It is weird to think about, but the girl who spent years in neon leggings and side-ponytails as Miley Stewart’s chaotic best friend is now a 33-year-old sitcom veteran with a divorce and a high-stakes environmental gig under her belt. If you haven’t kept up with Emily Osment, the actress who played lily from hannah montana now, you’ve basically missed a masterclass in how to survive the "Disney Curse" without actually having a public breakdown.
She isn't just "the best friend" anymore.
Honestly, the transition from Disney Channel to "real" Hollywood is usually pretty messy. We’ve seen the headlines for twenty years. But Osment didn't go the route of trying to shock everyone with a provocative rebrand. Instead, she just kept working. Like, a lot. Currently, she is starring in her own CBS spin-off, Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, reprising her role as Mandy McAllister from Young Sheldon. It is a massive deal. She’s leading a multi-cam sitcom on a major network in 2026, which is basically the gold standard for job security in the acting world.
Life After the Lola Luftnagle Persona
People always ask about a Hannah Montana reunion. It’s the question that won’t die. Back in late 2024, Osment basically shut it down, or at least put it on a very long pause. She told reporters at a CBS event that she was just too busy. "Let me get through my wedding and this show, and then we'll talk," she said.
Well, the wedding happened. Then the divorce happened.
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In a move that surprised everyone who follows celebrity timelines, Emily married musician Jack Anthony in October 2024. By March 2025, she had filed for divorce. It was fast. We are talking five months of marriage. Because they had a prenuptial agreement, the whole thing was settled in record time—literally days after the filing. She didn't let it drag her down in the press, though. She was spotted shortly after walking dogs with her brother, Haley Joel Osment, looking remarkably chill.
Why the Career Pivot to Advocacy Matters
While her acting career is peaking with the Young Sheldon universe, she recently took on a role that has nothing to do with a script. In November 2025, she announced she was joining the board of directors for American Rivers.
This isn't just a "celebrity name on a pamphlet" situation.
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Osment has been vocal about the health of the Colorado River and the necessity of clean drinking water. She’s using her platform to push for actual policy change regarding how humans—specifically us—are pulling too much water from natural sources. It’s a far cry from Skateboarding Lily, but it feels authentic to who she’s become. She’s been posting about her connection to nature for years, so seeing her step into a leadership role for a major nonprofit makes sense.
The Industry Respect Most People Overlook
If you look at her credits, she’s worked with Chuck Lorre on five different series. That doesn't happen by accident. You have to be a professional who hits their marks and delivers the jokes. From her "darker" turn on Mom as a young woman struggling with addiction to her lead role in Young & Hungry, she’s proved she has range.
- Sitcom Dominance: Currently leading Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage on CBS (Season 2 is currently in production).
- Voice Work: Still active in animation, including roles in Family Guy and Dead End: Paranormal Park.
- Music: She still records under the name Bluebiird, though acting is clearly the primary focus right now.
Most people still see her as the girl in the background of a Miley Cyrus concert. That’s a mistake. She’s built one of the most stable, long-running careers of anyone from that 2000s Disney era. She didn't need a "Bangerz" moment to stay relevant; she just needed a really good deadpan delivery and the ability to pivot when the industry changed.
What’s Next for Emily Osment?
If you want to support her work now, the most direct way is tuning into the 2025-2026 season of Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage. The show has been a hit for CBS, and filming for the second season has brought back fan-favorite characters from the Young Sheldon world, keeping the momentum high.
Beyond the screen, keep an eye on her work with American Rivers. She’s actively calling for people to join her in protecting waterways, particularly the shrinking Colorado River. You can actually look up the specific conservation projects she’s backing through the American Rivers website if you want to see the "non-Hollywood" side of her life.
Stay updated on her filming schedule through the official CBS press releases, as that’s usually where the most accurate info on her career trajectory lives. She’s effectively moved past the "teen star" label and is now a fixture of network television.
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Check out the current season of her show on Paramount+ or CBS to see how she's handling the lead role. If you're interested in her environmental work, visit the American Rivers portal to see how her advocacy is actually impacting water policy in 2026.