Miley Cyrus supported by family at Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special premiere — Billy Ray's reason for absence revealed


Miley Cyrus was joined by several of her family members at the LA premiere of Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special, but Billy Ray Cyrus appeared to be missing


Jenni McKnight
Jenni McKnightUS Lifestyle Editor
Updated: March 24, 2026
Share this:

Miley Cyrus and her family were out in force on Monday to support the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special, but some key members were missing.

The 33-year-old looked incredible at the world premiere in LA, giving a nod to her alter ego by wearing a Hannah Montana t-shirt underneath a shimmering silver dress.

Miley posed for photos on the purple carpet at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood with her mom, Tish Cyrus, and her fiancé, Maxx Morando, but one family member seemingly not in attendance was most notably her dad, Billy Ray Cyrus.

While Billy Ray appears in the special after he and Miley reconciled in 2025 following a feud that lasted several years, he was not photographed at the premiere.

See photos from the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special below.

photo of miley cyrus in hannah montana t shirt and silver dress© Getty Images

Miley looked gorgeous in her Hannah Montana t-shirt and dress

Nostalgic nod

Miley looked gorgeous in her floor-length sparkling dress, featuring a plunging neckline to her navel, which exposed her vintage-style Hannah Montana top that had cap sleeves displaying her multiple arm tattoos.

"Hannah Montana will always be a part of who I am. What started as a TV show became a shared experience that shaped my life and the lives of so many fans, and I'll always be thankful for that connection," Miley said in a statement.

photo of miley cyrus and hannah montana castmates 20th anniversary special premiere© Getty Images

Miley reunited with her Hannah Montana castmates

"The fact that it still means so much to people all these years later is something I'm very proud of. This 'Hannahversary' is my way of celebrating and thanking the fans who've stood by me for 20 years."

The special dropped on March 24 on Disney+ and Hulu and was filmed in front of a live studio audience. It features never-before-seen archival footage, performances of some of the show's iconic songs, and appearances from her parents, Tish and Billy Ray.

photo of miley cyrus and tish cyrus hannah montana special premiere© Getty Images

Tish Cyrus joined her daughter on the purple carpet

Tish Cyrus

Miley posed alongside her mom, Tish, who wore a sheer black shirt underneath a long black blazer, which she paired with some jeans.

Tish features in the special, which dropped on March 24 on Disney+ and Hulu and was filmed in front of a live studio audience. It also features never-before-seen archival footage and performances of some of the show's iconic songs.

photo of miley cyrus and tish cyrus hannah montana special premiere© Getty Images

Tish features in the anniversary special

In a prior interview with Variety, Miley praised her parents for never prioritizing money or fame over looking out for their daughter while she starred on Hannah Montana.

"My parents didn't need me to be famous to survive or to be stable," she said. "What happens to a lot of these kids is their parents want it more than they do, or the kids become responsible for the entire income of the family. That was never my job. Every penny I ever made went into my bank account because my parents were good."

photo of miley cyrus and maxx morando smiling at each other© Getty Images

Miley and Maxx only had eyes for each other

Maxx Morando

Miley's fiancé, Maxx, was also there to support her, with the couple posing for sweet photos and sharing a laugh on the carpet.

They confirmed their engagement in December 2025 after four years of dating. They were first spotted together at Miley's New Year's Eve Party special in December 2021. 

photo of miley cyrus and family hannah montana 20th anniversary special premiere© Getty Images

Miley posed with several family members

Supportive family

Alongside her mom and fiancé, Miley was joined by her sister, Brandi Cyrus, whose dad is Tish's first husband, Baxter Neal Helson, and her fiancé, Matt Southcombe.

Tish's husband, Prison Break star Dominic Purcell, was also there, alongside his son Joseph Purcell and daughter Lily-Rose.

Miley's siblings, Braison, Noah, Trace, and Christopher, and her dad, Billy Ray, all appeared to be absent and were not pictured at the premiere.

Billy Ray Cyrus photographed in his recording studio, shared on Instagram© Instagram

Billy Ray Cyrus in his studio

Where's Billy Ray?

It seems like Billy Ray was knee-deep in work the night of the premiere, posting on Instagram the day after the event explaining that he was in the studio "all night in Nashville" while prepping for an upcoming show with his kids Braison and Noah Cyrus.

Despite his apparent no-show, Miley told host Alex Cooper that she was "excited" about her dad's involvement in the special. "I think when me and my dad are good, people, they feel better. It just feels good when the Cyruses are getting along."

photo of miley cyrus hugging billy ray cyrus © Getty Images

Billy Ray and Miley ended their feud in 2025

Miley and Billy Ray, who became estranged after his 2022 divorce from Tish, whom Miley had "a lot of loyalty" to, reconciled last year after she wrote him a peace offering called "Secrets," which featured Lindsey Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac, her dad's favorite band.

Discussing their rift on Instagram in May 2025, she said: "My dad and I have had our challenges over the years. Now, in my thirties, family is my priority above all else. I'm at peace knowing bridges have been built and time has done a lot of healing."

More US
See more