Amanda LynneMiley Cyrus has officially decided to drop her last name. She’ll now just be going by Miley, much like artists such as Beyoncé, Madonna, and Cher. However, the name she’s dropped is one that her father, fellow singer and Tennessee resident Billy Ray Cyrus, gave to her, as well as one all of her siblings carry.
Miley Drops Her Last Name for New Era
So, what does Billy Ray think about his famous daughter opting to ditch the family’s last name? Well, if he’s upset about it, he’s not letting on. The country singer took to Instagram to give his thoughts on the matter, supporting Miley’s decision to become mononymous.
Billy Ray Cyrus Reacts to the Name Change
“Family means more than ever now. I always called my little girl Miley. Just … Miley. Just like I always called my little boy Braison,” Billy Ray wrote in his online post. “Bet you didn’t know … I was just CYRUS before Achy Breaky Heart came out in 92,” he added.
“Felt good about her going with her first name,” he continued. “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.”
Miley Cyrus’ decision to drop her last name comes as she prepares to debut her latest album titled “Bass Persuades,” which is out on Sept. 18.
Meanwhile, some bad blood between members of the Cyrus family has made headlines over the past few years. Since Billy Ray and Miley’s mother, Tish Cyrus, divorced, there has been speculation that the Tennessee family has been at odds with each other.
Cyrus Family Feud Rumors Explained
According to Cosmopolitan, Tish getting remarried and Miley supporting her caused some issues between her and some of her siblings, namely her younger sister, Noah Cyrus. Later, when Miley won her first Grammy in 2024, she didn’t mention her father in her acceptance speech, sparking even more speculation about the family’s dynamics.
Even Miley’s older brother, Trace Cyrus, took to social media to call out his adoptive father, Billy Ray, for living an unhealthy lifestyle without detailing what exactly he meant. “The day you adopted me was the happiest day of my life. Sadly, the man that I wanted so desperately to be just like I barely recognize now,” he wrote via Instagram. “You’re not healthy Dad & everyone is noticing it,” he added.
However, it appears the rift between Miley Cyrus and her father has since healed. Miley revealed in 2025 that she and Billy Ray Cyrus were “distant” for a time, but said the two eventually “moved forward,” telling CBS News, “For us, me and my dad, we just kind of moved forward.” She even wrote her father a song as what she called a “peace offering,” which reportedly moved him to tears.
Amanda Lynne focuses on human interest news, entertainment topics, and trending news. She has nearly 20 years of experience writing online news for several outlets.
