Picture this: It’s 2009. You’re in Thailand. You’re standing in a sea of hopefuls, all vying for a chance to become the next K-pop superstar. You have one shot, one opportunity, to seize everything you ever wanted (yes, I’m quoting Eminem). And what do you do?
If you’re Lisa from Blackpink, you bust out Ice Cream Freeze (Let’s Chill) from Hannah Montana.
Yep, you read that right. Lisa, now one of the biggest pop stars on the planet, owes her superstardom to a song that was basically written for Disney Channel dance-along specials.
In a recent interview with The Guardian, the 27-year-old K-pop queen spilled the tea on her audition experience.
“I auditioned for Blackpink in Thailand by singing ‘Ice Cream Freeze (Let’s Chill)’ by Hannah Montana—so, Miley Cyrus,” she said.
First of all, iconic. Secondly, imagine watching 1,000 people belt out power ballads and emotional solos, and then there’s Lisa, just absolutely owning a dance routine that probably involved some aggressively perky choreography and finger guns.
“There must have been 1,000 people, so I never thought I would get picked,” she admitted. “It’s a fun song and good to dance to, so I think it really suited my style.”
Clearly, it worked. Fast forward, and she’s one-fourth of the global sensation Blackpink, filling stadiums and breaking records—proving once and for all that Hannah Montana truly was the best of both worlds.
Oh, and if being a K-pop legend wasn’t enough, Lisa is now also starring in The White Lotus season 3 on Max. Because why stop at world domination when you can also join one of TV’s most chaotic and unhinged luxury vacations?
Moral of the story? Never underestimate the power of a good throwback bop. And if you ever find yourself auditioning for something major, maybe—just maybe—give Hannah Montana a shot.
