Hannah Montana Celebrates 13th Anniversary: See the Cast Then and Now

The Disney Channel series launched Miley Cyrus to international fame, and also starred her real-life father, Billy Ray Cyrus, who felt rather nostalgic on the show's anniversary.

By Corinne Heller Mar 24, 2019 9:39 PMTags
Hannah MontanaDisney

Wanna feel old? Sunday marks the 13th anniversary of the debut episode of Hannah Montana.

The Disney Channel series aired for four seasons until 2011 and made main star Miley Cyrus one of the most popular celebrities in the world. The actress and now-pop superstar played Miley Stewart, an ordinary teenage girl whose alter ego...is a pop star, Hannah Montana.

The show also starred her real-life dad and fellow musician, Billy Ray Cyrus.

"Dang Flabbit! Happy Anniversary #HannahMontana!" he wrote on Instagram, alongside a throwback photo of the cast. "13 years ago today we released the pilot! @mileycyrus @emilyosment@realdukeofearles @mitchelmusso."

 

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Miley Cyrus' Best Looks

Hannah Montana also featured his younger daughter Noah Cyrus, also a singer. Cast members also included Emily Osment, who played Miley's BFF Lilly, plus Jason EarlesMitchel Musso, and Moises Arias.

After Hannah Montana ended, Miley concentrated on her pop music career and in 2013, went through a bit of a wild phase, during which she gave a now-famous controversial performance at the 2013 MTV VMAs. She's more mellowed out nowadays, although there are definitely times where she's still being Miley!

The star paid tribute to Hannah Montana on the show's 13th anniversary with a cute throwback photo.

...she also poked fun at her journey.

Instagram / Miley Cyrus

Musso also paid tribute to Hannah Montana, posting on his Instagram page throwback candid photos of him with his cast mates.

Check out photos of the cast then and now, and find out what they've been up to in recent years.

Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana / Miley Stewart)

The star of the show is now one of the most popular celebs in the world. The singer and actress went through a bit of a wild phase, chopping off her hair, famously twerking on Robin Thicke at the 2013 MTV VMAs and appearing nude or scantily clad in her "Wrecking Ball" video. Hey, she's just being Miley! After splitting from longtime boyfriend, if not longtime husband Liam Hemsworth, her co-star in The Last Song she romanced Kaitlynn Carter and Cody Simpson, Miley, who dropped her latest album Plastic Hearts in late 2020, is now living the single life.

Emily Osment (Lilly Truscott)

After Hannah Montana ended its four-season run in 2011, the actress went on to voice characters on animated programs like Family Guy and Rainbow Brite and appear on shows such as Mom, Young & Hungry, Cleaners and The Kominsky Method. Her most recent series, Fox's Almost Family, was canceled after one ill-fated season. She also has her own music career.

Jason Earles (Jackson Stewart)

After Hannah Montana ended, the actor went on to star on shows such as Disney XD's Kickin' It, WTH: Welcome to Howler and Hotel Du Loone. In 2017, he married Katie Drysen.

Mitchel Musso (Oliver Oken)

The actor appeared on the show Pair of Kings and hosted PrankStars after Hannah Montana ended. In 2011, at age 20, he was arrested for a DUI, after which his character was written off the former show and the latter was canceled. In recent years, he has continued to act and has portrayed characters on the animated programs Phineas and Ferb and Milo Murphy's Law.

Moises Arias (Rico)

In recent years, the actor has appeared on shows such as The Middle and Jean-Claude Van Johnson and movies such as Ben-Hur and Pitch Perfect 3. In 2020, he starred in the Pete Davidson-Judd Apatow film The King of Staten Island.

Anna Maria Perez de Tagle (Ashley Dewitt)

In late 2011, she starred in the Broadway revival of Godspell.  She is also a singer—in 2012, the star opened for the Jonas Brothers Asia 2012 tour. In recent years, she has appeared on episodes of shows such as Baby Daddy and Charmed. In November 2018, she got engaged to boyfriend Scott Kline. The two tied the knot the following June with actress Uzo Aduba serving as the maid of honor.

Shanica Knowles (Amber Addison)

After Hannah Montana ended, the actress went on to appear on shows such as Melissa & Joey, The Young and the Restless and various TV movies, such as Life-Size 2.

Cody Linley (Jake Ryan)

The star finished fourth on the the seventh season of Dancing With The Stars and released his debut album in 2012. He also continued his acting career—he appeared on two episodes of Melissa & Joey and in the TV movies Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens and Sharknado 5: Global Swarming.

Billy Ray Cyrus (Robby Ray Stewart)

Miley's onscreen and real-life dad continues to concentrate on his music career. In 2019, he earned his first No. 1 single after joining Lil Nas X on the official remix of the record-breaking smash hit "Old Town Road." In 2016 and 2017, he starred on the show Still the King.

Noah Cyrus

Miley's little sister appeared on six episodes of Hannah Montana. She began a music career in 2016 and released her debut single, "Make Me (Cry)." In 2018, she dated Lil Xan and they released the collaboration "Live or Die." The two broke up after a couple of months. 

She's nominated for Best New Artist at the 2021 Grammys.