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Billy Ray Cyrus has shared a post addressing speculation surrounding his daughter’s new album.
Pop star Miley Cyrus released a trailer for her forthcoming 10th album, Bass Persuades, with the teaser featuring her title as just “Miley”.
The name change has also been reflected across her social media pages. Sharing a portrait of herself with a white rose in her mouth, she captioned the post: “Music takes hold of us. We feel it, sing it, sometimes dance to it, let it out and carry on.
“It is powerful, vulnerable, sweet and strong. Heart full, heartache, every part of life in between. That’s what the title means to me.”
And while many fans questioned the singer’s decision to drop her surname, Billy Ray Cyrus insisted it was a “natural progression” for “an iconic superstar legend”.
“Family means more than ever now,” he wrote in his own Instagram post, alongside a photo of him with Miley and her brother Braison when they were children.
“I always called my little girl Miley. Just… Miley. Just like I always called my little boy Braison,” he said.
“Bet you didn’t know… I was just CYRUS before ‘Achy Breaky Heart’ came out in ‘92. All of my swag and T-shirts only read: ‘CYRUS SOME GAVE ALL’ with a picture of a POW MIA [”prisoners of war”, “missing in action”] flag on it… that and the words… ‘You are not forgotten.’”
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.”
Miley confirmed that she had reconciled with her father last year, following years of a rumoured feud between members of the Cyrus family after he divorced her mother, Tish, in 2022. The couple were married for nearly 30 years.
“At first, it’s hard because the little kid in you reacts before the adult in you can go, ‘Yes, that’s your dad, but that’s just another person that deserves to be in his bliss and to be happy,’” Miley said.
“So my adult self has caught up.”
Miley dropped her surname ahead of releasing her new album (Getty Images)
Billy Ray is in a relationship with British model and actor Elizabeth Hurley. The couple went public with their relationship in April last year. Meanwhile, Tish remarried in August 2022 to Prison Break actor Dominic Purcell.
“I think timing is everything. You know, there’s been enough bridges now of time to get us all reconnected,” Miley told The Interview podcast last year.
Miley’s 10-track album is scheduled for release on 18 September. Her representatives said her new era comes as she “continues to honour the profound influence of her godmother, Dolly Parton, whose impact has extended far beyond music throughout Miley’s life and career”.
Miley paid tribute to her godmother Dolly (Getty)
Parton died on Tuesday 25 August, aged 80. Following her death, Miley shared a tribute in which she recalled one of their last conversations, which was apparently about “music and metamorphosis”.
“The feeling of losing my Aunt Dolly is beyond what feels right to share,” she said. “Our most sacred moments were private and they’ll stay there behind the stage, beneath the glamour and between our hearts.
“What I KNOW is Dolly would want me to feel it, write a song about it, and then continue on and be strong,” she continued. “I have an angel by my side. I always have.”
Miley said she would always love Parton, her godmother, and wanted 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.”