'Promote it before it exists': Miley Cyrus credits Dolly Parton’s advice for the ‘Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special’

Miley Cyrus credits her godmother, Dolly Parton for the advice that helped bring a long-discussed ‘Hannah Montana’ anniversary event to life. In a new interview, Cyrus shared that Parton taught her to discuss an idea before it is fully in place, a move she said helped spark momentum for the upcoming ‘Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special,’ which is set to stream on Disney+ and Hulu on March 24.Variety reported that Cyrus reflected on a lesson she learned from Parton and how it shaped the push for the special. “I learned this terrible habit—but I actually think it was good advice—from Dolly,” Cyrus told the outlet. “She told me that if you want something to happen, promote it before it exists. Then no one can say no.” Cyrus said she took that advice and ran with it. “So I just started promoting a ‘Hannah Montana’ 20th-anniversary special that literally did not exist,” she admitted. The singer said she felt the bond between her and the Disney Channel character still holds real weight with fans, even years after the series ended.Cyrus told Variety that “even Disney sometimes forgets the connection between me and Hannah.” She added, “It’s not just a TV show. I see daily how important Hannah is to people.” She said fans continue to bring her ‘Hannah’ merchandise when she travels and still ask if another season could happen.That response pushed her to make the case directly. “I’m telling you, this would be huge,” she recalled telling Disney. According to Variety, the special will feature Cyrus performing ‘This Is the Life’ and ‘The Best of Both Worlds’ from the original series, along with ‘The Climb’ from the 2009 film ‘Hannah Montana: The Movie.’ The program will also include a new song.The outlet further reported that Cyrus will sit down with Alex Cooper of ‘Call Her Daddy’ and reunite with her father and former co-star Billy Ray Cyrus, along with guest star Selena Gomez. The report also mentioned Parton, who played Aunt Dolly on 'Hannah Montana,' but her involvement in the special remains unconfirmed. The anniversary project now stands as a direct result of Cyrus turning Parton’s advice into action.