It's been 20 years since the Hannah Montana pilot, this is what the cast looks like now

Hannah Montana wasn't just a television series, it was a cultural phenomenon. For those of us that grew up in the '00s, Hannah Montana was playing on the TV everyday, and we were also obsessed with the Disney show's merchandise too. 

From sleeping with duvets plastered with Miley Cyrus' face, to using stationery that played "The Best Of Both Worlds" at the touch of a button, and knowing every single step to "Hoedown Throwdown" — we were fully invested in the Hannah Montana universe. 

Although our tastes have matured (we're singing along to more contemporary releases from Miley Cyrus' musical catalogue these days), we don't need much convincing to get excited about anything Hannah Montana related, like the recently announced Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special that's coming to Disney+, March 24th.

We can't wait to see all of our favourite characters return to screen, but it got us thinking — will their faces still be as familiar all these years later? It's for that very reason that we decided to do some sleuthing to find out what the cast of Hannah Montana look like now in 2026...

Miley Cyrus (Miley Stewart & Hannah Montana)

Miley Cyrus may be the face of Maybelline and a Grammy award winning artist now, but it was Hannah Montana that catapulted her to fame. Cyrus was cast as the lead when she was just 13 years old, and appeared in all 100 episodes over the show's four season run from 2006 until 2011, as well as Hannah Montana: The Movie in 2009. Back then the Disney star was being paid to don a blonde wig and lead a double life as a pop star, and in 2026 Cyrus' life as a musician isn't too far removed from that of her beloved on-screen character. Do we wish the 33 year old sneaked a few Hannah Montana-inspired riffs into "Dream as One", the original song she wrote for the 2025 film Avatar: Fire and Ash? Yes, but we can always go back and rewatch our favourite Hannah Montana episodes for that we guess...

Billy Ray Cyrus (Robby Ray Stewart)

Billy Ray Cyrus was cast as his daughter Miley Cyrus's on-screen dad, Robby Ray Stewart, in Hannah Montana initially as a marketing ploy to create intrigue for the show. Tish Cyrus, Miley Cyrus' mother, was the one who floated the idea with Disney, after one producer joked about wanting to hire the country singer, but not being able to afford him. Hannah Montana resurged Billy Ray Cyrus' career after he initially found fame in the '90s with his hit single "Achy Breaky Heart", and his career subsequently enjoyed a third wind in 2019 when he collaborated on the "Old Town Road" remix with Lil Nas X. Regardless of where he is or what he's doing, you can always count on Billy Ray Cyrus to sport a luscious head of hair and some variation of a soul patch. 

Emily Osment (Lilly Truscott & Lola Luftnagle)

Emily Osment landed the role of Miley Stewart's best friend, Lilly Truscott, after Miley Cyrus auditioned for the role but was ultimately recast as the show's lead. As Hannah Montana's BFF, Truscott was entrusted with her secret (read: undercover pop star), but that didn't stop her from being the ultimate fan girl. She even adopted Hannah Montana's penchant for wigs and multiple personalities, transforming herself into her alter ego Lola Luftnagle just so she could tag along with the pop star when she was in disguise. IRL Emily Osment has stuck to her roots, rocking her natural waves at home and sporting a wig while on set as Mandy McAllister in the sitcom George & Mandy's First Marriage. Ooh! Lilly likey!

Mitchel Musso (Oliver Oken & Michael Standley III)

Oliver Oken was Miley Stewart's best friend and Lilly Truscott's love interest, and he was the likeable, but emotionally sensitive foil to Emily Osment's extroverted tomboy Lily Truscott. Played by Mitchel Musso (an actor and musician) Oliver Oken and his alter-ego Michael Standley III made fewer appearances in the final season of Hannah Montana and Hannah Montana: The Movie in order for Musso to tour with his band and appear in the TV series Pair Of Kings. Musso's ditched his '00s shag haircut and the entertainment industry in 2026, but fingers crossed he'll make an appearance in the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special that's coming to Disney+ in March.

Jason Earles (Jackson Stewart)

Jason Earles brought the funny as Miley Stewart's goofy brother Jackson Stewart, who was forever coming up with schemes to get out of school, work and chores. Whether he was feuding with his arch nemesis Rico, or taking his uber rich, bikini model girlfriend Siena on dates, he was always involved in some shenanigan or another. Earles was actually 30 when he played teen Jackson Stewart, and he hasn't lost his baby face in the years since the hit show came off the air. 

Moisés Arias (Rico Suave)

Rico Suave's Napolean complex made him one of the most colourful characters on Hannah Montana — he may have been small but his capacity for revenge was huge. He was loaded, incredibly intelligent, and subsequently spent most episodes involved in elaborate hijinks. By the end of the series Rico Suave settled his beef with Jackson Stewart, and even found friendship, and IRL Moisés Arias went on to act consistently in well known franchises like Despicable Me and Pitch Perfect. These days you can spot the pocket rocket actor in the television series adaptation of Fallout.

Main image credit: Getty Images

Just like Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus is a relateable pop star. Heck, she wore a full face of affordable makeup to the Grammy Awards.