Becoming part of Disney Channel’s programming in 2006, ‘Hannah Montana’ followed the double life of Miley Stuart, a teenager who by day was just an ordinary high school student, but who hid a big secret: at night she became the Hannah Montana, a true superstar.
The production, which was filmed in Malibu, California, in the United States, became one of the channel’s most successful, so much so that in a short time of airing, the series promoted live concert tours, a clothing line for girls and the production of ‘Hannah Montana: The Movie’ in 2009.
In addition, the series was largely responsible for leveraging the career of Miley Cyrus, the actress and singer who gave life to the main character of the plot. That’s because, before the TV show, Cyrus had only performed small roles until, at the age of 14, she was chosen to give life to Miley Stewart, the beloved Hannah Montana, after an audition in which she was considered too young to star in the show.
Although the series has marked an entire generation that grew up watching the challenges that the character faced daily to keep her second secret identity, after four seasons, the series came to an end on January 16, 2011. But, in addition to the fans, the production also left a mark on Miley Cyrus.
In 2021, the show celebrated its 15th anniversary, and in celebration of the date, Cyrus wrote an open letter to her character. The text was written in his own hand, to detail the importance of the character in Miley’s life and to thank Emily Osment, Mitchel Musso and Jason Earlesthe interpreters of Lilly, Oliver and Jackson.
In addition, the owner of the hit ‘Flowers’, mentions the loss of her grandfather, who died a month before the premiere of the series. Read the letter translated in full!
“Hi Hannah,
It’s been a while. 15 years to be exact. From the moment I brushed those blonde bangs across my forehead in the best attempt to hide my identity. At the time, I had her tucked inside a pink robe with a dazzling HM in a heart. I didn’t know that’s where you would live forever. Not just in my heart, but in those of millions of people around the world. Although you are considered an “alter ego”, in reality, there was a moment in my life where you kept more of my identity in your gloves than in my own hands.
We had a similar exchange where you offered me a superlative amount of fame in exchange for the anonymity I could give you. But much has changed since then. You were like a rocket that took me to the moon and never brought me back. I couldn’t have imagined that when I recorded myself singing “I Love Rock n’ Roll” in front of a white wall in my mom’s friend’s kitchen in Nashville, the name typed in marquee-style fonts on a first draft of the script would turn my wildest dreams into reality.
You and I have been through everything together, my friend. We share many firsts. Many last. Tall. Casualties. Tears and laughter. I lost my pappy, my father’s father, while shooting an early Season 1 scene. He wanted to hold on long enough to watch the premiere on March 24th. He left on the 28th of February. He even watched the commercial that aired during High School Musical, when he said it was one of the proudest moments of his life, and he was a tough Democratic legislator. My heart was broken but fulfilled to know that I could carry his name through my father in all credits.
I experienced falling in love for the first time in those years. Embarrassingly, I started my period in a pair of white pants, of course, the day a “cute guy” joined the cast and asked me out to lunch, instead I spent lunch in the bathroom with my mother crying and struggling. to find a new pair of jeans. I gained so many friends during the 6 years I spent on sets. Emily Osment, Mitchel Russo and Jason Earles became my family. I was seeing them more than my real self.
Well, except for my dad, who I went to work with every day until the moment my mom let me buy a Prius. Which was when I was only 15 years old and had a license, so my co-pilot was my grandmother “Mamamie”, who ran my MileyWorld fan club right from the dressing room kitchen that I shared with my dad until our last day in 2011. A day that I’ll never forget.
It was bittersweet knowing that I would be leaving you (a BIG part of me) behind at Studios 9, which is where I say I grew up when asked. It was my home. The final episode was aptly named “Whenever I Go” after a final song penned by the teen pop sensation herself. You. I? Hannah Montana. The first verse was “Everything is about to change. A chapter ends but the stories have just begun. The page is turning for everyone” and ends with a choir singing “we may be apart but I hope you’ll always be with me wherever I go”. Hannah, I hope you will listen to me and believe these words are true. You have all my love and utmost gratitude.
Bringing you to life in those six years was an honor. I am indebted not just to you, Hannah, but to everyone who believed in me from the beginning. You all have my loyalty and deepest admiration to the end. With all sincerity, I say THANK YOU!
To the entire Disney crew, all the castmates, special guests, crew, agents, and especially my mom, who drove me to every lesson and audition even when I had to leave town or move across the country with my brothers so selfless. There isn’t a single day that goes by that I don’t remember where I came from. A building in Burbank, California with a room full of people with the power to fulfill my destiny. And that’s what they did. They gave me you. The greatest gift a girl could hope for.
I love you Hannah Montana.
Forever, Miley.”
Source: Recreio
