Chappell Roan, the rising pop sensation behind the viral hit “Hot To Go,” didn’t hold back when it came to expressing her admiration for Miley Cyrus. In a heartfelt video posted on Monday (August 12), Roan shared her thoughts on why Cyrus continues to be a major influence in her life, just a day after Miley was honored at the Disney Legends Ceremony during the finale of this year’s D23 fan event. Alongside icons like Jamie Lee Curtis, Angela Bassett, and Harrison Ford, Cyrus was celebrated for her contributions to entertainment.
“The things that I admire about Miley Cyrus is that she constantly reinvents herself and always works,” Roan gushed in the video, which was shared by Pop Crave. “For a lot of artists, it can seem inauthentic or out of the blue, but she’s very open about her transformations artistically and personally. She’s so true to herself and puts out music that is so authentic.”
Roan, now 26, reminisced about her very first concert experience, which was Miley’s 2007-2008 Best of Both Worlds tour featuring the Jonas Brothers as the opening act. “She came down in a box from the ceiling. I was like, ‘How do I do that one day?’ I still think about it,” Roan mused. “I still think about the show. I’m like, ‘I want to be like Hannah Montana,’ to this day.”
Roan sees a strong connection between her own career and Cyrus’. “There’s a lot of crossover between Miley’s career and mine,” she said. “Plus, I’m such a fan, too. I love her fanbase. She’s got the whole world that supports her. She could do whatever she wants, which is something I want to do. Miley does anything and it works. Miley feels like freedom to me.”
This year’s Disney Legends ceremony, hosted by Ryan Seacrest of American Idol fame, highlighted Cyrus’ impact as the youngest inductee ever. The event also featured superfan Lainey Wilson — who began her career as a Hannah Montana impersonator — performing the iconic “Best of Both Worlds” theme song, calling it “truly a dream come true.”
Photo: Steve Jennings/FilmMagic and Kevin Winter/Getty Images
