The recent Miley Cyrus television special on NBC was a vivid indicator of how far the 21-year-old pop singer has traveled. Watching it, it’s hard to process that a mere three years ago this was the star of Disney’s successful tween TV show Hannah Montana.

You’ve got to sympathize with the shenanigans of Cyrus if you — a presumed adult — ever sat through 30 minutes, let alone a Montana marathon, of Miley playing a “regular” teen by day who’s secretly a mega pop star by night. Like most Disney shows aimed at pre-adolescents, it’s remarkably goofy. And it gives an eye into the brand challenge that Cyrus and her team faced in trying to get from there to where she is now.

 

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