In 2024, Miley Cyrus was named the youngest Disney Legend ever. That honor is bestowed on individuals who have impacted the company in integral ways. In terms of Disney Channel shows, it doesn’t get more impactful than Hannah Montana.
Among those ready to celebrate Cyrus’ accomplishment was Lainey Wilson. The country star has spoken widely about her pre-fame job of being a Montana impersonator. As such, it was only right for her to step on stage to give Cyrus her flowers. Check out the moment, below.
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[RELATED: Lainey Wilson Shares Her Go-to Songs for Every Mood: From Willie Nelson to Sabrina Carpenter and Everything in Between]
Watch: Lainey Wilson Perform “Best of Both Worlds” During Miley Cyrus’ Disney Legend Induction
Wilson took to the D23 stage (a Disney expo in which the company reveals what it has in store for their many properties) to perform the theme song from Hannah Montana, “The Best of Both Worlds.” Ahead of her performance, Wilson spoke to how Cyrus inspired her early on in her career.
“Miley, you might not know this, but I am truly one of your biggest fans,” Wilson said. “My very first job was taking my portable sound system, a wig, and 15 tracks I learned from front to back to impersonate Hannah Montana. I’m talking about at birthday parties, fairs, festivals…you name it!”
“It was me, Lainey Wilson, opening for me as Hannah Montana,” she continued. “You talk about the best of both worlds. You inspired me to believe in myself. That I too could be a working girl living in an extraordinary world. So, on behalf of Miley Cyrus fans everywhere, I’d like to dedicate a song to you.”
Soon after her heartfelt speech, the familiar drum beat of “The Best of Both Worlds” came in. Immediately, the crowd joined in to sing along with Wilson.
Who would’ve thought that a girl like me
Would double as a super star
, rang true to the country singer’s story.
Wilson’s years of impersonating the Disney star came in handy. She stepped back into that role–glittery country garb in tow–extremely easily. Check out the moment, below.
Lainey Wilson as a Hannah Montana Impersonator
Wilson has spoken widely about her time impersonating Hannah Montana. “I started impersonating Hannah Montana in eighth grade through 12th grade, and I would open up for myself a lot of the time,” Wilson once said.
Despite speaking highly about that time, she went on to say that it stood in stark contrast to the early days of trying to make it under her own name.
“I would do three or four birthday parties a weekend,” she continued. “I’ve been booked, and actually, it was funny, because for five years of doing Hannah Montana, I was booked and busy. Then when I got to Nashville, for the next 12 years, I wasn’t booked and busy, so [it was] a lot of highs and lows, but I did that for a long time.”
(Photo by Daniel DeSlver/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock)
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