
Since its inception in 2014, the iHeartRadio Innovator Award has been bestowed upon an artist who has made a significant impact on music and global culture. Previous awardees include Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams, Alicia Keys, Chance the Rapper, and U2.
Alongside the Innovator Award, Cyrus has two previous iHeartRadio Music Awards, having won Best Lyrics for “Wrecking Ball” in 2014 and Pop Song of the Year for “Flowers” in 2024.
This latest recognition comes just days after she celebrated the 20th anniversary of Hannah Montana’s premiere with a Disney+ special on Tuesday, March 24.
“I picked up this rather odd habit — but I think it was good advice from [godmother] Dolly [Parton],” Cyrus told Variety earlier this month about the special’s inception. “She advised me that if you want something to come to fruition, promote it before it exists. Then no one can say no. So, I just began promoting a Hannah Montana 20th-anniversary special that literally did not exist.”
She continued, “I think even Disney sometimes forgets the bond between me and Hannah. It’s not just a TV show. I see daily how significant Hannah is to people. When I travel, people bring me Hannah merchandise. They ask, ‘Are you ever going to do another season?’”
During a screening of the special, Cyrus delivered a speech reminiscing about her significant breakthrough as Hannah Montana.
“Everything in my life is incredible because Disney believed in me,” she remarked. “I had no business coming out to Los Angeles thinking I could carry a show or play the role of a pop star. I had little experience, just some theater work before. There were moments when I think they second-guessed their decision. Yet, I believe it all worked out well; whatever brought us here, in this room, to honor and celebrate not just the show itself but also what has emerged from it. The cast is here tonight, which is extraordinary. Without all of you, this show would never have been what it became.”
She concluded, “I might be the only one in this room who never attended a Hannah Montana concert [because] I was the Hannah Montana concert. But now I realize why it was so enjoyable to attend one of Hannah’s shows, to dress like her, to wear the wig and scarf. That’s what it felt like for me to celebrate Hannah Montana — now from the other side.”
