Strictly Business Daily Variety -- Cover Story: Happy at Last, Miley Cyrus Reclaims the Legacy of ‘Hannah Montana’
Mar 19, 2026
Ethan Schanfeld, an entertainment reporter for Variety, shares his cover story on Miley Cyrus reclaiming her Hannah Montana legacy. He recounts reporting the profile, the Y2K nostalgia at the Disney Plus taping, Miley’s sobriety and steadiness, and conversations about touring, therapy, stage fright recovery, and Super Bowl Halftime speculation.
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Reporter’s Personal Fan Memory Shaped The Profile
- Ethan Schanfeld felt a personal connection interviewing Miley because he grew up a Hannah Montana fan and even met her as a child.
- He used that perspective to frame the story about growing up and how Cyrus has brought her fans along with her evolution.
Nostalgia-Fueled Audience In Full Y2K Costume
- At a Hannah Montana special taping fans in their mid-20s to mid-30s showed up in Y2K outfits, wigs and sequins creating a strong nostalgic scene.
- Stephen Horowitz described it as 'it looks like a limited two just exploded,' capturing the vibe.
Embracing Hannah As Intentional Patchwork
- Miley embraces her past rather than erasing it, describing her career as a patchwork blanket that includes Hannah Montana.
- She rejects the narrative she tried to 'kill off' Hannah, saying the character always meant a lot to her and remains part of her identity.