Why Isn’t Emily Osment In The Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special Reunion?

Former Hannah Montana star Emily Osment has set the record straight about why she didn’t join her co-stars for the Disney show’s recent anniversary special.

To commemorate 20 years since Miley Cyrus first donned that iconic blonde wig to play Hannah Montana, the Grammy winner recently took part in a special to celebrate the show that launched her to global fame.

As well as surprise guests and musical performances, the Wrecking Ball singer was joined by her former castmates to discuss all things Hannah Montana – but there was one notable absentee.

Emily Osment played Miley Stewart’s BFF Lilly Truscott in all four seasons of Hannah Montana, and its spin-off film, but was not able to attend the reunion because of filming commitments.

Late on Monday night, Emily posted a video of herself on the set of the sitcom Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, explaining that her work on the new show meant she was “not able to be a part” of the Hannah Montana special.

“But I wanted to say hello and thank you to everybody that has stuck by us all these years,” she added. “I’m so grateful that you guys all still love this show, and so proud to be a part of it.”

Emily also wrote in the caption: “Hannah Montana changed my life, it gave me a lifelong respect for this medium of comedy, it taught me discipline, patience, timing and respect working in an adult space so young.

“I’ve met thousands of [Hannah Montana] fans over the years, fans that now have children watching this show and fans that literally work beside me every day, like Montana [Jordan, her Georgie & Mandy co-star]. He’s seen every episode, don’t be fooled.

“I can’t tell you what your sweet messages mean to me and how lucky I feel to have been a part of this once in a generation Goliath of a television show. Thank you for letting me into your living rooms and I hope to still be there many years from now.”

The Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special is now streaming on Disney+.