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Miley Cyrus has solidified her innovator status with her latest achievement.
The "Flowers" singer was presented with the iHeartRadio Innovator Award at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Thursday (March 26), her first major honor after reviving her beloved character Hannah Montana in the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special earlier this week.
The coveted award honors Cyrus' impact on both music and global culture throughout her storied career, from her years as her alter-ego pop star to the legacy she has created as a superstar of her own and work she continues to build outside of music with her advocacy for homeless and at-risk youth through the Miley Cyrus Foundation and Happy Hippie.
After a heartfelt introduction from country superstar Lainey Wilson as well as a standing ovation from the crowd chanting "Miley," Cyrus reflected on how far she has come over past two decades, especially after honoring the 20th anniversary of Hannah Montana on March 24.
"This week celebrating 20 years of Hannah Montana has been a dream come true," she said, adding that the beloved character "inspired" her in her own career. "I fell in love with the idea that you can create a persona that gives you the confidence and the courage to perform authentically, and that sometimes the fake you can actually reveal the real you."
The "Flowers" singer explained that innovation to her doesn't mean leaving a part of herself behind in the past but "keeping the journey to finding myself a lot of fun."
While winning awards is an honor, her real win is from how her music and artistry can connect with fans, saying it "brings me a kind of joy that is deeply meaningful."
"Younger me is so honored to share this moment with you and I'm proud to stand here today and tell you how much you mean to me," she said. "This really is the life!"
Hosted by Ludacris, the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards featured special appearances and stellar performances by artists like Ludacris, Alex Warren, RAYE and Lainey Wilson as well as Kehlani, John Mellencamp and a must-see collaboration with TLC, Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue, who performed together for the very first time.
Check out the jaw-dropping red carpet fashions and the complete list of winners to see which of your favorite artist took home an award.