Miley Cyrus' godmother Dolly Parton inspired the revival of the Hannah Montana franchise through a piece of advice that became central to the project. Cyrus, who is reviving her pop star alter ego in a Disney+ special, credited Parton with teaching her the strategy of promoting something before it exists. The country music icon, 80, has been a close friend to Cyrus' parents, Billy Ray Cyrus and Tish Cyrus-Purcell, and appeared on three episodes of the 2006-2011 series. Cyrus shared this insight during an interview with Variety, stating, "She told me that if you want something to happen, promote it before it exists. Then no one can say no." This philosophy guided her efforts to bring the Hannah Montana 20th anniversary special to life. Months before the March 24 premiere, Cyrus began teasing the project, sending fan reactions to Disney executives and emphasizing its importance to her career. Disney executive Charlie Andrews noted that Cyrus "willed" the special into existence, stressing that her focus remained on honoring the fans. The Hannah Montana series, which centered on the dual life of Miley Stewart, launched Cyrus' music career and spawned multiple platinum-selling soundtracks, including the Best of Both Worlds Tour, which grossed over $54 million. The show also served as a platform for her pop music growth, with her debut album Meet Miley Cyrus released alongside the Hannah Montana 2 soundtrack in 2007. The anniversary special, set to premiere on Disney+, will be hosted by podcaster Alex Cooper and feature musical performances from Cyrus, along with appearances from her parents. Cyrus reflected on the show's significance, calling it "the beginning of all of this" and acknowledging that without Hannah Montana, her current career wouldn't exist.#disney_plus #miley_cyrus #alex_cooper #dolly_parton #hannah_monstaa
