Fame vs. Fiction: Looking Back at Miley Cyrus as 'Hannah Montana' Finale Nears

By Zach Dionne Posted Jan 15th 2011 11:15PM

'Hannah Montana' concludes its five-year Disney Channel run this Sunday, Jan. 16, and boy, hasn't Miley Cyrus grown up? On TV she's spent the last half-decade portraying Miley Stewart, alter ego to fictional pop star Hannah Montana. In real-life -- and the tabloids -- she's gone from bubblegum pop star to a chart-topping performer and borderline sex symbol.

As the 'Hannah Montana' finale closes in, we track the show's plotline versus Miley's real-life lows and, er, highs.

March 2006
In the news: The day before 'Hannah Montana' premieres, Miley's father, Billy Ray Cyrus, tells USA Today: "I think she takes and borrows and hints at a little bit of a lot of people. ... But she's her own person. ... She's in this thing deep now. She's in the water, and she's got to sink or swim."
On TV: In the show's pilot, Miley Stewart begins coping with her dual identity as kid and secret superstar.

April 2006
In the news: Cyrus records a cover of 'Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah,' her first song credit under her own name. A month prior, her first single, 'Hannah Montana' theme 'The Best of Both Worlds,' was credited to her TV character.
On TV: Queen Elizabeth pays Miley a visit.

June 2006
In the news: Under the radar, Miley begins dating fellow Disney teen Nick Jonas. She'll later tell Seventeen magazine, "We became boyfriend and girlfriend the day we met."
On TV: Miley eschews a trip to the mall for a trip to the beach, where "cute boys" are a priority.

October 2006
In the news: Miley, performing as Hannah Montana, goes on tour. Disney releases 'Hannah Montana,' the first soundtrack to the show. It peaks at No. 1 on the Billboard Charts.
On TV: Country star Dolly Parton plays Miley's godmother.

June 2007
In the news: Midway into season two of 'Hannah Montana' and hot off signing a four-record deal with Disney's Hollywood Records, Cyrus releases 'Hannah Montana 2 / Meet Miley Cyrus,' a double album featuring the debut disc under her own name. Miley tops the Billboard charts again; the release goes triple platinum.
On TV: Hannah Montana performs for the president of the United States.

October 2007
In the news: Miley embarks on the Best of Both Worlds Tour, performing both as herself and Hannah Montana. MTV finds tickets being scalped as high as $2,500, with the average ticket resale value at $214 -- more expensive than tix for Beyonce or Justin Timberlake.
On TV: Miley's ascent into the big leagues of entertainment isn't so smooth as real life; she struggles to court fictional movie star Jake Ryan.

December 2007
In the news: Miley's first sexy photo scandal breaks, surrounding a Myspace pic of herself and a gal pal sexily sharing a piece of licorice. She'll later reflect in Vanity Fair: "That's two girls -- it's not a big deal. ... I was just like, it didn't affect me. Everyone's like, 'Maybe she'll learn her lesson this time.' Nope." She and Nick Jonas break up after nearly two years together; Miley will later tell Seventeen mag, "At first I bawled for a month straight."
On TV: Hannah Montana wins an International Music Award.

March 2008
In the news: A concert film of Miley's Best of Both Worlds Tour remains in theaters a month after its proposed single-week release, steamrolling its way to an eventual $29 million box office total.
On TV: Miley Stewart's Uncle Earl, played by funnyman David Koechner, comes to his niece for advice on how to be a rock star.

April 2008
In the news: Miley joins the TIME 100 as one of the magazine's most influential people. Former child star Donny Osmond writes, "Miley Cyrus, 15, is riding a huge tidal wave at the pinnacle of her career; this is as it should be. I hope she enjoys it. I guarantee there will be many bumps in the road ahead." Osmond worries about Cyrus' image becoming "cryogenically frozen into a specific stereotype."

On TV: 'Hannah Montana' is in the middle of a two-month hiatus. Formerly weekly episodes have become sporadic in the latter part of season two.

