Miley Cyrus has become the youngest person to receive the title of Disney Legend. This is an award that the Walt Disney Company gives annually to the most influential artists of the famous “factory of dreams.” Previous winners include Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera and Robin Williams.
Cyrus collected her award at the D23 Expo, Disney’s largest fan convention, held in Anaheim, California. Waiting for Miley on stage was country singer Lainey Wilson dressed as Hannah Montana.
Miley began her speech emotionally and unable to hold back her tears, and sent a motivational message to her followers: “Legends also get scared, I’m scared right now, but what is legendary is being scared and doing it anyway (whatever you set out to do). There is no such thing as failure when you try.”
Cyrus also expressed a message of pride for Hannah Montana, the iconic character that catapulted her to fame in 2006: “I’m still proud to have been Hannah Montana. She created Miley in many ways.” And, at another point in her speech, she disputed the idea that Disney idols are “manufactured” in laboratories: “If I was created that way, then there was a failure in the system between the years 2013 and 2016.” Cyrus is of course referring to her rebellious phase, that of ‘Bangerz’ and the psychedelic phase.
Cyrus triumphed last year with ‘Flowers’, no less than the most successful song of all 2023. In 2024, it earned her her first Grammy. Also this year, Cyrus appeared on Beyoncé’s album to sing ‘II Most Wanted’ alongside the Texan.
Miley Cyrus becomes the youngest Disney legend in history and her acceptance speech has me bawling 😭 pic.twitter.com/SwCUB7v5Cy
— Miley Nation (@MileyNation13) August 12, 2024
