Emily Osment reveals why she didn't attend the Hannah Montana 20th anniversary reunion

Hannah Montana fans have been left disappointed to find out that co-star Emily Osment won't feature in the forthcoming Disney+ anniversary special.

Osment, who starred alongside Miley Cyrus in the lead role, thanked fans for all of their support and love over the years.

The now-34-year-old played Miley's BFF, Lilly Truscott, on the smash-hit TV show from 2006 to 2011.

The Disney cult classic is still much-loved amongst fans, and Cyrus has always expressed her appreciation and adoration for the role that made her a household name.

Fans have been excitedly waiting to watch the Hannah Montana 20th anniversary reunion episode for a real nostalgia hit, but were stunned to find that Osment was missing, despite playing such a huge role in the show.

The anniversary episode is released today (24 March) on Disney+, and Osment broke the news of her absence on Instagram yesterday.

She was keen to stress there is no bad blood between her and any of the cast.

She shared in the video: “I wanted to say hello and thank you to everybody that has stuck by us for all these years.

“So grateful that you guys all still love this show. I'm so proud to be a part of it.”

In the caption, Osment added: “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 can’t tell you what your sweet messages mean to me and how lucky I feel to have been apart 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.”

She went on to explain why she couldn't attend the anniversary special.

In a video with her George & Mandy’s First Marriage co-star Montana Jordan, she said: "We're at the George & Mandy set, and that's why I was not able to be a part of the 20-year reunion, because we are here shooting our show."

The CBS sitcom is a sequel to Big Bang Theory spinoff Young Sheldon, and follows the love story between Sheldon Cooper's elder brother and a woman 11 years his senior.

It was recently renewed for a third season.

Osment has been throwing cold water on fans' hopes she'd return for a Hannah Montana 20-year reunion all the way back in 2024.

She told the New York Post at the time: "I’m kind of busy right now. A little busy. Let me get through my wedding and this show [George & Mandy’s First Marriage], and then we’ll talk."

Osment, the sister of Sixth Sense star Haley Joel Osment, married songwriter Jack Anthony in October 2024, but filed for divorce just five months later, citing irreconcilable differences.

Who else auditioned for Hannah Montana?

You may not realise this, but we came very close to an alternate timeline in which the Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana was not played by Miley Cyrus.

In fact, two finalists came close to bagging the part themselves.

Back in 2022, casting director Lisa London shared a TikTok revealing the two other girls in the top three alongside Cyrus after 1,200 kids auditioned.

First up was Taylor Momsen, who ultimately went on to star in Gossip Girl two years after the audition and formed her band The Pretty Reckless in 2009.

There are no hard feelings. Monmsen said in an interview: “I wrote all my own music and I’m pretty f**king brash to say the least and I don’t necessarily think Disney would be the right fit for me.”

The other girl was Daniella Monet, who ultimately went on to star in Nickelodeon’s Victorious alongside Ariana Grande.

She told the Counter-Melodies podcast: ”It was me, Miley and Taylor Momsen - and that experience was so fun.

“We’re all, for hours, going in and out of this room to do this audition. They would have us sing, come back outside, give you notes, whatever.

“The show is great and it was exactly what it needed to be, but I was in love with the idea of doing Disney.”