The actor who played Oliver Oken on Hannah Montana remembers the day Eminem brought Hailie to the set, along with an armed security detail.
Hannah Montana forever
Mitchel Musso is an American actor and singer who rose to fame on the Disney Channel. His best-known role to date is Oliver Oscar Oken, Miley Stewart’s male best friend. Disney dropped him in 2011 after Musso was caught driving under the influence while still underage. However, before that, he was living what he now describes as a surreal life – making one of the channel’s most popular shows, touring as a singer, and being at the centre of a whirlwind.
Every major celebrity seemed to want to visit the Hannah Montana set, especially if they had children, Musso explained on his first-ever podcast appearances.
Take your kid to the set
“We had everybody. Not just guest stars. If you weren’t on the show, you were in the audience with your children. You got Tom Cruise and Connor right there. You got Will Smith and Jaden. You name it, they were there on that set, especially if you were somebody”.
If you had connections and knew the right people, it would only take one call to arrange special seating for celebrities, even if some of them had rather unusual requirements, like Eminem did when his team called to arrange a visit for him and Hailie.
Security measures
Musso remembered this request in particular. “They were asking, ‘Eminem called and said we have to bring guns, though, just so you know, for protection”.
Hailie remained a fan long after the visit. She also went to see Musso perform when he embarked on a solo music career. And judging by his wording, she did it more than once. “When I was touring, Hailie would come to my concerts with her friends and Eminem’s people”, the actor and singer recalls.
Music connections
Like many Disney stars of the era, Musso also launched a music career, releasing his own take on bouncy teenage pop rock. While his own style was a world apart from what Hailie’s father was doing, behind the scenes Musso was listening to a lot of rap. Among his favourites were Soulja Boy and Three 6 Mafia. However, two names stood out. “I didn’t go anywhere without listening to Eminem and Lil Wayne”, says Musso.