Thirteen years later, we look back at how “We Can’t Stop” shattered her wholesome Disney image, signaled the messy end of her first chapter with Liam Hemsworth, and why her recent Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special proved that her original “breakup” with her past was never truly final.

Exactly 13 years ago today, a 20-year-old Miley Cyrus released “We Can’t Stop,” the lead single from her explosive fourth studio album, Bangerz. Produced by Mike Will Made-It, the track wasn’t just a massive summer radio hit—it was a loud, unapologetic, and fiercely controversial declaration of independence. Looking back from 2026, “We Can’t Stop” stands as the exact moment Miley hijacked her own narrative and dismantled her corporate upbringing.

But while the song marked a brutal, necessary fracture from her childhood and her high-profile romance, Miley’s recent career moves have proven that you can never truly kill a Disney ghost. Instead, she has spent the last few years orchestrating the ultimate full-circle reclamation of her legacy.

The 2013 Radical Breakup with Hannah Montana

Before the summer of 2013, the world still largely viewed Cyrus through a wholesome, Disney Channel lens. While 2010’s Can’t Be Tamed was a solid attempt at rebellion, it still felt manufactured by the studio system. “We Can’t Stop” was different. It felt real, reckless, and entirely self-governed.

The music video—complete with gold grills, twerking, and a skull made of French fries—was a visceral shock to the system. By singing about “line[s] in the bathroom” and living by her own rules, Miley wasn’t just stepping out of Hannah Montana’s shadow; she was actively trying to incinerate it.

At the time, she needed the world to know that the wig was dead and buried. She was desperate to prove she was an adult artist, even if it meant alienating the empire that built her.

The Fracturing of the Liam Romance

You cannot talk about the Bangerz era without talking about the collateral damage to Miley’s personal life. At the time of the song’s release, Cyrus was technically still engaged to Australian actor Liam Hemsworth, her co-star from 2009’s The Last Song.

But the wild, hedonistic energy of “We Can’t Stop” clashed violently with the safe, domestic future the media had mapped out for them.

  • The Ring Comes Off: Rumors of a split swirled all summer as Cyrus traded her engagement ring for oversized streetwear and a platinum pixie cut.
  • The Infamous VMAs: The tension skyrocketed just a few months later during her infamous, foam-finger-wagging MTV VMA performance, which served as the final nail in the coffin for their first iteration as a couple.
  • The Official Split: By September 2013, the engagement was officially off. Though they would famously reunite years later and marry in 2018 (before ultimately divorcing), the raw rebellion of “We Can’t Stop” was the sonic blueprint of their first major heartbreak.

2026: Coming Full Circle and Embracing the Past

While 2013 Miley wanted absolute distance from her Disney roots, her ultimate evolution has proven that her breakup with Hannah Montana was never final. Following her historic induction as the youngest-ever Disney Legend, Cyrus officially completed her full-circle journey just a few months ago.

In March 2026, Disney+ premiered the highly anticipated Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special. Sitting down for a deeply emotional, candid interview with Alex Cooper, Miley didn’t run from her pop-star alter ego—she fully embraced her.

The special featured nostalgic, tear-jerking reunions with her father Billy Ray Cyrus and her former on-screen rival Selena Gomez, alongside a stunning musical performance of “Younger You.” Miley used the platform to reflect on how her perspective has completely shifted since the volatile days of Bangerz.