Hannah Montana

*Hannah Montana* is a Disney Channel series that premiered on March 24, 2006, and ended on January 16, 2011. Miley Cyrus stars as Miley Stewart, a teenager living in Malibu who secretly performs as the pop star Hannah Montana. A blonde wig helps her keep the two identities apart. At school, Miley can be an ordinary student; onstage, she is famous. Much of the show’s comedy comes from the difficulty of keeping those worlds separate.

Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley Cyrus’s real-life father, plays Miley’s father and manager, Robby Ray Stewart. Jason Earles plays her older brother, Jackson. Emily Osment plays Miley’s best friend Lilly Truscott, who learns her secret and sometimes joins her in disguise as “Lola Luftnagle.” Mitchel Musso plays their friend Oliver Oken, while Moisés Arias plays Rico Suave, whose family owns the beach concession where Jackson works. The Stewarts’ move from Tennessee to California remains part of the family’s story and later becomes central to the film adaptation.

The series built stories around both the practical and emotional costs of Miley’s secret. She tries to protect her friendships and family life while managing concerts, publicity, and the possibility that someone will recognize her. Robby Ray, a former country singer, often advises her about those choices. Guest performers and recurring characters extend that world: Dolly Parton appears as Miley’s Aunt Dolly, and Cody Linley plays Jake Ryan, an actor Miley dates.

Music was integral to the show rather than an occasional addition. Cyrus recorded songs as Hannah Montana, including the theme song, “The Best of Both Worlds.” The first *Hannah Montana* soundtrack reached number one on the *Billboard* 200. The 2007 release *Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus* paired a Hannah Montana soundtrack with songs credited to Cyrus under her own name, mirroring the series’ two identities.

The franchise also reached cinemas. *Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert*, released in 2008, captured a concert tour. In *Hannah Montana: The Movie* (2009), Robby Ray takes Miley back to Tennessee as she struggles with fame. Its songs include “The Climb” and “Hoedown Throwdown.”

The fourth and final television season was titled *Hannah Montana Forever*. In the episode “I’ll Always Remember You,” Miley publicly reveals that she is Hannah Montana, bringing the premise that had driven the series since its pilot to a close. The finale, “Wherever I Go,” then focuses on Miley and Lilly’s friendship as they face different opportunities after high school.