Emotional Miley Cyrus becomes the youngest person ever to be named Disney Legend

Captured hearts as Hannah Montana in the Disney Channel series

Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus has reached yet another milestone in her already illustrious career. On Sunday, the former Hannah Montana star made history by becoming the youngest person ever to be named a Disney Legend-an honor reserved for those who have made a significant impact on the company.

Cyrus first captured hearts as Hannah Montana in the Disney Channel series that debuted in 2006. The show, which ran for four seasons until 2011, followed the life of Miley Stewart, a seemingly ordinary teenager who secretly led a double life as the pop sensation Hannah Montana.

The success of the show led to Hannah Montana: The Movie in 2009 and the massively popular Best of Both Worlds tour in 2011.

The emotional moment took place at a D23 event in Anaheim, California, where Cyrus received a standing ovation from the audience.

As she took the stage, visibly moved, she shared a glimpse into her thoughts leading up to the event. Cyrus admitted she had prepared two speeches-“one long, [for] the badass I’m supposed to be, and one short, if I get scared”-before diving into memories of how Hannah Montana first came to life in 2005.

She humorously clarified that, unlike the rumors often associated with Disney stars, she “definitely wasn’t created in a lab” to be a “Disney kid.”

Cyrus recounted the behind-the-scenes journey of landing the role that would define a generation, noting that she wasn’t initially cast as the iconic character.

“I had gotten a taste of what my life could be, and from that moment on, I did not want anything else,” she said.

“A little bit of everything has changed, but at the same time, nothing has changed at all. I stand here still proud to have been Hannah Montana.

“In so many ways, his 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.’ “

Cyrus was among several notable figures honored at the event, including Angela Bassett, Colleen Atwood, James Cameron, Harrison Ford, and John Williams.