Miley Cyrus is having a banner year. After winning her first Grammy earlier this year, she’s now been honored as a Disney Legend.
Lainey Wilson introduced Cyrus with an energetic performance of the “Hannah Montana” hit “The Best of Both Worlds.” After the song, she praised Cyrus, saying, “Miley, thank you for always stepping outside the box, staying true to yourself, and most importantly, for always kicking butt.”
During her emotional acceptance speech, Cyrus shared a heartfelt message with the audience. “Let me let you in on a little Disney Legend secret. I’m the one who tells you what you’re not supposed to know. And what I want to say is that legends get scared, too. I’m scared right now, but the difference is we do it anyway. And all of you can do that every single day. It’s legendary to be afraid and do it anyway. There is no such thing as failure when you try,” she said, wiping away tears.
“In 2005, Disney was on a mission to rebuild the company. That’s why they hired Bob Iger, and me,” Cyrus continued with a laugh, recalling the process of being cast in “Hannah Montana.”
“I stand here still proud to have been ‘Hannah Montana,’” Cyrus 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,’” she added, referencing the ‘Hannah Montana’ song of the same name.
At the star-studded ceremony on Sunday night at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, Cyrus was honored alongside a remarkable group that included costume designer Colleen Atwood, Angela Bassett, Disney Parks cast member Martha Blanding, James L. Brooks, James Cameron, Jamie Lee Curtis, Marvel comic artist Steve Ditko, Harrison Ford, animator Mark Henn, Frank Oz, Kelly Ripa, imagineer Joe Rohde, and John Williams.
Disney’s Legends awards program serves as a hall of fame, recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to the Disney legacy. Previous honorees include Christina Aguilera, Stan Lee, Betty White, and Oprah Winfrey.
Cyrus began her journey with Disney as a tween, starring in the hugely popular Disney Channel comedy “Hannah Montana,” where she played a regular girl leading a double life as a pop star. The series became a cultural phenomenon, leading to a world tour, concert film, and feature film, and making Cyrus a household name. It averaged 4.4 million viewers per episode and set a record with a 2007 episode that drew 10.7 million viewers, the highest-rated basic cable series telecast ever.
Cyrus also voiced Penny in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ feature “Bolt,” alongside John Travolta, and received a Golden Globe nomination for her song “I Thought I Lost You” from the film.
As she transitioned away from her squeaky-clean image, Cyrus released grown-up hits like “We Can’t Stop,” “Wrecking Ball,” and “Malibu.” However, she returned to her roots last year with the Disney+ documentary concert special “Endless Summer Vacation (Backyard Sessions).”
Now 31, Cyrus has become the youngest person ever to be named a Disney Legend.
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