Big sky’s the limit for ‘Montana’

Miley Cyrus isn’t a country music star, but after a couple of months of playing one on TV she’s getting an idea what it feels like.

For one thing, impromptu visits to your favorite Southern California shopping mall are out unless you arrive in a disguise.

“The last time me and my mom went, it turned out to be not such a good idea,” says Cyrus, who plays a country singer in the new Disney Channel show “Hannah Montana” (Fridays at 7 p.m., cable channel 41 in Spokane, 32 in Coeur d’Alene).

“People rushed into the store we were in and they had to shut the doors until everyone would go away. It was crazy.”

Not that the 13-year-old isn’t used to being around frenetic fans. She is, after all, the daughter of country music star Billy Ray (“Achy Breaky Heart”) Cyrus.

But since her TV debut, the fans are starting to direct their attention more to her.

“Miley used to be known as Billy Ray Cyrus’ daughter. Now I’m known as Miley Cyrus’ father,” her dad observes.

“And I couldn’t be more happy,” he quickly adds. “I’m just so proud of that little girl.”

Indeed, with almost no professional acting experience, Miley finds herself in one of the most popular children’s shows on cable TV.

She plays 14-year-old country superstar Hannah Montana. With her brother and father-manager (played by her real-life father), Hannah has taken up residence in Malibu with designs on attending school under her given name, Miley Stewart. There, she hopes to make friends and be just a regular kid.

This being television, all she has to do to pull off the ruse is don a wig.

As for father and daughter’s screen roles, both say that wasn’t much of a stretch either.

“It’s just me, it’s just who I am,” the outgoing, self-confident young actress says.

Not that playing opposite her real father doesn’t sometimes present a challenge.

“You know how when you’re a girl you don’t always want your dad around?” she asks. “Sometimes it’s like that.

“But my dad’s kind of cool when it comes to that. He’s better than most dads.”

For his part, Cyrus says he wasn’t sure he wanted to take the role when it was offered at the last minute after his daughter spent two years auditioning for her part.

“I said, ‘I don’t want her to have worked so hard to get this show and me come on and mess it up,’ ” says Cyrus, who starred in his own show, “Doc,” a few years ago.

As it turned out, a series in which both of them can trade quips, sing and pick guitars was a natural fit for him, too.

“Since Miley was a little girl we’ve been writing songs together. We sing together,” he says.

“We do a whole lot more of it offstage than onstage. That’s how we really communicate the best with each other.”

The birthday bunch

Actor Kevin Conway (“Gods and Generals”) is 64. Actor Anthony Geary is 59. Composer Danny Elfman is 53. Singer LaToya Jackson is 50. Actor Ted Levine (“Monk,” “The Silence of the Lambs”) is 49. Actress Annette Bening is 48. Actor Rupert Everett is 47. Singer Melissa Etheridge is 45. Actress Lisa Whelchel (“The Facts of Life”) is 43. Cartoonist Aaron McGruder (“Boondocks”) is 32. Singer Melanie Brown (Scary Spice) is 31.