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Lainey Wilson shared a heartfelt rendition of “Younger You,” the nostalgic ballad Miley Cyrus debuted during the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special.
“This song hits me straight in the feeeeeels,” Wilson, 33, wrote in her caption on Instagram, tagging Cyrus. Commenters — including Cyrus’ mom, Tish Cyrus — applauded Wilson’s cover of “Younger You.” Wilson sings: “Hey, you, it's younger you/ I’m just checking in to see if you still remember me/ Hey, you, it's younger you/ Do you still pray before bed, or are you worrying instead?/ Somewhere along the way, we lost touch/ We used to be so happy just because/ I know you had to go eventually/ But don't forget about me, don't forget about me.”
Cyrus shared Wilson’s cover on her Instagram story on Thursday (April 16), and wrote: “Your voice. This Song.”
Cyrus, 33, debuted “Younger You” during the highly-anticipated Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special last month. Cyrus launched her career with the breakout role, playing a teenager who lives a double life as a famous pop star. Hannah Montana premiered on March 24, 2006. The finale aired on January 16, 2011. “Younger You” is a nostalgic, reflective song that serves as a message from her past self, aiming to check in with her present self. Cyrus said when she accepted the iHeartRadio Innovator Award, “younger me is so honored 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!”
Wilson, who performed a medley of hits, introduced Cyrus to the stage to accept the Innovator Award at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards on March 26. The Whirlwind hitmaker said at the time, “she keeps taking risks that most artists would not dare to take… Miley reminds us that artistry is not about staying comfortable. It is about staying honest. That is what you call innovation, folks. And that is Miley Cyrus.” Wilson’s tribute to Cyrus at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards followed her tribute performance of “The Best of Both Worlds,” a classic Hannah Montana anthem and the show’s theme song. She took the stage when Cyrus made history as the youngest person to become a Disney Legend in August 2024. She was 31. Wilson marked a full circle moment, having worked as a Hannah Montana impersonator as a teen.
“Those full circle moments where you’re just like, ‘you can’t make this up,’ you know?” Wilson said during a recent appearance on No Filter, an Australia-based interview podcast hosted by Kate Langbroek. “I told her, I was like, Hannah Montana meant a lot to me. It kept some money in the bank for five years for me. She has influenced more people than I think that she even realizes. …I think she is a rock star. She’s a rock star.”