Miley Cyrus received the Innovator Award at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles. During her acceptance speech, she reflected on the origins of her artistic persona.
Cyrus credited her early role as Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana for shaping her career. She described the character as a constructed identity that allowed her to explore performance.
The singer explained how playing a fictional pop star taught her to navigate public life. She suggested that this experience provided a framework for her later artistic evolution.
Cyrus has frequently acknowledged the series in her work. Her remarks connected her past in children’s television to her current status as a Grammy-winning artist.
The iHeartRadio Music Awards honor achievements across multiple genres. Other winners at the ceremony included SZA and Karol G.