Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Being Afraid and Doing It Anyway Is Legendary
Miley Cyrus has hit another milestone in her illustrious career. After securing her first Grammy earlier this year, she has now been honored as a Disney Legend. The recognition was bestowed at the star-studded D23 Expo in Anaheim.
Lainey Wilson, another celebrated artist, took the stage to introduce Cyrus with a lively rendition of “The Best of Both Worlds,” a classic from “Hannah Montana.” After her performance, Wilson addressed Cyrus directly, praising her for her authenticity and resilience, noting how Cyrus has always “kicked butt.”
When Miley Cyrus took to the podium, she shared a heartfelt message. “I’m gonna let everybody get on a little Disney Legend secret. I’m the one that tells you what you’re not supposed to know. And what I want to say, is that legends get scared, too. I’m scared right now, but the difference is we do it anyway, and all of you can do that every single day. It’s legendary to be afraid and do it anyway. There is no such thing as failure when you try. That’s the only way you lose,” she shared, wiping away tears.
Cyrus further reminisced about her journey with Disney, stating, “In 2005, Disney was on a mission to rebuild the company. That’s why they hired Bob Iger, and me,” she added with a laugh.
“I stand here still proud to have been ‘Hannah Montana’,” she continued. “This award is dedicated to Hannah and all of her amazing, loyal fans, and to everyone who has made my dream a reality. To quote the legend herself, ‘This is the life,'” she added, referencing a famous Hannah Montana song.
The D23 Expo ceremony was packed with notable honorees including costume designer Colleen Atwood, Angela Bassett, Disney Parks cast member Martha Blanding, James L. Brooks, James Cameron, Jamie Lee Curtis, Marvel comic artist Steve Ditko, Harrison Ford, animator Mark Henn, Frank Oz, Kelly Ripa, imagineer Joe Rohde, and John Williams.
The Disney Legends awards program serves as a hall of fame, paying tribute to individuals who have significantly impacted the Disney legacy. Past awardees encompass a wide range of talent including Christina Aguilera, Stan Lee, Betty White, and Oprah Winfrey.
Cyrus’ journey with Disney began when she was just a tween. She starred in the immensely popular Disney Channel comedy “Hannah Montana,” playing the role of an ordinary girl living a double life as a pop star. The series was a massive hit, averaging 4.4 million viewers per episode and setting records with a 2007 episode that attracted 10.7 million viewers. The success of “Hannah Montana” led to a world tour, a concert film, and a feature film, catapulting Cyrus to household name status.
Following the show, she voiced Penny in Disney’s animated feature “Bolt” alongside John Travolta, earning a Golden Globe nomination for the song “I Thought I Lost You” from the project.
Transitioning from her Disney image, Cyrus released more mature music hits such as “We Can’t Stop,” “Wrecking Ball,” and “Malibu.” However, she revisited her Disney roots recently with the Disney+ documentary concert special “Endless Summer Vacation (Backyard Sessions).”
At 31 years old, Miley Cyrus now holds the distinction of being the youngest person ever to be named a Disney Legend.
