Miley’s Next Chapter: Why She’s Dropping Her Last Name and Dad Billy Ray Says, ‘It’s Natural’
Inside Miley’s peaceful new era with fiancé Maxx Morando—and why she’s stepping into solo icon status
Key Takeaways
- Miley Cyrus is dropping her last name to step into a single-name icon era like Cher.
- Dad Billy Ray Cyrus, 65, gave his full approval, debunking rumors of family drama.
- Her upcoming album 'Bass Persuades' is inspired by her peaceful love with fiancé Maxx Morando.
Growing up in the public eye, Miley Cyrus is no stranger to prodding, private moments being broadcast for the world to see and speculation about her personal life—but it’s safe to say that the 33-year-old songstress has found a new sense of peace since settling down with her fiancé, Maxx Morando. The couple got engaged back in 2025, and Miley has opened up about what this chapter of her life looks like with Maxx by her side. With a ring on her finger and a new album on the way, Miley is also marking a new era by dropping her last name—and she has her dad’s approval. Here, read all about how Miley’s journey toward peace and finding her true self aids in her relationship with Maxx.
The real reason behind Miley Cyrus dropping last name
There’s Beyoncé, Madonna, Cher, Adele, and now, Miley. Earlier this week, Miley announced her upcoming album, Bass Persuades, set to release on September 18, and what accompanied it was an unexpected rebrand in the form of dropping her last name. Her Instagram handle is now simply @miley, and her official website is similarly titled with just her first name. Over the last few years, the relationship between Miley and her father, Billy Ray Cyrus, has reportedly been tense following the divorce between him and Miley’s mom, Tish. Billy Ray’s marriage to singer Firerose also drove a wedge between him and his daughter, leading some to believe this tension was the reason why Miley distanced herself from her family’s name. However, Billy Ray has debunked this in a recent social media post, and Miley has also opened up about her and her family working through their issues.
Last year, Miley took to her Instagram stories to clear the air on some alleged family drama when fans noticed her mom, Tish, unfollowed her on Instagram. “I rarely comment on rumors, but my mama and I are too tight for anything to ever come between us. She’s my best friend. Like a lot of moms, she doesn’t know how to work her phone and somehow unfollowed me—simple, coincidental, and uninteresting.” She then went on to comment on the status of things with her dad, saying, “My dad and I have had our challenges over the years. Now, in my thirties, family is my priority above all else. I’m at peace knowing bridges have been built and time has done a lot of healing. Grateful for the good health and love that flows through my family.”
Billy Ray Cyrus speaks out on his daughter’s name change
Regarding her name change, Billy Ray came forward to emphasize that Miley’s decision didn’t stem from any sort of bad blood. In a post shared on Instagram, he wrote in the caption, “Family means more than ever now. I always called my little girl Miley. Just…Miley.” He continued, “I told @miley yesterday I felt good about her going with her first name. I mentioned Dolly and Cher. Thinkin’ about it more and more…Elvis…Prince…and so on. It’s a natural progression for an iconic superstar legend. And the legend continues! Looking forward to the new album.”
Inside Miley’s peaceful love story with fiancé Maxx Morando
As Miley and her family find peace, she’s also living out her love story as it unfolds. While chatting with British Vogue in 2023, Miley revealed that she and Maxx had been set up on a blind date, and since then, the pair has been inseparable.
Miley spoke with Daryl Hannah for Wonderland Magazine about her upcoming album and how her love story with Maxx—and herself—influenced the record.
“This album is a love story, but love stories are never one-dimensional. They’re always layered. There is definitely a romantic thread weaving through it because, like all my records, it’s a reflection of where I am in my life. But this one feels especially meaningful because this feeling has stayed with me through multiple eras. That’s something I hadn’t really experienced before. A peaceful kind of love has become a theme across my last three records. Not just the love I share with someone else, but the love I’ve found for myself. That’s probably been the biggest evolution. Once your relationship with yourself changes, every relationship around you changes too. I think this record celebrates both of those equally.”
Hear Miley’s new album when it releases on September 18.
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