FROM MILEY CYRUS TO 'HANNAH MONTANA'.

Byline: David Kronke

TV Critic

It can be a hectic life, being a multimedia superstar at the age of 14. Just ask Miley Cyrus, star of the Disney Channel's "Hannah Montana" and pop recording artist.

In order to speak with the Daily News, Cyrus has to take time during a break from a bike ride with her younger brother. Enjoying a frozen drink during a pit stop at a coffee shop, Cyrus got to talk about her whirlwind career.

At one point in the conversation, her brother interrupts her. "I'm doing an interview," she shushes him. "Sit."

"Hannah Montana" is a comedy about a tween living a double life -- during the day, she's Miley Stewart, an ordinary high-school student with the same hopes and frustrations of any kid. But at night, when the arena lights go down and the stage lights amp up, she, unbeknown to most of her schoolmates, transforms into pop sensation "Hannah Montana."

When it debuted in March 2006, the show immediately became Disney Channel's most popular series, as well as the most popular show among tween viewers on cable.

And that popularity definitely translates. When the first "Hannah Montana" soundtrack was released in November, it became the first TV soundtrack to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard charts and went double platinum.

On Tuesday, a follow-up recording, "Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus," was released. It's a two-disk set, one featuring songs sung by her character on the show, and the other featuring original songs written by Cyrus herself.

Recently, her father, country singer Billy Ray Cyrus (who co-stars on "Hannah") told People magazine he is crossing his fingers that his daughter, "Hannah Montana" star Miley, won't go the way of Lindsay and Paris and Britney.

"The biggest phenomenon in all this is that the kid's been able to keep her head on her shoulders," the 45-year-old country singer told the magazine. "She hasn't flipped out. I'm going to knock on wood."

He may not have to worry. When talking with her, Miley Cyrus sounds pretty level headed. In the interview, she spoke about the show, the new album, her fans, her dad being on "Dancing With the Stars," and her dogs.

On the six-month audition process to play Hannah:

"I was there from the beginning stages, but I was not in their mind for Hannah. I was auditioning for Lilly (a role which eventually went to Emily Osment). I kept auditioning, but I was too small, too young.

"It was definitely a long process. It was hard to hit the nail on the head. I don't think at the beginning I was quite ready for the part. I don't know that I would've hired me at that point. But I'm glad they waited."

On playing dual roles:

"As an actor, it's really fun, because you get to experience different things from different perspectives. As a person, it's a little harder. It's double the work -- not only for me but for the wardrobe people, the hair and makeup people and everyone else. It's hard but really fun to be the character.

"The cool part is I've gotten to add my own take to it. I relate to both of them so easily. I take the script in, but it's important to be myself. I didn't want to make a big fake persona, because the script calls for a real girl. So, my being from Tennessee with no experience worked to my advantage -- they got the normal, average girl and turned me into a pop star."

On the new album

"The songs on the show are cool, they're fun, they're young, but they're written for the character. I'm excited and anxious to see what people think of my songs, as well. They'll be meeting me in those songs and hearing more personal stories. I'm kind of nervous to put them out because some are so personal. They're real-life stories in which people can see me personally and see I'm just a normal girl.

"I think it's good to just go all the way and really let them see who you are. If I'm in this for the long run, then I don't want to fake it -- I want people to see the real me. They can see enough of me acting on TV."

On visiting fan Web sites and meeting fans:

"I go to fan sites a ton. I love reading the chat boxes. It's so fun. You read that someone didn't dig this, but someone loved it.

"At my first record signing -- it was at the Virgin Megastore in New York -- there were so many kids there, screaming 'I love you.' What makes it so special is to know that there really are kids who do love you. They really do have this love for you, and it's great to feel that from them."

On her dad's being on "Dancing With the Stars":

"Joey (Fatone, who came in second on "Dancing with the Stars") is actually (appearing) on our show -- I told my dad, 'He has more moves in one dance than you did the whole time.' But I was proud of him."

On "DWTS" judge Bruno Tonioli's withering assessments of her father's performances:

"Dude, I know! I went to most of the tapings, and he was always so critical, and I was like, 'Come on, loosen up!' "

On her six dogs (two German shepherds, a Lab-beagle mix, two Shih Tzus and a Yorkie):

"They're so spoiled. They live in our kitchen, eating all our food. Dad'll hand me a piece of steak under the counter and say, 'Give this to them -- you'll be their favorite.' "

David Kronke, [phone]

[e-mail]

www.insidesocal.com/tv

HANNAH MONTANA

What: Miley Cyrus stars as a tween with a double life: typical high-school student by day, pop star by night.

Where: Disney Channel.

When: 7 nightly.

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- cover -- color) meet miley cyrus

'Hannah Montana' star ready to sing in her own voice

(2 -- 3 -- color) Miley Cyrus pulls double duty as pop star Hanna Montana above, and as a regular teenage girl in her Disney series. Her real-life father, country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, top, also stars on the show with her.