May 2008
In the news: Racy shots of a topless, towel-wrapped Miley appear in Vanity Fair. Cyrus says, "I took part in a photo shoot that was supposed to be 'artistic' and now, seeing the photographs and reading the story, I feel so embarrassed." Meanwhile, the LA Times estimates the lucky paparazzo to snag a shot of Miley's first kiss will earn between $30,000 and $150,000.
On TV: Miley is struck by lightning, goes back in time and must foster romance between her fighting parents -- in the past.

July 2008
In the news: Miley releases her sophomore album, 'Breakout.' "It's grown up. I wrote all the songs except two," a 15-year-old Cyrus tells Reuters. "Songwriting is what I really want to do with my life forever. I just hope this record showcases that, more than anything, I'm a writer."
On TV: Miley Stewart forgets her father's birthday; Hannah Montana experiences a rite of showbiz passage as her diamond appears on the Hollywood Parade of Stars (the 'Hannah Montana'-verse's answer to a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame).

September 2008
In the news: Miley begins dating underwear model Justin Gaston; he's a scandalous five years her senior.
On TV: Miley's friend Oliver dates her nemesis Joannie.

November 2008
In the news: Miley celebrates her sweet 16 at Disneyland, with $250 tickets benefiting a charity fundraiser for Youth Service America. She tells reporters she received a puppy and that "my parents shut down Disneyland for me, so I'm good for a while."
On TV: Season three of 'Hannah Montana' debuts. Miley Stewart fails her driver's test, returns to receive her license as Hannah Montana and gets busted by the cops.

June 2009
In the news: Miley breaks up with 20-year-old Justin Gaston. A source tells E! Online both are "really heartbroken."
On TV: An old friend of Miley's is engaged to her Hollywood ex, Jake.

August 2009
In the news: Miley is spotted smooching 'The Last Song' co-star Liam Hemsworth. She'll later call him her "first serious boyfriend." Miley pole-dances at the Teen Choice Awards, prompting E! Online to report on "Slutty Cyrus Vs. Wholesome Hannah."
On TV: Media hounds score a private secret of Hannah's.

October 2009
In the news: Miley quits Twitter and raps about it, saying, "I want my private life private."
On TV: Hannah plays judge in a TV talent show featuring her BFF Oliver.

December 2009
In the news: Touring for EP 'The Time of Our Lives,' Cyrus gets a tattoo on her ribs and performs for Queen Elizabeth II.
On TV: We'll let IMDb take it from here: "Miley is trying to audition for the starring role of a cartoon duck."

March 2010
In the news: Miley stars in her first non-'Hannah Montana' film, 'The Last Song,' written by 'The Notebook' author Nicholas Sparks.
On TV: In the tail end of season three, Miley pines for her old, simple life in Tennessee.

May 2010
In the news: 'Can't Be Tamed,' the lead single from Miley's third album, is released. PopEater dubs the steamy music video "Miley's adult coming-out." Days later, TMZ releases a clip of Miley dirty dancing with 44-year-old 'Last Song' producer Adam Shankman.
On TV: 'Hannah Montana' has conspicuously not begun its fourth season.

June 2010
In the news: In a scandal-stacked month for Miley, she mimics a kiss with a female dancer onstage, tattoos 'LOVE' inside her ear, and is inadvertently caught in the middle of a deplorable, downright creepy photo scandal involving blogger Perez Hilton.
On TV: Still no new 'Hannah Montana' episodes, but ABC airs an hour-long special centered around a Miley concert at London's storied O2 Arena.

August 2010
In the news: Miley and Liam split. The 17-year-old starlet's continually sexified image proves to be an expert business plan.
On TV: Early into the final and fourth season, dubbed 'Hannah Montana Forever,' Hannah performs with Sheryl Crow and is cheated on by boyfriend Jake.

