Miley Cyrus Tearfully Accepts Disney Legend, Makes History

Miley Cyrus, the former Disney star who rose to fame as Hannah Montana, received the company’s highest honor over the weekend, joining an elite group of Disney Legends that includes Julie Andrews, Mark Hamill, Whoopi Goldberg, and Howard Ashman. At the D23 fan event, she became the youngest person to achieve this accolade, delivering an emotional speech to mark the occasion.

During her speech, Miley acknowledged her nerves, saying, “I’m the one that tells you what you’re not supposed to know. 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. That’s the only way you lose. The way you win is to try.”

Reflecting On Her Journey As Hannah Montana

Reflecting on her journey, she spoke about her complex relationship with the character Hannah Montana, which she began portraying as a young girl. She recalled how, in the early days, Disney had to give away free tickets to her performances because she was relatively unknown.

“The first song I opened with was titled ‘This Is The Life,’” she said, emotionally recalling the moment. “Which, of course, no one knew. Because, 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.”

Miley dedicated the award to her character, her loyal fans, and everyone who helped her achieve her dreams, saying, “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.”

Throughout her career, Miley has been open about the challenges and rewards of playing such an iconic character. In recent years, she has reflected on the pressures of her early career, especially during the 15th anniversary of Hannah Montana and the release of her single “Used To Be Young.”

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Tribute Performance by Lainey Wilson and Other Disney Legends Honored

During the event, Miley was also seen getting emotional during a tribute performance by Lainey Wilson, who covered “The Best Of Both Worlds” from the Hannah Montana soundtrack. This tribute moved Miley, who was seen singing along in her seat.

Other notable figures who were honored as Disney Legends at the event included Star Wars icon Harrison Ford, Frank Oz (the original voice of Yoda and Miss Piggy), and Avatar director James Cameron. The prestigious list also featured Angela Bassett, Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis, and The Simpsons co-creator James L. Brooks.

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