Pop princess Hannah Montana has made her way to the top of music charts and Christmas gift lists.
"Hannah Montana merchandise is very, very popular," said Bob Friedland of Toys 'R' Us, which named the Hannah Montana doll from Play Along one of its hot toy picks.
Montana mania reaches a wide market, starting at 5-year-olds and reaching to the tween area, he added. Hannah merchandise ranks No. 6 on the National Retail Federation's top toys for girls list.
The allure stems from the family-friendly Disney TV sitcom "Hannah Montana," set in California and featuring Miley Cyrus, daughter of country music singer Billy Ray Cyrus, who's known for "Achy Breaky Heart."
The young Cyrus plays high school student Miley Stewart, who lives a secret double life as teen music icon Hannah Montana. The show reaches more than 5 million viewers a week.
Then came the Hannah Montana CDs, followed by her first U.S. tour that included Saturday's stop at Rosemont's Allstate Arena, where interest in tickets was fierce.
Montana mania grew quickly. Some in the retail industry say they weren't prepared for the quick fame and following.
"It caught us a little off guard," said Rick Derr, owner of Learning Express toy stores in Lake Zurich and Barrington. He was expecting licensed merchandise from "High School Musical 2" to dominate the season. Instead, Hannah is huge.
"Hannah has outsold High School Musical 2 by a large margin," he said.
Derr, wishing he had more of the Montana merchandise, is having a tough time keeping the Hannah Montana DVD game, released in late October, on the shelves. "We just didn't know how big she'd be," he said.
Other dolls, including Barbie, have had to make room for the new girl on the block.
After all, Hannah has become a way of life. Fans sleep in Hannah Montana pajamas, brush their teeth with the Hannah musical toothbrush and head to school sporting shirts and purses with the 15-year-old icon.
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