Miley Cyrus’ experience as a child star played out a lot differently than some of her peers’… And it’s all thanks to her dad.
In a retrospective interview with Variety about all things Hannah Montana out on Wednesday, Miley got candid about the privilege she now recognizes in her experience with child fame. While chatting with the outlet, she reflected on the many ways she was protected as a young star in the industry — starting within the home:
“My parents didn’t need me to be famous to survive or to be stable. What happens to a lot of these kids is their parents want it more than they do, or the kids become responsible for the entire income of the family.”
By the time Miley landed Hannah Montana in 2006, Billy Ray Cyrus already had more than a decade of experience with fame after his massive debut in 1992 with Achy Breaky Heart. Miley went on:
“That was never my job. Every penny I ever made went into my bank account because my parents were good.”
And for that, she is extremely lucky.
Related: Demi Lovato Talks Growing Up On Disney Channel With Selena Gomez & Miley
In addition to being free of the burden of being the breadwinner, Miley said her dad’s constant presence on set protected her from some of the disturbing things other child stars have endured:
“My dad was on set every single day, so there was nothing that could happen that he wouldn’t know about. There was never a time where I was going to be alone in that dressing room.”
The now-33-year-old revealed Billy Ray’s dressing room was connected to hers, and between them was a kitchen her grandmother Loretta “Mammie” Finley managed. So basically, there were ALWAYS protective eyes on her!
For those who watched the Disney Channel show, you’ll know Billy Ray was cast to play Miley’s dad on screen, allowing for incredible father-daughter chemistry — which was undeniable from their very first audition:
“My dad always says, ‘When you knock ’em out, you don’t need a judge.’ We knocked ’em out. It was so obvious, after all the other dads, that you can’t fake the kind of connection that we have. The inside jokes, the nicknames, the handshakes, singing the songs together. It was a TKO.”
It’s wonderful to hear Miley talking about her father in such a positive way after all the family drama they’ve endured since his divorce from Tish Cyrus in 2022.
2026 marks the 20 year-anniversary of when Hannah Montana launched. On March 24, you can catch Miley and Billy Ray reuniting in the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special, which will air on Disney+. Miley told the outlet:
“I used to think of Hannah as something separate from myself. This special is my reclaiming of merging Hannah and Miley together.”
Will YOU be tuning in??
