Fans flock to cheer for Miley at the BJC

Lori Falce

If Miley Cyrus isn't the hottest act in show business today, her fans don't know it.

CDT/Christopher Weddle

Miley Cyrus performs "Breakout" at the Bryce Jordan Center on Thursday, November 5, 2009. CDT/Christopher Weddle

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The Bryce Jordan Center has been mobbed by fans for big names in pop, rock and country this year, but nothing has compared to the crushing crowds of little girls that showed up for the crown princess of pop Thursday night.

Heaven and Nevaeh Brinks, 5, of Allentown, were decked out in all their best Hannah Montana gear.

“We love Hannah!” the tiny twins said in unison, jumping up and down. Their mother, Tracey, bought the tickets months ago and the girls have talked about nothing else since.

But if they expected to see the sitcom/pop star Cyrus portrays on her Disney Channel television show, they must have been surprised.

The Wonder World tour is not the Best of Both Worlds dual Hannah/Miley show fans saw last from Cyrus. Hannah is nowhere to be seen in this concert, in which the 16-year-old superstar makes it quite clear that she is growing up. (And possibly growing out of some very tight, very short pants. Note to dad Billy Ray Cyrus: You might want to have a chat with her costumer.)

The music is loud with a rocky edge, although not as loud and rocky as her opening act, Metro Station, featuring older brother Trace Cyrus. The dancing and gestures are much more mature. Not necessarily too sexy for a girl Cyrus’s age. But for her fans?

“It’s definitely not Disney,” said John Jackson, who brought daughter Braevereigh, 8, up from Pittsburgh for the show. “I’d have been OK with my older daughter seeing it, but I’m not sure how I feel about some of this for a second- grader. I mean, she did a great job, and I’m not taking anything away from that. But maybe she’s growing up faster than I want my kid to grow up.”

Others had nothing but kudos for Cyrus, who admitted to being ill. “That’s what happens when you rock out every night,” she told the sold-out house, asking them to help her out by singing and dancing.

That wasn’t a problem. Thousands of little girls left the BJC hours after bedtime with hoarse throats from singing and screaming.

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