Emily Osment reveals real reason for 'Hannah Montana' reunion absence

"Hannah Montana" starEmily Osmentwas notably absent from the series'20th anniversary special.

The actress, who played oppositeMiley Cyrusas Miley Stewart's best friend Lilly Truscott on the Disney Channel show, explained she was absent from the Disney+ special as she was filming her CBS series "Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage." Still, she took a moment on set to thank fans for their support.

"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," Osment captioned a March 23Instagram videofrom the "Georgie & Mandy" set. In the video, she asked costar Montana Jordan if he's ever heard of "Hannah Montana," who feigns ignorance. After hearing it's the 20-year anniversary of the show, he jokes, "Golly, y'all are old."

Osment, 34, continued in the caption: "I've met thousands of HM fans over the years, fans that now have children watching this show and fans that literally work beside me every day, like Montana. He's seen every episode, don't be fooled."

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Osment starred as Lilly – as well as her alter ego Lola Luftnagle, Hannah's best friend and assistant – on the series from 2006 to 2011. The young cast also featured Mitchell Musso as best friend Oliver, Jason Earles as Miley's brother Jackson and Moises Arias as Jackson's sidekick Rico, as well as Miley Cyrus' real-life dad, Billy Ray Cyrus, as Robby Ray.

Osment reflected on fans' enduring support after 20 years, saying she wouldn't be working on "Georgie & Mandy" if it weren't for "Hannah Montana."

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"I can't tell you what your sweet messages mean to me and how lucky I feel to have been apart [sic] of this once in a generation goliath of a television show," she added. "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!"

The special, which debuted early Tuesday, March 24, saw actress and pop starMiley Cyrusparticipate in an in-depth interview with"Call Her Daddy" host Alex Cooperabout the most epic moments from the series. The special also included cameos fromSelena Gomezand Cyrus' parents, Billy Ray Cyrus and Tish Cyrus.

Miley Cyrus also reflected on her bond with Osment on the series, which was her first big acting role.

Miley Cyrus and more stars from the beloved Disney show "Hannah Montana" celebrated the 20th anniversary of the series on March 23, 2026 at the at El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles.

See stars walk the purple carpet, starting with Hannah Montana herself, Miley Cyrus.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Lily-Rose Purcell, Cyrus, her mother Tish Cyrus, her fiance, musician Maxx Morando, Australian actor Dominic Purcell, Brandi Cyrus, Matt Southcombe and Joseph Purcell.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Cyrus' dress pictured from the back.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Cyrus and Morando

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> JoJo Siwa

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> From left, Mateo Arias, Moisés Arias, Jaden Smith and Willow Smith

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Ilona Maher

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Maria Georgas

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> David Archuleta

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Lainey Wilson

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Tana Mongeau

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Boman Martinez-Reid

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Hudson Stone

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Alex Cooper

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> From left, Shanica Knowles, Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, Cody Linley, Jason Earles and Moisés Arias

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Brandi, Miley, and Tish Cyrus

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Tish Cyrus and Dominic Purcell

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jason Earles

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Moisés Arias

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Anna Maria Perez de Tagle

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Cody Linley

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Cyrus

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Cyrus

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Brandi Cyrus

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

See Miley Cyrus, more stars at 'Hannah Montana' anniversary special

Miley Cyrus and more stars from the beloved Disney show "Hannah Montana" celebrated the 20th anniversary of the series on March 23, 2026 at the at El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles.See stars walk the purple carpet, starting with Hannah Montana herself, Miley Cyrus.

"I had what felt like a teammate, because I didn't know exactly what I was doing," she said. "I knew that we were going to have each other's backs when it came to our timing, to our scenes, to rehearsing."

However, she doesn't think she made the best first impression, recalling a story where the young teen may have grossed Osment out. "I did something really gnarly. My favorite thing to get at Panda Express was the white rice and pour Diet Coke on top, instead of soy sauce. It's a whole thing. Emily, no wonder she was like, 'Who is this bumpkin that they got?'" she said. "I am from the South in a way that is really hard to describe."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Is Emily Osment in the 'Hannah Montana' anniversary special?