How Young Is Too Young?

Oct. 8, 2007 — -- At 15 years old, Emily Osment is juggling her role playing Hannah Montana's best friend in the top-rated cable TV series, about to start filming a starring movie role, sitting for photo shoots and walking the red carpet.

It sounds like a lot for a teenager, until you consider that her brother Haley Joel Osment was nominated for an Oscar when he was only 11. How young is too young to be a star?

How young is too young to pursue your dreams, when those dreams are full of risk? Would you let your child fly a plane? Or become a bullfighter, or a stock car racer?

Jessica Dubroff was a 7-year-old pilot trainee who attempted to become the youngest person to fly an airplane across the United States in 1996. Because of her young age and daring attitude, she became an instant media celebrity. But 24 hours into Jessica's journey, her aircraft crashed after takeoff in a sudden storm in Cheyenne, Wyo., killing her, her father and her instructor.

"20/20" spoke with Jessica's mother, Lisa Blair Hathaway, who was criticized by many parents when this happened 11 years ago. She still feels strongly that she would never have wanted to take away the happiness her daughter felt when she flew.