Miley Cyrus Tears Up While Being Honored at Disney Legends Ceremony

Miley Cyrus Tears Up While Being Honored at Disney Legends Ceremony

As a curious observer of Miley Cyrus‘ remarkable journey, I find myself utterly captivated by her rollercoaster ride through life. From her struggles with tachycardia that constantly lingers at the back of her mind during performances, to her emotional transition from veganism to pescatarianism, and even her controversial bong incident that cost her a potential Walmart deal – Miley’s experiences are nothing short of intriguing.


Miley Cyrus has changed her hair and changed her clothes, but she always finds her way back home.

Certainly, Miley Cyrus, formerly of Hannah Montana fame, was officially bestowed with her Disney Legend award during D23 on August 11, making her the youngest recipient ever. Overwhelmed by her extraordinary experience as a popstar persona, she couldn’t help but express her joy.

“Miley admitted she would undoubtedly shed tears following her award win, according to The Hollywood Reporter. She shared a secret about being a Disney Legend, revealing that even legends feel fear. At the moment, she confessed she was scared, but what sets us apart is that we face our fears and carry on. Each of you can do this daily, making it legendary to be afraid yet press on. There’s no such thing as failure when you try.”

The actress who originated the Hannah Montana role for Disney back in 2006, at the tender age of 13, and played it until the show concluded in 2011, looked back on her character. Miley, referring to herself, mentioned that this character was designed to revitalize and reinvent the Disney image.

The 31-year-old expressed ongoing pride in having been Hannah Montana, as she played a significant role in shaping Miley. “This prize,” they added, “is a tribute to Hannah and her dedicated fans, as well as everyone who helped make my dream come true. In the words of the iconic figure, ‘This is the life.'”

Since Miley hasn’t worn her famous blonde wig for more than a decade, her speech allowed her to reminisce about the past, and she seized that opportunity to bring up one of the most significant instances where she enjoyed the best aspects of two different worlds.

Since Hannah Montana is a popular pop star, we required footage of her performing at sold-out concerts, but no one knew that she (also known as Miley) was secretly behind the persona. This dilemma led to a decision: they distributed tickets for the concert at the Glendale Mall, which would be my first free performance.

Miley’s concert, as she described it in her 2009 book “Miles to Go,” marked the initial sign of the iconic status that the character would eventually achieve.

Miley Cyrus Tears Up While Being Honored at Disney Legends Ceremony

Miley stated during the Disney Legend ceremony, “In essence, I was a young girl wearing a blonde wig in the mall, yet in my heart I embodied Hannah Montana. I felt incredibly proud to be her. While some aspects of my life have evolved since then, other things have remained exactly the same.”

Keep reading to learn more about Miley’s journey. 

Miley Cyrus Tears Up While Being Honored at Disney Legends Ceremony

She was born as Destiny Hope in 1992, named by her parents Billy Ray Cyrus and Tish Cyrus, who chose this name because, as Billy Ray shared with US Weekly, “She has a giving nature. She feels we’re all here to help each other. I’m very proud of her.”

1. Growing up, I was always known for my frequent smiles, earning me the affectionate moniker “Smiley” from my loved ones. Over time, this became simplified to just Miley. In a formal move in 2008, I legally adopted the name Miley Ray Cyrus.

3. Her godmother is none other than Dolly Parton, who developed a strong bond with her (person) following their collaboration in the early ’90s.

In a conversation on SiriusXM’s “Just Jenny” in 2019, Parton explained that she and Cyrus quickly became compatible because they both grew up in rural areas. They enjoyed reminiscing about their shared experiences. Later, when Cyrus entered the scene, Parton declared, “She needs to be my goddaughter!” (Parton later appeared on “Hannah Montana” as the title character’s fairy godmother.)

Miley Cyrus Tears Up While Being Honored at Disney Legends Ceremony

4. After watching a performance of “Mamma Mia!” with her father, Miley Cyrus decided she wanted to work in the entertainment industry. Later on, she expressed this ambition to her father, telling him, “This is what I want to do, daddy. I want to become an actress,” as he shared with the Toronto Star.

5. She made her acting debut on Billy Ray’s PAX TV series Doc.

11-year-old Miley tried out for the Disney Channel show “Hannah Montana.” Initially, producers believed she was too young, but after a thorough six-month search involving more than 1,000 actresses auditioning for the secret pop star role, executives reconsidered and invited back the now 12-year-old Miley.

Gary Marsh, who was Disney’s president at the time, recounted to USA Today in 2007 that she stood before them and left quite an impression. He recalled returning to his desk later that night and jotting down a message to his team: “This could be something extraordinary or simply a missed opportunity.” Looking back now, it seems that this gamble has proven to be extraordinarily successful in ways we couldn’t have fathomed at the time.

Miley Cyrus Tears Up While Being Honored at Disney Legends Ceremony

7. In a 2020 interview on Hilary Duff’s Instagram Live show “Bright Minded,” Miley Cyrus confessed that the role of Lizzie McGuire inspired her to try out for the part of Hannah.

