The recent news of the Hannah Montana 20th anniversary special delighted millennials who grew up loving Miley Cyrus as the blonde-haired pop star with a secret. Cyrus has kept the spirits high by embodying her beloved character in a series of colorful, sequin, and rhinestone-studded looks on red carpets, even returning to that signature Hannah Montana blonde and set of bangs.
Last night, at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards, Cyrus took a night off from her own character cosplay. The pop star and actor forwent the sparkles in favor of a Hermés leather coat with foldover lapels and a buttoned up neck, paired with matching cigarette pants. She also wore pointed black pumps and an anklet, as well as Marli rings, bracelets, and earrings, plus her own engagement ring.(A cushion-cut stone on a thick, 14k yellow gold band, made bespoke by designer Jacquie Aiche.) It was much more Miley Cyrus in 2026 than Miley Ray Stewart or H.M.
Cyrus stuck to the hay-toned, chest-length blonde, and kept glam grungy with a gray smoky eye.
The pop star accepted the Innovator Award, a gong previously awarded to Beyonce, Lady Gaga, and Taylor Swift. (Swift also made a surprise appearance, out for nine nominations across the evening.) “This week, celebrating 20 years of Hannah Montana has been a dream come true. My double denim and gold scarf thanks you because they’ve been waiting over a decade to leave the house,” Cyrus began her speech.
“Hannah Montana inspired me so much in my own career,” Cyrus continued. “I fell in love with the idea that you can create a persona that gives you the confidence and the courage to perform authentically, and that sometimes the fake you can actually reveal the real you.”
Cyrus’s outfit was quite the switch-up from her look for the Hannah Montana special premiere in Los Angeles. Appearing alongside her fiancé Maxx Morando, she tapped the 2000s aesthetics in a graphic tee under a plunging and slinky silver chain gown by Rabanne. The t-shirt, which appeared on the runway with a different print, was made custom to feature an old promo image of the pop star. Self-referential and glitzy, it truly was a look that spoke to the best of both worlds…
