It's a daunting challenge to embrace the best of both worlds, as Miley Cyrus can attest. Once a cherished figure from the Disney Channel's Hannah Montana, she acknowledges a noticeable shift in her relationship with fans since venturing into a more mature musical journey. Reflecting on her teenage years, when she was deemed a "friend to the world," Miley elaborated in an exclusive interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1, aired on E! News, "This transformation has been a tough pill for my audience to swallow, no longer enjoying the daily, direct access they once had through their TV screens each night."
"Remember," she reminisced, "when you were younger, you could binge-watch episodes of Hannah Montana and immerse yourself in my music throughout the day if you wished." However, the 32-year-old artist admits that the dynamic has evolved significantly.
"There was an unparalleled accessibility back then, fueled by my TV presence and extensive touring," Miley said, referring to her earlier years. "Moreover, it was a unique era in media."
This evolution has led Miley, the singer behind the hit "Flowers," to hold immense respect for her "II Most Wanted" collaborator, Beyoncé, and her masterful navigation of the public limelight over the years. "Beyoncé and I couldn't be more different," she admitted. "In her fandom, she's Queen Bey, embodying a motherly figure to the globe." Describing the Destiny's Child member as a "goddess," Miley continued, "She's like this queenly figure, exuding a maternal essence that I've always sensed from her."
Even so, this does not imply that Miley, who portrayed the lead role in "Hannah Montana" from 2006 to 2011, harbors any regrets about her television career. In fact, she saw this fictional character as pivotal in shaping the "multi-faceted Miley." "To this day, I am proud to have been Hannah Montana," she candidly confessed to the audience while receiving the Disney Legend Award in 2024. "This award is dedicated to Hannah, all her loyal and amazing fans, and everyone who made my dreams come true." Miley further elaborated, "To quote the legendary character herself, 'This is the life.'"