Miley expressed to Hillary, “The sole motivation behind my desire was simply to mimic your actions.” She further added, “In essence, I can honestly say that acting or singing wasn’t of much importance to me. What truly mattered was emulating you, regardless of the circumstances.”

8. The television series “Hannah Montana” debuted in March 2006 and soon became one of Disney Channel’s most successful series ever, propelling Miley Cyrus into the ranks of Hollywood’s top young celebrities. By 2008, photographs of Miley were being sold for amounts ranging from $30,000 to $150,000, as reported by “The Los Angeles Times”.

During their acting days together, Miley Cyrus shared that she and her on-screen partner Emily Osment had a tough time getting along during the initial two seasons.

In my 2009 memoir, Miles to Go, I candidly admitted that there was a competitive spirit amongst us ladies, and our friendship was no exception. Honestly, I yearned to change it, but at the time, I was clueless about how to navigate that dynamic. You see, I connected more with guys than girls back then. However, with time and patience, we learned to understand each other better, eventually forming a strong bond of friendship. It took us a while to find our rhythm, but once we did, our understanding and sensitivity towards one another blossomed.

Miley Cyrus Tears Up While Being Honored at Disney Legends Ceremony

Following the conclusion of the series in 2011, and the 2009 cinema adaptation “Hannah Montana: The Movie,” Miley revealed her personal struggle with self-discovery.

“During her conversation with Howard Stern in 2020, she mentioned that some of her fans became deeply attached to a character, which wasn’t her. This led to questions about her self-worth, as she reflected on the show’s premise – when she looked like herself, people didn’t care, but when she transformed with a wig and makeup, she suddenly gained popularity. She explained that it was challenging for a young person to internalize the message ‘When you’re yourself, no one cares,’ only to later be molded into something else through extensive makeup, wigs, and other changes. This had a profound psychological impact on her.”

11. Miley fell head over heels for her first boyfriend, Nick Jonas, the moment they crossed paths at a charity event in 2006 when they were both 13 years old. As she shared with Seventeen in 2008, “We became a couple the very same day we met.” Nick had been pursuing her, saying, “I think you’re beautiful and I really like you,” to which Miley responded, “Oh my gosh, I like you so much!”

Following a clandestine relationship, the pair called it quits, and Miley confessed she “cried for a month straight” following their separation. She shared with the magazine, “Nick and I had feelings for each other. We still do, but we were deeply in love, yet struggling. He was essentially my constant companion for two years, but it was challenging to maintain secrecy. There were frequent disagreements, and truthfully, it wasn’t enjoyable.”

12. The connection with Nick motivated Miley to write her breakup song “7 Things.” In fact, she wore the necklace he had given her in the music video for the popular 2008 hit. Interestingly, the couple momentarily reconciled in 2009, and their transient reunion sparked the creation of The Jonas Brothers’ ballad “Before the Storm,” which included Miley.

Miley Cyrus Tears Up While Being Honored at Disney Legends Ceremony

13. In the year 2009, during the filming of “The Last Song,” Miley Cyrus started dating her co-star Liam Hemsworth. Their relationship had its ups and downs for a decade before they tied the knot in 2018. However, eight months after their wedding, they announced their separation and finalized their divorce in 2020.

14. Later on, Miley openly acknowledged that the distress caused by the loss of their home in Malibu due to the California wildfires in 2018 was a significant factor leading to her decision to marry the actor from “The Hunger Games” following a two-year engagement.

“For 16 years, we were together,” she shared on The Howard Stern Show in 2020. “Our home was destroyed by fire. Although we weren’t officially engaged, I think we both felt that way, but hadn’t made it official. When our house in Malibu was lost…I held onto whatever remained of that house, which were him and me. And I genuinely loved him incredibly, deeply, and continue to do so.”

In 2020, during an episode of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, Miley discussed her initial romantic encounter, indirectly revealing that it was Liam, thus identifying him as her former spouse without explicitly mentioning his name.

She remarked, “Given that I ended up getting married to him, it’s quite astonishing.” She confessed, “To avoid appearing unattractive, I misled by claiming he wasn’t my first.”

Miley Cyrus Tears Up While Being Honored at Disney Legends Ceremony

16. Not long after announcing her separation from Liam, Miley attracted attention when she started a rapid-fire relationship with alum of “The Hills: New Beginnings,” Kaitlynn Carter. However, the couple parted ways just two months later, with Kaitlynn acknowledging that the intense public interest in their romance contributed to their breakup.

She acknowledged during an appearance on The Viall Files podcast in June 2020 that we had put in considerable effort to maintain privacy regarding the matter, but ultimately, things happen as they will. Going through a breakup under public scrutiny is incredibly challenging…it’s tough. However, there can be valuable lessons and growth derived from such experiences.

In 2016, I openly identified as pansexual, expressing my struggles with understanding my own gender and sexuality during my formative years in an interview with Variety.

