Photo: Getty Images
When Hannah Montana celebrated its 20th anniversary earlier this year, many fans eagerly tuned in to watch star Miley Cyrus take a walk down memory lane and reminisce over her time filming the Disney Channel series. However, there were a few notable absences missing from the special honoring the milestone celebration, including Mitchel Musso. Now, he's sharing why he skipped out on the event.
Musso, who played Oliver Oken throughout the show's run, explained on the June 24 episode of The Joe Vulpis podcast that "of course they asked me" to participate but that he chose not to because "it wasn't presented correctly." Rather than the reflective special that ultimately aired, Musso would have joined a reunion if it means reviving his character in a scripted production, per E! News.
"The kid in me was banking on it," he said. "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."
He added, "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."
(L-R): Jason Earles, Miley Cyrus, Mitchel Musso, Billy Ray CyrusPhoto: Getty Images
While Musso was "busy doing something that was more important" at the time, he said he would have done anything to join the reunion he had originally hoped for.
"It would've been everything," he said. "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."
Musso wasn't the only major player missing from the celebrations. Emily Osment, whose Lilly Truscott rounded out the show's beloved friendship trio, was also absent from the anniversary due to filming obligations for her show George & Mandy's First Marriage. Despite missing the event, she shared a lengthy post on Instagram commemorating the occasion and sharing how Hannah Montana "changed my life."
"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," she said. "Thank you for letting me into your living rooms and I hope to still be there many years from now. Would never be where I am without you guys, working on another beautiful show I love so dearly. With all my heart, THANK YOU! ❤️ Lilly."