Aly Michalka Explains the Reasons Why She Turned Down Offer to Star inHannah MontanaInstead of Miley Cyrus

Mar. 15, 2025

Aly Michalka (left); Miley Cyrus as Hannah Montana (right).Photo:Tommaso Boddi/Variety via Getty; Bob D’Amico/Disney/Courtesy everett collection

Tommaso Boddi/Variety via Getty; Bob D’Amico/Disney/Courtesy everett collection

Aly Michalka has some thoughts about the choice she didn’t make.

On the Jan. 8 episode ofCall Her Daddywith Alex Cooper, Aly appeared alongside her sister AJ Michalka, whom she releases music with under the name Aly & AJ. After the duo signed with Disney’s Hollywood Records in 2004, Aly, now 35, also began appearing in the Disney Channel seriesPhil of the Future. And, as she told Cooper, as the second (and final) season of that show came to an end, executives at the Disney Channel offered herHannah Montana.

“[They] were like, ‘This pilot has come in and we think that you’re really perfect for it,’ ” she remembered. But when she read the pilot, she thought, “But I’m doing music as Aly and this might be really confusing being Hannah and being the character also playing Hannah.” Cooper, 30, noted, “There’d be three of you.”

Aly Michalka (left) and Raviv Ullman in ‘Phil of the Future.’ in 2004.Disney Channel/Courtesy Everett Collection

Disney Channel/Courtesy Everett Collection

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“We had doneCow Belles,” AJ, 33, said, referencing their 2006Disney Channel Original Movie. “The music had aired a lot on Disney Channel.” That included their 2007 track“Potential Breakup Song,”which often aired on the channel’s commercial breaks and became the duo’s biggest commercial success. And though Miley Cyrus ultimately became Hannah Montana,the three were good friends.

AJ Michalka (left) and Aly Michalka in ‘Cow Belles’ in 2006.Cinematic/Alamy

Cinematic/Alamy

Aly and AJ also talked to Cooper about what it was like being child actors. “I made like $7,000 per episode on [Phil of the Future],” Aly said. “That ain’t nothing. But I guess for a kids’ show you’re kind of like that’s great, that could go into their college fund.”

But the duo felt like their parents helped them stay grounded. “I can tell you we weren’t the boss of our household, that’s for sure,” AJ said. “Just because we were working did not put us at the top. We were the kids.” Their parents were also “very, very clear” that they were not going to be partying with adults when they were underage.

“I just feel like when you’re younger, you can kind of get away with it if you’re in the industry, just rolling into every situation,” AJ said.Aly, who welcomed her first child in June 2024, added, “And you’re like a little mini adult, even though you really shouldn’t be.” Their mom was also on set with them to protect them.

From left: AJ and Aly Michalka in 2024.Monica Schipper/Getty

Monica Schipper/Getty

Both sisters continued to act and to release music together, including their 2023 albumWith Love From. In 2024, AJ appeared onThe Masked Singeras Strawberry Shortcake, finishing in third. “I’m not mad at [third place],“she told PEOPLE at the time. “I wanted top two, but it’s solid.” She also told PEOPLE that originally the sisters were asked to do it together, butAly welcomed her son Jack in Juneand had to turn it down.

“I talked to her and was like, ‘Hey, would you be okay with me just doing it on my own?’ And she was like, ‘Hell yeah. Go kill it,’ ” AJ said. “It was exciting. I’ve never done anything without her on stage.”

source: people.com