She shared with the media that she’s never been comfortable with the term ‘bisexual,’ as it feels limiting for her. She doesn’t categorize people based on their gender, and her choice of attire like nipple pasties has never felt sexualized to her. It was around the fifth or sixth grade when her perspective began to broaden. Her first romantic relationship was with a woman, and she comes from a deeply religious family in the South.

18. In 2017, Miley claimed she was the inspiration for Katy Perry‘s hit song “I Kissed a Girl.”

Over the airwaves, her voice filled my ears… they inquired, “Who penned that piece?” Miley revealed to WKTU. “She admitted: yours truly!” Upon hearing it, I let out a bloodcurdling scream, and lost my cool with pure excitement!

Miley Cyrus Tears Up While Being Honored at Disney Legends Ceremony

1. I’m proudly associated with the Happy Hippie Foundation, a charitable organization I founded, dedicated to combating injustices faced by homeless youth, LGBTQ individuals, and other at-risk groups.

20. In her 2009 memoir, Miley Cyrus disclosed that she was born with tachycardia, a benign condition causing her heart to beat significantly quicker than usual.

She wrote that the kind of rapid heartbeat she experiences isn’t harmful. While it doesn’t cause pain, it does disturb her. On stage, she is always mindful and attentive towards her heart.

For approximately six years, Miley followed a vegan diet, but later changed to a pescatarian lifestyle due to her feeling that her brain wasn’t working optimally. On The Joe Rogan Experience in 2020, she shared this. Liam prepared the first fish meal she had eaten in a long time for her, and when she consumed it, she wasn’t entirely plant-based. She reminisced about the experience, saying “I cried for a long time… I cried over the fish because it was painful for me to eat fish.”

Miley Cyrus Tears Up While Being Honored at Disney Legends Ceremony

22. Although “Party in the U.S.A.” is one of Miley’s biggest hits, the artist doesn’t particularly enjoy the popular tune herself. In a 2019 video, she admitted, “I really don’t like it,” but added, “apparently, the public can’t get enough of it.”

As a lifestyle enthusiast reflecting on the past, let me share an intriguing moment from 2013. An online petition was circulated on the White House’s official “We the People” platform, proposing a change to our beloved national anthem – “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The request was directed towards President Barack Obama, suggesting we swap it with Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the U.S.A.” It certainly sparked some lively discussions!

Originally intended to voice the 2021 animated film “Hotel Transylvania,” Miley announced on Twitter in 2019 that she had been let go, allegedly due to her actions of buying Liam a cake shaped like a penis for his birthday and then licking it. (She was subsequently replaced by another former Disney star, Selena Gomez.)

Miley Cyrus Tears Up While Being Honored at Disney Legends Ceremony

In 2010, Miley Cyrus’ wholesome Disney persona was challenged when a controversial video emerged showing her smoking from a bong. This incident became notorious. Recently, exactly a decade later, Miley humorously acknowledged this scandalous event on Instagram.

“Celebrating the 10-year milestone of the revolutionary teenage video featuring a bong session and nonsensical chatter with pals, she posted,” she wrote. (Although it’s debatable if the filmmaker qualifies as a ‘pal’, nonetheless…)

In a tweet from 2019, Miley claimed that a bong incident led to the loss of a significant contract with Walmart, saying, “At the age of 17, I missed out on a big deal with Walmart because I was caught using a bong.”

27. Miley has 74 tattoos and got her first body art when she was 17.

Miley Cyrus Tears Up While Being Honored at Disney Legends Ceremony

28. For quite some time now, Miley has candidly shared her struggles and triumphs on her path to sobriety, including a setback she experienced during the pandemic.

During an interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music in 2020, she admitted honestly that she had struggled with sobriety, just like many others. She didn’t pretend to have been completely sober all along. Instead, she confessed to having fallen off the wagon and only recently, two weeks prior, found herself back on the path of sobriety. She now feels that she has truly embraced this new chapter in her life.

Instead, she mentioned that she’s working on accepting situations better, emphasizing, “I’ve found it beneficial to switch from anger to curiosity. So instead of getting upset with yourself, try to understand, ‘What led to this situation?'”

Miley shared that the passing of artists such as Amy Winehouse, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, and Kurt Cobain prompted her to take a second look at her personal struggle with alcohol.

She stated, “For me, the year twenty-seven was a time when I needed to safeguard myself. This experience actually sparked my desire to become sober, as we’ve seen so many influential figures pass away at that age. It’s a crucial point in life; it marks the beginning of a new chapter or potentially the end. I believe some artists struggled with their own power, energy, and influence – these are powerful forces. And I, without a doubt, was born with that.”

30. On March 2022, Miley’s flight had to unexpectedly land due to a lightning strike during her travel from Colombia to Paraguay for the 2022 Asuncionico music festival. Later, she confessed that she was somewhat shaken up by this experience.

She confided to Seth Meyers that it was incredibly frightening, and since she felt the safety belts were no longer relevant, she clung to her mother’s lap instead.

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2024-08-12 16:20