Miley Cyrus ultimately got the role of Hannah Montana, but a few other actresses came very close to playing her.

Quick Scoop

According to the show’s original casting director Lisa London, the final three girls for the role were:

  • Miley Cyrus
  • Taylor Momsen (who later played Jenny Humphrey on Gossip Girl)
  • Daniella Monet (who later played Trina on Victorious)

London has said Miley had to beat out over 1,200 girls for the part, and that Momsen and Monet were the main “almost Hannah Montanas” in that final network test round.

On top of that, sisters Aly and AJ Michalka have revealed that Disney once explored a version where they would lead the series (with Aly as the Hannah- type character and AJ as the best friend) before the show took the form we know today.

So when people ask “who was almost Hannah Montana,” the clearest answers are Taylor Momsen and Daniella Monet in the final three, with Aly & AJ as an earlier alternate concept for the show’s leads.

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