October 2010
In the news: A month before turning 18, Miley's 'Who Owns My Heart' video stirs up more of an uproar than 'Can't Be Tamed.'
On TV: Hannah's newest tune takes a creative turn from her usual fare, upsetting her label.

November 2010
In the news: Another busy, rough month for Miley -- parents Tish and Billy Ray Cyrus announce their impending divorce, Miley takes heat for wearing a see-through dress in a live performance and tabloids speculate that not-quite-old-enough-yet Miley may have been drinking in Europe. On the bright side, she turns 18 and has an awesome party.
On TV: Miley gets dumped when her famous identity messes with her man's day-to-day. Miley and BFF Lilly apply to college; Lilly gets in, Miley doesn't.

December 2010
In the news: Easily the biggest, most widely reported Miley scandal yet, leaked video shows Cyrus smoking salvia from a bong and hallucinating. Father Billy Ray admits, "There is much beyond my control right now."
On TV: Miley explains her 'Hannah Montana' double life to the media.

PopEater surveyed Miley's reputation as the bong video hit:

January 2010
In the news: A hacker charged with distributing racy pictures of Miley is arrested in Nashville. The bong Cyrus smoked out of goes up for sale.
On TV: In finale 'Kiss It All Goodbye,' Miley deals with the "biggest decision ever" -- go to college with her BFF or make a movie? Tune in Sunday, Jan. 16, on Disney Channel, and see a preview here:

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Tags: Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus

Comments

(90)

Sunday 16 January

By Laura Lynn

Vote down Vote up Report this

I knew the minute I saw that video of her doing a hit on a bong THAT was the end of 'Hannah Montana' and pretty much her whole carrier.

By colleen

the same thing that happens to all disney channel stars will happen to miley: once hannah montana ends this weekend, all the little girls will be sad for awhile. miley will pull out one or two good new singles that get a few minutes of radio play, but in a year or two, people will watch reruns of her show and ask what happened to her. just look at vanessa hudgens, raven symone, etc. or her scandals will be the only thing that keeps her famous. shes trying to grow up, not realizing that the way shes doing it only makes her look less mature.

By Laura Lyne

hmmm - It appears as though she is a Wild Child - going from one extreme (Disney) to the other (Sex Sells)

I imagine she was under immense pressure growing up - and although her character on Hannah Montana was able to live a seemingly normal childhood - in truth she did not....

This does not excuse anything - but - still - I think it is sad that talent is sideswiped by the money machine - it is not as though with her fame and talent she has to go the way of a heathen....

One extreme to the other - she will grow up - hopefully sooner than later -

Such a gift - hmmm

By Tell It Like It Is

Since don's off course, would like 2 say, don't think I'd vote for any1 named Huck. Remember "do the hucklebuck", I think it was, from Honeymooners??!!! LOL!!!

By Kristen

If she doesn't want to appeal to little girls anymore, then she should have thought of that BEFORE "Hannah Montana." Now she is making herself look like a fool and is sending the wrong message out to little girls. Hopefully she doesn't turn into Lindsey Lohan. :/

By swtlulu

Miley is using old tactics that the Miss Britney Spears did a long time ago and guess what? They always work! Miley is talentless and needs to just go home... Britney at least has talent at the time.

By Mick

Anyone stupid and gullible enough to even consider voting for Palin, or her retarded twin sister, Bachman, would have to be retarded....They are the two dumbest women on the planet, and even make little Miley look almost smart....That's pitiful, and so are you! Palin couldn't run a third grade playtime tea party!

By don

mick, how judgemental you liberals are..your time is very short now.vote palin/huck in 2012 for a far better america.get rid of the disease liberalism along with socialism.god bless america........

By georgie

Jerseylisous is a guitly pleasure, however, I can't stand Tracy or the new girl Dora. I adore Olivia! She seems sweet and always seems to be the one taken advantage of on the show. Tracy just seems like a mean girl.

ooppppssss wrong blog. Sorry. Nothing bad to say about Miley this time, I think.

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