Miley Cyrus Talks Growing Past ‘Hannah Montana’ and Hiding Her Drug Purchases From Accountant

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Miley Cyrus discussed moving beyond the character of Hannah Montana, the role that catapulted her to fame, and her efforts to conceal her drug-related expenses from her accountant, in a recent podcast interview.

Cyrus played the lead role in the Disney Channel series from 2006-11, portraying a middle school student who secretly lived as a well-known pop star named Hannah Montana. More recently, Cyrus discussed her music albums on The Ringer’s Every Single Album podcast, reflecting on her past and letting go of the Hannah Montana character. This was difficult because her persona was so closely linked to that role.

Cyrus stated during an interview, ‘I’m essentially Hannah; it’s more than just a likeness or pretense. She wasn’t created on paper, but rather represents my true self.’

When asked if she felt the need to “distanciate herself from herself” after leaving Disney, Cyrus responded: “I suppose I did. At that time, I didn’t have my driver’s license yet and I began doing things that Hannah (her character) wouldn’t do, as Hannah was like a Barbie in a sense – she was somewhat sexless. So, I started ‘living,’ if you will. I recall thinking it would be quite awkward now to wear tutus and Doc Martens (Hannah’s signature look). … I remember one of the directors saying it was like the lion had been freed from its cage and had seen where it came from, and it would be very difficult for it to return to the zoo.

She went on to say: “There I found myself thinking, ‘Look at that lion, it’s not moving on its own. It’s being led or forced into a place, and that’s what you’ll have to do too.’ At that moment, I felt a sense of fraudulence as the children looked up to me as if I was an asexual figure. However, it wasn’t until I was around 15 or 16 years old, with more seasons still ahead, that I began to assert myself more. What was intriguing was as I moved Hannah forward, they tried to pull her back, perhaps because it was terrifying for them.

Cyrus expressed her intention to make some of the songs she records and performs uniquely hers by adding her personal touch.

Initially, I didn’t realize I deserved songwriting credit as I thought being Hannah Montana was enough. However, upon reflection, I should have received more recognition since I was instrumental in forming the character’s identity. Many songs were based on my personal experiences, and I believe I deserve a larger share of the credit for that.

Speaking as a die-hard fan, I’d like to share an interesting tidbit: Cyrus herself disclosed that drugs played a pivotal role in the creative journey behind her 2015 album, “Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz.

She stated that the medications were the most significant expense. To conceal these costs from her accountant, we labeled them as vintage clothing and received checks for thousands of dollars worth of such items. Whenever she saw me, she’d inquire about a specific expensive John Lennon T-shirt I supposedly bought. I’d respond with something like, “Oh, it’s upstairs. Would you care to have one?” So, I ended up purchasing quite a lot of ‘vintage clothing’ that year.

Presently, Cyrus is actively publicizing “Something Beautiful,” a movie which had its debut on Friday at the Tribeca Film Festival. (There was some controversy afterwards as several ticket buyers for the $800 price point found out that she wouldn’t be giving a performance at the occasion.)

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2025-06-08 19:54