Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez, former on-screen rivals from the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana, shared a nostalgic reunion in the newly released Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special on Disney+. The pair reflected on their characters' feud and their long friendship during a brief but heartfelt segment. The special also features performances and interviews with Cyrus's family and other guests.
The Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special began streaming on Disney+ this week, marking two decades since the show launched Miley Cyrus to stardom. Selena Gomez, who appeared as rival pop star Mikayla in seasons from 2007 to 2008, made an unannounced appearance midway through the 60-minute program. The two sat together on a recreation of the Stewart family's green couch, reminiscing about their scripted rivalry on a children's show. Gomez recalled feeling 'ugly' in a blue alien costume for the season 2 episode 'That's What Friends Are For?', where their characters clashed on a sci-fi movie set. They watched a clip of Mikayla accusing Hannah of being a 'bra-stuffer,' prompting Gomez to say, 'We're pretty mean! I don't think they would get away with saying half of that [on Disney Channel today]. It was so mean, I'm sorry.' Cyrus replied with a laugh, 'We can make amends now,' as Gomez extended her hand. Cyrus then showed Gomez a recreation of Hannah's motor-operated closet, complete with Mikayla's signature red fedora. Gomez donned it excitedly, declaring, 'Look at me. I'm back!' She shared that she owned the full 'Meet Miley' album before they met and told Cyrus, 'You created culture, babe.' Cyrus responded, 'You too,' before noting, 'It's really sweet to know somebody for, like, 20 years. That means I've known you for almost 20 years.' Gomez exclaimed, 'That's weird!' The rest of the special includes Cyrus performing hits like 'The Best of Both Worlds,' 'This Is The Life,' and 'The Climb,' interviews with Alex Cooper and parents Billy Ray Cyrus and Tish Cyrus-Purcell, and a visit from Chappell Roan.