Twenty years after Miley Cyrus first donned the blonde wig to bring the iconic teen rocker to life, the Hannah Montana phenomenon proves that its legacy not only endures, but continues to grow. The commemorative special released by Disney+ exceeded expectations, becoming a resounding audience success and sparking an unprecedented resurgence of the original series. According to journalist Selome Hailu, quoted by Variety, the 20th-anniversary special, released on March 24, reached 6.3 million views in its first three days on the platform. This figure solidifies the enduring appeal of a series that defined a generation and continues to attract both nostalgic fans and new viewers. The impact of the special was not limited to its own viewership numbers. The anniversary fever triggered a dramatic increase in viewership of the original series, which aired on the Disney Channel from 2006 to 2011.

During the week following the special's premiere, views of "Hannah Montana" skyrocketed by 1000% compared to the previous week. This resurgence adds to an already impressive milestone: Disney reported, as noted by Variety, that the series has surpassed 500 million hours of streaming since its arrival on digital platforms.

The special, titled "Hannah Montana: The 20th Anniversary Special," was much more than a simple recap.

Miley Cyrus returned to the iconic set where the series was filmed, sharing memories with her mother, Tish Cyrus-Purcell. In a format that combined nostalgia with intimate conversation, Cyrus participated in an interview with Alex Cooper, the influential host of the "Call Her Daddy" podcast. In addition, the artist performed some of her character's most iconic songs live in front of an audience of fans, closing a symbolic circle two decades after her debut. The special was produced by HopeTown Entertainment and Unwell Productions. Ashley Edens served as showrunner, while the production team included Cyrus, Cyrus-Purcell, Cooper, and Matt Kaplan.