Miley Cyrus launched herself as a household name when she played in the iconic Disney Channel series “Hannah Montana.”
But now she’s entering a new era of reinvention that includes changing her name.
The 33-year-old has chosen to put a little distance between herself and her family as she promotes her newest album “Bass Persuades.”
The “Wrecking Ball” singer will now go by Miley instead of Miley Cyrus.
The move raised concerns among fans that it might mean she and her family were quarreling again.
Fans wondered how her father, known as “Mr. Achy Breaky Heart,” would feel about her name change.
Billy Ray Cyrus kept quiet until Sept. 2, when he shared a post that put fans at ease.
Sharing an old photo of him with a young Miley and her younger brother Braison Cyrus, Billy Ray shared his honest take on Miley ditching the last name on her social media and album.
“Family means more than ever now,” he started. “I always called my little girl Miley. Just … Miley. Just like I always called my little boy Braison.”
He revealed that before he released “Achy Breaky Heart” in 1992, he initially went by CYRUS instead of his first name.
Billy Ray shared that he told Miley he “felt good” about her name change.
Further showing his support for his daughter, he said, “Looking forward to the new album (“Bass Persuades”), which will be released on Sept. 18.
One fan referencing a lyric from Miley’s 2007 song “See You Again” wrote, “She’s just being MILEY now the icon of the generation!”
Another said, “MILEY is too iconic of the name! Everyone knows her for just being Miley.” One confused fan typed, “I always know her by Miley Cyrus why change now?”
A fourth one joked about Billy Ray saying, “He was quick to put those rumors to rest.”
Billy Ray, Miley, and their family just came out of a rough period. In recent years, the family has been split by divorce, new relationships, and not speaking to one another.
Miley’s dad and mom, Tish Cyrus, divorced in 2022 after 28 years of marriage. They went on to marry other people, but their tension trickled down to their five blended children: Miley, Braison, 32; Noah Cyrus, 26; Brandi Cyrus, 39; and Trace Cyrus, 37.
The children picked sides with each parent publicly in the media.
Miley and Brandi primarily stuck by their mom, Tish.
Trace, Tish’s son from a previous marriage, tried to maintain a relationship with adoptive father Billy Ray, but things soured.
Meanwhile, Noah and Braison chose to skip their mom Tish’s 2023 wedding to Dominic Purcell. Rumors suggested they skipped because Noah allegedly dated Purcell first.
Eventually Noah and Tish made amends. Then the entire family fixed their relationship in 2025. Miley even went so far as to dedicate a song called “Secrets” to Billy Ray.
As for her newest 10th studio album “Bass Persuades,” Miley’s team says it would honor the influence of her late godmother, Dolly Parton.
On Sept. 1, she posted a black-and-white photo of herself with a white rose in her mouth.
In the caption, she spoke about the hold the music has on people and how it is “powerful, vulnerable, sweet and strong.”
“Heart full, heartache, every part of life in between. That’s what the title means to me,” she added.
She later announced that she will be performing at the Hollywood Bowl on Oct. 16 and 18, where she will perform “Bass Persuades.
