Miley Cyrus Cries After Lainey Wilson’s “Hannah Montana” Tribute
on Aug 12, 2024
On Sunday (August 11), Miley Cyrus was honored as the youngest Disney Legend in history.
Disney Legends is a Hall of Fame-style award that is given to honorees by the Walt Disney Company who have “left an indelible mark on the company’s historic legacy.”
The 2024 honorees included Colleen Atwood, Angela Bassett, Martha Blanding, James L. Brooks, James Cameron, Jamie Lee Curtis, Miley Cyrus, Steve Ditko, Harrison Ford, Mark Henn, Frank Oz, Kelly Ripa, Joe Rohde, and John Williams.
Since 2009, the Disney Legends ceremony has occurred every other year at D23: The Ultimate Fan Event. The first-ever Disney Legend was honored in 1987.
Why was Miley Cyrus given a Disney Legend award?
Cyrus got her start on the Disney Channel show Hannah Montana, which ran from 2006-2011. She played a girl named Miley Stewart who lives a double life as famous pop star Hannah Montana. Miley chooses to adopt an alter ego to live an everyday life but also do what she loves: perform.
The show catapulted Cyrus to superstardom, and she simultaneously released music as herself and for the show. Hannah Montana remains one of Disney Channel’s most successful franchises.
Each Disney Legend was honored with video messages and an on-stage presentation, then they were able to come on stage to say a speech.
The tribute video for Cyrus included messages from John Travolta, Bret Michaels, and singer Chapell Roan. Her on-stage presentation was given by country star Lainey Wilson, who has a deeper connection to Cyrus than we all know. The “Heart Like A Truck” singer began her career as a Hannah Montana impersonator when she was just 16 years old.
@laineywilson Told y’all.. every now and then, they’d let me open for #hannahmontana! 😂 #music #fyp #foryou #foryoupage ♬ original sound – Lainey Wilson
RELATED: Lainey Wilson, Once A Hannah Montana Impersonator, Hopes To Collab With Miley Cyrus
In the video below, you will see part of that video tribute, as well as Wilson’s. The “Country’s Cool Again” singer performed “Best of Both Worlds,” which is the famous Hannah Montana theme song.
Following Wilson’s incredible performance, Cyrus joined her on stage to say a few words.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Cyrus said graciously as she began her speech.
“Miss Martha, I am not as strong as you. I am definitely going to cry,” she said, pointing to fellow Disney Legend Martha Blanding, whose speech mentioned that she would not be shedding tears.
Through tears, Cyrus gave a poignant speech about how she booked the role, how her life changed, how she still gets scared but pushes through anyway, and how she has always been proud of being Hannah Montana.
Believe it or not, Lainey was just as emotional and described the “full circle moment” she experienced paying tribute to and meeting Miley Cyrus.
In an Instagram post, Wilson shared several photos and videos of her performance, as well as a side-by-side photo of the Hannah Montana scene that inspired her outfit for the performance.
“I got the best of both worlds that’s for sure,” she wrote. “From performing as Hannah Montana on flat bed trailers at birthday parties to honoring the legend herself…now that right there is what ya call a full circle moment. @mileycyrus you’re such an inspiration. Thank you for letting me honor you. Still pinching myself about last night.”
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Watch Wilson perform of “Best of Both Worlds,” followed by Cyrus’s speech, below! You can also watch the full ceremony on Disney+ starting at 2pm on Monday (August 12).
