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Lainey Wilson said it was a “full circle” moment to meet Miley Cyrus after working as a Hannah Montana impersonator.
Before she became the reigning Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year, Wilson made money as a performer by covering Hannah Montana hits (dressed in the signature blonde wig and other stage wear). She took the stage when Cyrus, 33, made history as the youngest person to become a Disney Legend at a D23 event in August 2024.
“Those full circle moments where you’re just like, ‘you can’t make this up,’ you know?” Wilson said during a recent appearance on No Filter, an Australia-based interview podcast hosted by Kate Langbroek. Wilson, 33, said she believes Cyrus might have learned about her through her sister, Brandi Cyrus. Wilson said of the Hannah Montana star, “she’s great. I mean, we know a lot of the same people. I told her, I was like, Hannah Montana meant a lot to me. It kept some money in the bank for five years for me. She has influenced more people than I think that she even realizes. …I think she is a rock star. She’s a rock star.”
After the D23 event in 2024, Wilson wrote in a caption on Instagram that she “got the best of both worlds that’s for sure. From performing as Hannah Montana on flat bed trailers at birthday parties to honoring the legend herself…now that right there is what ya call a full circle moment. [Miley Cyrus], you’re such an inspiration. Thank you for letting me honor you.” She added in a comment to the Hannah Montana star, who’s planning a special to mark the show’s milestone 20th anniversary, that she’s “incredibly honored to have been a part of such a special night. No one deserved it more than you, sister. Thank you for being you.”
Throughout her conversation on No Filter, Wilson also spoke about advice she received from Keith Urban, her fiancé, faith, music and more. Find the full episode on iHeartRadio here.
Wilson is among the country artists nominated at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards, returning this spring to Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California. See the list of country artists nominated here.
Like in years past, iHeartRadio is letting the fans choose the winners in several new and established categories. Fan voting will determine this year’s Favorite Broadway Debut, Favorite TikTok Dance, Favorite Debut Album, Best Lyrics, Best Music Video, Favorite On Screen, Favorite Tour Photographer, Favorite Soundtrack, Favorite Tour Style, Favorite Tour Tradition and Favorite K-pop Collab. Social voting begins on January 8th, and will close on March 19th at 11:59pm PT for all categories. Fans can vote by visiting iHeartRadio.com/awards.
Tune in to see which artists will take home an iHeartRadio Music Award on Thursday, March 26th at 8pm ET live (PT tape-delayed) on FOX. The show will also be broadcast on iHeartRadio stations across the country and on the iHeartRadio app.