Many fans may be surprised to learn that the country music star Dolly Parton is actually the godmother of her fellow singer Miley Cyrus. In a new interview, Cyrus is opening up to reveal the “terrible habit” that she picked up from Parton.
‘Terrible Habit…’
“I learned this terrible habit – but I actually think it was good advice – from Dolly,” Cyrus, 33, told Variety. “She told me that if you want something to happen, promote it before it exists. Then no one can say no.”
“So, I just started promoting a Hannah Montana 20th-anniversary special that literally did not exist,” she added.
Cyrus then began sending fan reactions to Disney executives, telling them, “I’m telling you, this would be huge.”
Disney executive Charlie Andrews admitted that Cyrus “willed” the anniversary special “into existence.”
“The thing she was adamant about is that this is for the fans,” Andrews said. “That has gone into literally every decision she has made.”
Sure enough, this actually worked! Indeed, the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special premieres on Disney+ on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
Cyrus Finally Embraces Hannah Montana
Cyrus spent years trying to get away from her Hannah Montana persona. Twenty years after the Disney show premiered, however, Cyrus is finally embracing the iconic character.
“I wasn’t trying to kill Hannah off,” Cyrus claimed of her past comments. This appears to be a reference to a 10th anniversary post in which she claimed Hannah Montana was “chopped up into little tiny pieces” and buried in her backyard. “I was just progressing.”
“Being recognizable as a teen going through different phases and stages was sometimes awkward,” she recalled. “But that’s what helped me relate to the kids watching at home.”
Parton, 80, has long served as a role model and mentor for Cyrus. Now, Cyrus is hoping to pay that forward by serving as a mentor to those who are following in her own footsteps. That’s why Cyrus recently reached out to Chappell Roan, 28, when the new age pop star admitted to struggling with dealing with harassment from fans.
“I never bow down to bullies,” Cyrus explained. “Anytime I feel like somebody is being bullied, I feel very protective of them.”
“When I see people struggling, I’m always the first one to ask, ‘Can I get in contact with them?’” she continued. “I’d like to show artists how they can have a balanced life.”
Cyrus Protected By Her Father
As Cyrus rose to fame on Hannah Montana, she always had her father, the country music star Billy Ray Cyrus, on set with her, as he played her dad on the show. Looking back, Cyrus believes that having her father around may have shielded her from some of the darker aspects of Hollywood.
“My parents didn’t need me to be famous to survive or to be stable,” she explained. “What happens to a lot of these kids is their parents want it more than they do, or the kids become responsible for the entire income of the family. That was never my job. Every penny I ever made went into my bank account because my parents were good.”
“My dad was on set every single day, so there was nothing that could happen that he wouldn’t know about,” Cyrus concluded. “There was never a time where I was going to be alone in that dressing room.”
With people like Dolly Parton and Billy Ray Cyrus around her, it’s no wonder that Miley Cyrus has achieved such long-lasting success. If you’re a fan of Cyrus, be sure to check out the Hannah Montana reunion special next week!