The “Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special” premiered on Disney+ in March 2026, featuring most of the main cast members, including Miley Cyrus, for the Alex Cooper-hosted reunion. However, Mitchel Musso and Emily Osment were notably absent. Now, months later, he’s revealing why fans didn’t see him on the special.
Musso appeared on “The Joe Vulpis Podcast” in June 2026 to discuss his life post Disney Channel success. During the chat, the topic of “Hannah Montana” came up, and the actor confirmed he had been invited to appear on the special. He began, “It wasn’t the right thing.”
According to him, “Of course they asked me.” Regarding his decision to skip, he stated, “It wasn’t presented correctly.” Musso then explained that he would have preferred Disney to produce a new episode or even a movie, with him stepping back into his character, Oliver Oken, instead of using the reunion format.
He continued, “The kid in me was banking on it. Do an episode. Do a show. The set is still there. They just did it differently, and it is what it is, but it wasn’t the right thing.”
Mitchel Says He Was Too Busy For The Special
Musso continued explaining his absence from the “Hannah Montana” 20th Anniversary Special, saying, “I was busy doing something that was more important.” However, had the decision been made to film an original episode to celebrate the show’s anniversary, it would have been “way more important” than what he did instead.
The 34-year-old continued, “It would’ve been everything. I would’ve dropped everything—eat, breathe, sleep. I’m flying in early. I’m gonna be there. It didn’t turn out that way.”
He then reflected on the special, highlighting that timing also played a factor, saying, “It’s too long of a wait to do it in a way that isn’t even close to, in my opinion, correct.”
Musso added about his desire to return to the character, “I’d want to feel the part again. I’d want to put on that little polo again and wear the plaid shorts with the goofy shoes—I’d want to play the character.”
‘Hannah Montana’ Fans Are In Agreement With Mitchel
Following Musso’s reasoning for not appearing on the special, fans of the iconic Disney Channel series largely agree. This is the case, as many found what aired on Disney+ in March to be underwhelming compared to what they expected from the reunion.
One person said on X, “I think we can all agree with him a bit.” Someone else said, “He’s right.” After that, another social media user chimed in, writing, “It was fun and enjoyable and really emotional to hear her sing ‘ This Is the Life,’ but he’s also not wrong.”
However, despite the support, some took issue with his stance, saying he robbed the fans of the full experience. One person stated, “He still could have shown up.” Someone else wrote, “I think he just wanted a bigger paycheck from Disney.”
In addition to reacting to his reasoning for not appearing on the “Hannah Montana” special, social media users are also reacting to how happy and healthy Musso appears.
The Actor Previously Reflected On The Anniversary Of The Show
Despite not filming the “Hannah Montana” reunion special, Musso took to his official Instagram page in March to reflect on the series’ legacy. He did so by posting photos from the show and penning a lengthy statement.
He said, “Hannah Montana wrapped around my heart and never really let go. We literally grew up with ya’ll — long days, crazy schedules, learning lines, cracking up between takes, and figuring out life while the cameras rolled.”
After that, the actor noted what he gained from the show, saying, “It taught me so many wonderful values, but the most important to me is that laughter can get you through the tough days. That confidence still sticks with me every single day.”
In tributing the audience, he said, “To all of you who grew up right alongside us… your friends were our friends too.”
The ‘Hannah Montana’ Alum Has A New Movie In The Works
Though not on screen as often as during his original Disney Channel days, Musso has remained active in Hollywood, with roles in projects such as “The Rinse” in 2025, “Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe” in 2020, and “The Sand” in 2015.
However, according to Deadline, he was cast in 2025 to star in the upcoming comedy film “Mister Fun,” alongside Jesse Metcalfe, Cocoa Brown, and others. The movie is currently listed as being in post-production.