Miley couldn't have the best of both worlds in the end. She had to make a choice. How did Hannah Montana end? Revisiting the Disney Channel series finale 15 years later Miley couldn't have the best of both worlds in the end. She had to make a choice. By Allison DeGrushe :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/allisondegrusheEWbiophotoe5f8e89253c84b7085a43c502a3051a4.jpg) Allison DeGrushe Allison DeGrushe is a timely SEO writer at . She has been working at since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on Distractify. EW's editorial guidelines March 25, 2026 6:08 p.m.

Miley couldn't have the best of both worlds in the end. She had to make a choice.

How did *Hannah Montana *end? Revisiting the Disney Channel series finale 15 years later

Miley couldn't have the best of both worlds in the end. She had to make a choice.

By Allison DeGrushe

Allison DeGrushe

Allison DeGrushe is a timely SEO writer at **. She has been working at * *since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on Distractify.

EW's editorial guidelines

March 25, 2026 6:08 p.m. ET

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Miley Cyrus as Miley Stewart in the 'Hannah Montana' series finale. Credit:

- *Hannah Montana *starred Miley Cyrus as an ordinary teenage girl juggling her secret life as a world-famous pop star.

- The hit series ran on Disney Channel for four seasons.

- It's two-part series finale aired on Jan. 16, 2011.

*Hannah Montana* wasn't just a show — it was a full-on phenomenon. For years, audiences followed Miley Stewart (Miley Cyrus) as she juggled homework, relationships, and secretly being a pop superstar.

With the 20th anniversary special now streaming on Disney+, it's the perfect time to revisit the series finale of *Hannah Montana*.

Read on as * *dives back into Miley's world and break down how the beloved Disney Channel sitcom wrapped up.

Does Miley choose the movie over college?

Miley Cyrus as Miley Stewart in the 'Hannah Montana' series finale.

At the start of the finale, Miley gets an incredible huge movie offer for a project directed by Steven Spielberg and starring star Tom Cruise. As if that's not tempting enough, they're going to be filming in Paris. Her dad, Robby Ray (Billy Ray Cyrus), initially rejects the deal, but Miley is tempted. The problem? She already promised Lilly (Emily Osment) they'd go to the same college.

Miley initially decides to honor her promise and go to college with Lilly, but the chance to star in such a high-profile movie is too good to pass up, and she ultimately chooses the film.

Lilly is understandably upset. After all, she and Miley always dreamed of going to college together, but she understands Miley's decision. Still, there's a twinge of sadness in her words as she tells Miley, "But what I don't understand is that after six years, you don't know me well enough to know that, yeah, I would be really mad at you, but then I'd be really happy for you."

Does Lilly ever consider going to Paris?

Mitchel Musso as Oliver and Emily Osment as Lilly in the 'Hannah Montana' series finale.

Miley isn't sure how to fix things with Lilly, so she turns to her brother, Jackson (Jason Earles), for advice. He suggests she ask Lilly to come with her to Paris while the movie shoots.

When Miley talks to Lilly, she realizes the real reason Lilly is upset is because they've always done everything together, and Miley didn't even consider if Lilly would want to go with her. So, Miley asks her friend to join her in Paris, and at first, Lilly says no because she can't put off college. But after thinking it over briefly, she changes her mind, and the two make plans to go together.

At the airport, their boyfriends, Jesse (Drew Roy) and Oliver (Mitchel Musso), come to say goodbye. Just as they're about to board the plane, Lilly decides she can't go, explaining that Paris is Miley's dream and that her own dream is going to college. They share a hug before Miley heads off to Paris with her dad to film the movie.

What happens with Jackson and Rico?

Jason Earles as Jackson Stewart and Moisés Arias as Rico in the 'Hannah Montana' series finale.

Meanwhile, Jackson is struggling to keep up with his bikini model girlfriend Siena's (Tammin Sursok) extravagant lifestyle. He tries working several different jobs — from selling snacks to dealing with snakes and kangaroos — to earn money for a gift. When he buys Siena a beautiful necklace, she ends up surprising him with a car.

In the end, Jackson's frenemy Rico (Moisés Arias) helps him land a job as a video game tester. The two admit that while they argue, they're also good friends. Jackson and Siena also stay together, happy with how things turned out.

What happens at the end of Hannah Montana?

Miley Cyrus as Miley Stewart in the 'Hannah Montana' series finale.

Miley arrives in Paris, and while she's settling in before filming starts, we see Lilly at college, settling into her new routine. Miley clearly misses her best friend, constantly glancing at a framed photo of them at their high school graduation.

One day, while Lilly is studying in her dorm, there is a knock at the door. When she opens it, she's surprised to see Miley standing there in a Stanford hoodie. Miley smiles and says, "There's gonna be a million concerts, and tours, and movies, but I only get one chance to go to college with my best friend."

They embrace, and as the series comes to a close, a montage of memorable moments from *Hannah Montana *plays over "I'll Always Remember You."

Where can I watch Hannah Montana?

All four seasons of *Hannah Montana *are now streaming on Disney+.

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- Children's Shows

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Source: Children's

Published: March 25, 2026 at 06:57PM on Source: PRIME TIME

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