Every kid who grew up in the 2000s spent a significant amount of time daydreaming about the Hannah Montana closet. That motorized, rotating rack of sequins and boots was the ultimate peak of Disney Channel luxury, and it’s the perfect image to keep in mind while watching the 20th anniversary special, or as Miley Cyrus says, the “Hannahversary.” But as we sit in our dorm rooms watching this two decades later, the special feels like opening a different kind of closet, one filled with a lot more grit, maturity, and perspective than we ever expected. It’s incredibly rare to get to experience the original neon-soaked chaos as a child and then get this version, which grew up alongside us.
The special manages to be a total trip for the fans, especially when it leans into the iconic moments that still have a grip on us. Seeing Miley jump back into the “Hoedown Throwdown” all these years later was a reminder of how deeply those dance moves were burned into our collective muscle memory. Seeing Miley’s mom, Tish, on screen was a huge highlight, since she was never part of the fictional Stewart household; it was a great addition. It felt like a peek into Miley’s real life behind the curtain.
The guest appearances really drove home how massive this show’s legacy still is. Seeing Selena Gomez show up for the Hannahversary was a “full circle” moment, even though she was in three episodes of the show. However, what really drove home was seeing Miley’s reaction to Chappell Roan and the quote from Roan herself, “Miley Cyrus walked so I could run.” It framed the show not just as a childhood memory, but as a stepping stone for many of the pop stars we’re obsessed with today. When Miley finally performs “The Climb” with a mature, raspy voice that sounds nothing like the teenager from 2009, it’s a little overwhelming. Hearing that song now, as we’re actually navigating the “uphill battles” the lyrics talk about, makes it feel like it was written for current-day us and not 2000s us.
What really made the special stand out, though, were the tiny, aesthetic details that brought the original era back to life. Seeing the legendary Hannah scarf while Alex was talking to Miley felt like a fever dream, and the outfit she wore for the “Best of Both Worlds” performance was absolutely stunning and so 2000’s vibe. Even seeing the original audition tapes shows us a glimpse of Miley’s life before the brand and the wigs, and reminds us that she was once just a kid from Nashville with a big heart and a big dream.
The special worked because it’s a celebration of the fans just as much as the show. Miley said it during the special: “Hannah, she gave me my start, but my fans gave me this life.” The special didn’t try to bring the show back or pretend that everything about it was perfect. It honored how we all grew up together, and it gave us the closure we didn’t know we needed. It was such a good tribute, and it shows us how, especially now, we really did get the “best of both worlds.”
–May 15, 2026–
