Miley Cyrus Honoured as Innovator at 2026 iHeartRadio Awards
Miley Cyrus was one of the standout recipients at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards, held on Thursday evening at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The Grammy-winning artist, now 33, was visibly moved as she accepted the prestigious Innovator Award, using the moment to reflect on her early fame from the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana.
Celebrating Two Decades of Hannah Montana
Cyrus recently marked the 20th anniversary of Hannah Montana, the hit sitcom that premiered in 2006 and catapulted her to household name status at just 13 years old. She commemorated this milestone with a special Disney+ feature, transitioning from child stardom to become one of Hollywood's most acclaimed talents. The show, which concluded in 2011 after 98 episodes, featured her real-life father Billy Ray Cyrus in a supporting role and launched her successful solo career, leading to three Grammy Awards and numerous chart-topping hits since her 2007 debut album Meet Miley Cyrus.
Emotional Acceptance Speech
Country singer Lainey Wilson presented the Innovator Award to Cyrus, citing her as a key musical inspiration. In her acceptance speech, Cyrus expressed deep gratitude, stating, "This week, celebrating 20 years of Hannah Montana has been a dream come true. My double denim and gold scarf thank you because they've been waiting over a decade to leave the house," referencing the iconic wardrobe from the series.
She elaborated on how the character influenced her career, saying, "Hannah Montana inspired me so much in my own career. I fell in love with the idea that you can create a persona that gives you the confidence and the courage to perform authentically, and that sometimes the fake you can actually reveal the real you."
Defining Innovation
Cyrus went on to share her personal interpretation of innovation, explaining, "Innovation, for me, hasn't been about leaving who I've been behind, but about keeping the journey of finding myself a lot of fun. I've always written songs and told stories because I love it, and winning awards for that work is, of course, rewarding. But it's not my compass because if it was, I'm sure I'd end up very lost when the win isn't recognition but making art that reaches the hearts of people I may never meet. It brings me a kind of joy that is deeply meaningful."
Concluding her speech, she added, "Younger me is so honoured to share this moment with you, and I'm proud to stand here today and tell you how much you mean to me. This really is the life," alluding to one of Hannah Montana's popular songs.
Red Carpet and Family Support
For the ceremony, Cyrus was accompanied by her mother, Tish Cyrus, 58, with whom she posed for photographs inside the venue. On the red carpet, she stood out alongside celebrities like Taylor Swift and Nicole Scherzinger, wearing a stylish black leather jacket and matching trousers, complemented by tall black heels. Her appearance featured newly-dyed blonde hair with wispy bangs, cut to resemble her Hannah Montana wig, along with smokey eyeshadow and a glossy nude lip.
Highlights of the Awards Show
The 13th annual iHeartRadio Music Awards were hosted by Ludacris, who received the iHeartRadio Landmark Award. Taylor Swift dominated the nominations with nine nods, winning all categories, including Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for The Fate of Ophelia from her 2025 album The Life Of A Showgirl. The event featured a historic performance by TLC, Salt-N-Pepa, and En Vogue together for the first time, alongside acts such as Alex Warren, Lainey Wilson, Ludacris, RAYE, Kehlani, and John Mellencamp, who was honoured with the 2026 iHeartRadio Icon Award for his enduring legacy in music.
Special appearances included Taylor Swift, Alysa Liu, Ne-Yo, Nicole Scherzinger, Nikki Glaser, sombr, and Weezer. Organisers John Sykes and Tom Poleman emphasised that the show celebrates fan-favourite songs and artists from iHeartRadio stations and apps, with FOX viewers getting an exclusive preview of summer 2026 tracks.
