First came Cher, then Madonna. Now Miley Cyrus appears to be following the pop mononym tradition by dropping her famous surname and going simply by MILEY ahead of her 10th album.
The artist formerly known as Miley Cyrus has not explained why she is abandoning her last name, but the 33-year-old appears committed to the change. Her official website has reportedly changed from mileycyrus.com to mileyofficial.com, while Google searches for “Miley Cyrus” return the correction: Did you mean… just: miley.
Why has Miley dropped the Cyrus surname?
The lack of an official explanation has led fans to speculate about the possible reasons behind Miley’s new name. Many believe the move is primarily connected to promotion for her upcoming 10th studio album, while one fan suggested it could reflect the personal hardships she has experienced in recent years.
Those experiences include the death of her godmother Dolly Parton, her divorce from Liam Hemsworth, the loss of her Malibu home in the California wildfires, a difficult period in her relationship with her father Billy Ray Cyrus and health problems affecting her voice.
Death of her godmother, Dolly Parton
The death of country music star Dolly Parton reportedly hit Miley hard. Parton, who was 80, had been Miley’s godmother, and the two women maintained an exceptionally close relationship over the years.
Parton appeared in an episode of Hannah Montana in 2006, and both artists regularly covered each other’s songs. They most recently worked together on an updated version of Miley’s hit “Wrecking Ball” in 2023.
In an Instagram tribute to Parton, Miley wrote: The feeling of losing my Aunt Dolly is beyond what feels right to share. Our most sacred moments were private and they’ll stay there behind the stage, beneath the glamour & between our hearts,
She continued: What I KNOW is Dolly would want me to feel it, write a song about it, and then continue on and be strong. I have an angel by my side. I always have. One of our last conversations was about music and metamorphosis,
Miley added: I will always love her and want to make her proud. My heart breaks for the world, her family and friends who will miss her deeply. We’re in this loss together and we will see her in all of the most beautiful things.
Divorce from Liam Hemsworth
Miley’s decade-long, on-and-off relationship with actor Liam Hemsworth has also played a major role in her life. The pair met while filming the 2009 movie The Last Song, began dating and became engaged in 2012 before ending their relationship a year later.
They reunited in 2016 and married in December 2018, but the relationship did not last. Hemsworth filed for divorce in August 2019, a decision Miley later said had disappointed her.
An insider told PEOPLE at the time: She didn’t expect it and is a bit disappointed, but she is still doing well and has obviously moved on as well,
Miley later wrote “Flowers” about the separation. The song went on to become her most successful release to date.
Loss of her house during California wildfires
In November 2018, Miley and Hemsworth lost their Malibu home in one of the wildfires that devastated California. Confirming the loss on X, Miley wrote: I am one of the lucky ones. My animals and LOVE OF MY LIFE made it out safely & that’s all that matters right now.
She added: My house no longer stands but the memories shared with family & friends stand strong. I am grateful for all I have left.
Miley later discussed the trauma of losing her home during a 2020 interview with Howard Stern. She said the experience had been a major factor in her decision to marry Hemsworth.
I had so much and it was all gone, every song I had ever written was in that house,
she explained. Every photograph of me that my parents had given to me, all my scripts, I lost everything.
Tumultuous relationship with father Billy Ray Cyrus
Miley’s relationship with her father, country music singer Billy Ray Cyrus, has been complicated in recent years. Although they played father and daughter in Hannah Montana, the pair were reportedly estranged for several years.
The alleged feud was linked to Billy Ray’s 2022 divorce from Miley’s mother, Tish Cyrus. During an appearance on Monica Lewinsky’s podcast Recalaiming, Miley said she felt “a lot of loyalty” toward her mother during the separation.
Miley and Billy Ray have since reconciled. She wrote the song “Secrets”, featuring rock musicians Lindsey Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood, as a gift for her father.
In an Instagram post last year, Miley explained: This song was written as a peace offering for someone I had lost for a time but always loved. In my experience, forgiveness and freedom are one and the same,
She added: This song is for my dad.
“Losing” her voice
Last year, Miley revealed that she had been diagnosed with Reinke’s edema, a noncancerous vocal cord disorder commonly caused by swelling of tissue in the vocal cords. Symptoms can include a hoarse and noticeably deeper voice.
Miley described the condition as “abuse of the vocal cords” and told Zane Lowe that, despite “drinking and smoking and partying” during her early 20s, she had always had the condition.
My voice always sounded like this — it’s a part of my unique anatomy,
she explained, adding that she also has a large polyp on her vocal cord.
Explaining why she decided against corrective surgery, Miley said: I’m not willing to sever it ever, because the chance of waking up from a surgery and not sounding like myself is a possibility.
