Hannah Who?

One of Kenzie's almost daily routines is to watch Hannah Montana before, during or after the dinner hour. Whenever I am visiting her at home in the evenings, it seems like Hannah is visiting her, too.

Recently, she has said, "Nana, we will play, but first I have to watch the rest of Hannah Montana."

She has a Hannah T-shirt (size 5), but I haven't seen any other of her stuff around. Oh, except for a blonde hairpiece that attaches to her ponytail which her mother bought her at Loobie Lu.

"What three things do you like about this program?" I asked four and a half year old Kenz.
She replied #1 She changes into a wig. #2 She's pretty. #3 It's funny.

I've tried to enjoy watching it with her.
"I don't get it, Kenz. What's this episode about?"
"Nana, she changes into a rock star!"

I guess that's all you need to know when you are four, even though these characters are dealing with issues that hit hard in the grammar and high school years.

Several months ago, a mom I was talking to had mentioned that her five year old daughter "loves Hannah Montana."

"Hannah who?" I had asked.

Her explanation was about the same as Kenzie's, "She's a normal girl who turns into a singer at night."

And yesterday, I got a letter from a relative with an almost six year old granddaughter who wrote,"Beth is into Hannah Montana and I called Hannah...Hannah Banana just to tease Beth, as she would say, No Grandma, it's Hannah Montana. Well guess what? She named her dog...Hannah Banana!"

I am still wondering, maybe a little concerned, what the draw for the little girls is, because after all, teenage land is very far away. I know it's the glitter and stardom and all of that, but this is something, Nana will have to "watch."

Two things that "pop" out at me right away are that the girl has a #1 A Big Secret and #2 A Double Life. These are not bad things when you're a pop star, but let's remind our granddaughters that these things are not always the thing to do and are not always 'cool.'

Here's the scoop from one of the hundreds of the idol's websites.

The show centers on 14-year-old Miley Stewart and takes place in Malibu, California. She's a teenage girl who has a big secret. Only her close family, best friends Lilly and Oliver, ex-boyfriend Jake Ryan, and bodyguard Roxy know that she is living a double life as "Teen Pop Sensation" Hannah Montana. She lives in a house by the beach with her father Robby Ray (played by Miley's real life father Billy Ray Cyrus) and older brother Jackson (played by Jason Earles), who works down at Rico's Surf Shop by the beach. The Stewarts are from Nashville, Tennessee. Miley's mother died before the show began, leaving singer-songwriter Robby a widower and the sole caretaker of their children, giving up his previous career as a famous country singer. He is also the disguised father and manager of Hannah Montana. Miley's two best friends Lilly Truscott (played by Emily Osment) and Oliver Oken (played by Mitchel Musso) also live nearby and attend school with her. Each episode deals with life, personal conflicts, or problems that are easily solved with lessons learned by the show's end.


The theme song for Hannah Montana is "The Best of Both Worlds" written by Matthew Gerrard and Robbie Nevil, produced by Gerrard and performed by Miley Cyrus (as Hannah Montana).

These are Program's opening song lyrics.

But schools cool cuz nobody knows
Ya you get to be a small town girl
But big time when you play your guitar
You get the best of both worlds
Chill it out, take it slow

Then you rock out the show
You get the best of both worlds
Mix it all together and you know
that it's the best of both
You know the best of both worlds

Above is a You Tube video from a Hannah Concert. Look around the audience. She sure has appeal to all ages. The lyrics ... the best of both worlds.... is something I can relate to when it comes to being a grandma! Oh dear! the tune is stuck in my head already.