Miley Cyrus recently offered a deeply personal reflection on her journey beyond the iconic Hannah Montana role and a surprising admission about her creative process during the making of her 2015 album.
Speaking on The Ringer's Every Single Album podcast, Cyrus delved into the complexities of starring in the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana from ages 13 to 18. She described the immense challenge of shedding the character's identity as she matured, feeling intrinsically linked to the "sexless" persona she portrayed. "I am Hannah in some way, like truly the identity behind her," Cyrus stated, explaining the character wasn't just a scripted role but an extension of herself.
The transition became stark as Cyrus began experiencing adolescence and personal growth that diverged sharply from Hannah Montana's carefully constructed image. "It was before I had a license and I started doing things that Hannah wouldn't be doing... I started, you know, 'living,' we shall call it," she recalled. This personal evolution created friction when returning to the character's world, feeling inauthentic wearing Hannah's signature tutus and Doc Martens. She likened the experience to forcing a lion back into its cage after it had tasted freedom, feeling like a "fraud" because young fans still saw her as the innocent character while she possessed newfound adult awareness. As she pushed to evolve Hannah, she sensed the production team trying to "reel her in," finding her natural maturation "scary."
Cyrus also touched on her creative contributions to the show's music, feeling she shaped Hannah's identity through her experiences but didn't initially grasp the need to seek formal songwriting credit. "I should have really had more credit... a lot of the songs were written off experiences that I was having," she reflected.
The conversation shifted to her experimental 2015 album, Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz. Cyrus revealed that drugs played a "super important part" in its creation, constituting the project's largest expense. To conceal these purchases from her accountant, Cyrus and her team labeled them as "vintage clothes" on checks. This led to awkward encounters where the accountant inquired about specific, expensive vintage items Cyrus had supposedly bought. "I bought a lot of 'vintage clothes' that year," Cyrus quipped.
Cyrus is currently promoting her new film, Something Beautiful, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. The premiere generated some fan disappointment due to confusion over ticket pricing and expectations of a live performance. Her podcast reflections underscore the ongoing process of defining her identity and artistry long after leaving Hannah Montana behind.