Miley Cyrus becomes youngest-ever Disney Legend

Miley Cyrus has become the youngest-ever star to receive Disney Legend status. The singer gained fame by playing Hannah Montana in the Disney Channel series, which premiered in 2006 when she was 13.

During an emotional speech at the fan convention D23 on Sunday, Miley expressed her continued pride in her role as Hannah Montana.

Earlier this year, she won her first Grammy for “Flowers,” which was recognized as 2023’s Record of the Year and spent 10 weeks at number one in the UK.

The 31-year-old received a standing ovation from the 12,000-strong crowd when she collected her award at the Honda Centre in Anaheim, California, home of Disneyland.

Addressing the audience, she remarked that “a little bit of everything has changed” since her breakout role as a teenager leading a double life as a pop star, “but at the same time, nothing has changed at all.”

‘A little girl with a big dream’

Miley Cyrus was brought out on stage as country singer Lainey Wilson performed one of Hannah Montana’s most popular tracks, “The Best of Both Worlds.”

Miley became emotional as she recounted her first performance as Hannah to the audience.

“We needed footage of her playing sold out concerts but no-one knew who she, aka Miley, was,” she said.

Tickets were given away at a shopping centre, she continued, “where I would have my first free concert”.

“In reality I was a little girl in a blonde wig at the mall with a big dream.

“But in my heart I was Hannah Montana and I was so proud to be,” she said.

“This award is dedicated to Hannah and all of her amazing, loyal fans, and to everyone who has made my dream a reality.

“To quote the legend herself, This Is The Life.”

Miley also joked that she “definitely wasn’t created in a lab”, in a nod to rumours that Disney kids are created in the Californian Disney office.

“If I was, there must have been a bug in the system which caused me to malfunction somewhere between the years of 2013 and 2016.”

Miley Cyrus left behind her Disney kid image with the release of her fourth album, *Bangerz*, in 2013.

That same year, she performed a duet of “We Can’t Stop” with Robin Thicke at the MTV VMAs, a performance so provocative that it even drew criticism from the inventor of the foam finger, which Miley used memorably during the show.

Miley wasn’t the only star honored at the convention. Star Wars and Indiana Jones actor Harrison Ford was also named a Disney Legend, alongside Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis.

Harrison expressed his delight and slight embarrassment at the honor, stating he was “so very grateful.”

“I have the privilege of being a storyteller, an assisted storyteller,” the 82-year-old said.

“I love the people I’ve had the opportunity to work with.”

Jamie was introduced by Mean Girls star Lindsay Lohan, who played her daughter in the 2003 version of Freaky Friday.

They’re due to reprise their roles next year in the sequel, Freakier Friday.

Jamie, who won an Oscar last year for Everything Everywhere All At Once, also became emotional during the ceremony.

“The truth is, legends aren’t formed,” the 65-year-old told the audience.

“They’re created when they’re nurtured and educated.”

It wasn’t just stars celebrated at the ceremony. In total, 14 people were recognized as Disney Legends at the event.

Among them were composer John Williams, costume designer Colleen Atwood, and Disneyland’s first-ever full-time black tour guide, Martha Blanding.

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