It has been quite the journey for Miley Cyrus, from her early Hannah Montana days to where she is now. Today, she is a wiser and more mature artist who isn’t afraid to take risks, especially when it comes to her music and personal life. Though her career has been constantly plagued with controversy, Smiley Miley still stands tall. She may not be everyone’s stereotypical role model, but there’s no denying how inspiring her story is.
Shall we get to know her better?
Miley Cyrus: Family
The singer comes from a relatively large family, with almost all members being in the entertainment industry as well. Miley Cyrus mom is Tish Cyrus, who is an actress and film producer. She is also Cyrus’ manager. Miley Cyrus dad is Billy Ray Cyrus, a respected country singer-songwriter and actor.
Before her marriage with Billy Ray, Tish had two children from a previous marriage, Brandi and Trace. Both are also in the industry. Brandi currently works as an actress and host, while Trace is the vocalist for Metro Station.
The youngest children in the brood are Braison and Noah Cyrus. Noah, much like Miley, has an established career as a singer-songwriter and actress.
What Happened to Miley Cyrus After Hannah Montana?
Cyrus auditioned for Hannah Montana when she was only 11 years old. Initially, she was trying out for the role of Lily, Hannah Montana’s best friend. Given her charm and obvious talent, Cyrus landed the lead instead. The Disney Channel show premiered back in 2006, launching its main actress into stardom in the process.
From the get-go, Cyrus knew there would come a time when she would have to leave the teen-star image behind. Once she hit 18 years old, the actress knew it was time to quit the show. Funnily enough, in an interview with Elle magazine, Cyrus opened up about the exact moment she knew it was time to move on. She told Elle, “The minute I had sex, I was kind of like, I can’t put the f*cking wig on again. It got weird. It just felt like … I was grown up.”
To develop her own identity outside of the popular character she had been playing for years, however, it meant potentially ruining the wholesome teeny-bopper image that Disney had protected for years. In a way, the controversial bong video that leaked back in 2010 helped pave the way for her. The video popped up just a month after her 18th birthday, around the time the final season of Hannah Montana was airing.
Cyrus apologized for the incident and noted that while salvia was legal in most states, she acknowledges the mistake in her actions.
Miley Cyrus: Can’t Be Tamed
2010 saw Cyrus’ transition to a more mature image. She first started with a lead role in the film, The Last Song, opposite Liam Hemsworth. The film adaptation of the popular Nicholas Sparks novel received mix reviews, but continued on to become a major box-office hit. This was followed by the release of Cyrus’ third studio album, Can’t Be Tamed.
Unlike previous releases that focused more on country music, Can’t Be Tamed had a strong dance-pop sound and mature lyrics that were a stark contrast to her older songs. It sold 106,000 copies during the first week and failed to top the Billboard charts—a first for the artist. Some attribute the lukewarm success of the album due to the controversy surrounding it and Cyrus’ risqué live performances at the time.
The final Hannah Montana soundtrack album was released in the same year, but flopped commercially as well.
A String of Unsuccessful Projects
For the next couple of years, Cyrus would appear in a number of other shows and movies. Among them is the independent film LOL, which she starred in alongside Demi Moore. Despite the other big name attached to it, the film was critically panned and failed commercially as well. Her comedy film So Undercover made decent numbers at the box-office, but it was nothing close to the impact Hannah Montana once held.
Nonetheless, Cyrus continued to push out content she was passionate about. This includes Backyard Sessions, a series of live performances she filmed at home during the spring and summer of 2012. Later that same year, she would begin working on a new music project and collaborated with some of the biggest producers in music, such as Rock Mafia.
It was clear Cyrus was ready to move past her days as Hannah Montana. As if to further drive this point home, she traded in her signature long brown hair for a blonde pixie cut. The new look certainly shocked many, both fans and non-fans alike.
Miley Cyrus: Bangerz
“Dirty South Hip-Hop” is how Miley described her fourth studio album. Unlike Can’t Be Tamed, her 2013 release received widespread success and was backed by talented producers, including Mike Will Made It, Pharrell Williams, Tyler the Creator, and Cirkut. Additionally, it featured guest vocals from Nelly, Ludacris, and even Britney Spears. The lead single, “We Can’t Stop” peaked at number two on Billboard. This was followed by “Wrecking Ball,” which is Cyrus’ first number-one single in the United States.
The video for the song was also one of the fastest to reach 100 million views on YouTube. It won the singer Video of the Year at the 2014 VMAS. Controversial as it was, there’s no denying that Cyrus’ latest transformation was a success.
Miley Cyrus: Wrecking Ball
The official video for the song currently has a billion views on YouTube. However, did you know that the song was originally written for Beyoncé? We can’t imagine anyone else performing it, however. Aside from the highly controversial video that featured Cyrus riding a wrecking ball in the nude and licking hammers, the song is a powerful statement. It truly honored the pain of going through a breakup, which was what Cyrus was struggling with at the time.
If there was any question about it, Miley Cyrus Wrecking Ball completely erased the singer’s former teenybopper image.
What Happened to Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth
Cyrus and Hemsworth’s onscreen chemistry was so palpable that fans began speculating there might be something more between the two outside of simply being co-stars. Soon after The Last Song was released, the two co-stars were often spotted in Los Angeles together.
The status of their relationship was confirmed later on, when they attended the Elton John’s AIDS Foundation Oscars after party together. It was also the first time that Cyrus referred to Hemsworth as her “boyfriend”.
Their On and Off Relationship
It was smooth-sailing for the couple until August of 2010 when representatives for both confirmed to E! News that they had broken up. As for the reason behind it, there were many speculations. People assumed that the couple didn’t have enough time to focus on their relationship. After all, they were both at peak popularity and were often apart. Then there were those who put the blame on Hemsworth. They claimed that the actor had been unfaithful while Cyrus was away filming for LOL.
The on and off relationship of Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth would go on for a while. A cycle of reports on how the couple had broken up due to lack of time or infidelity continued to surface—only for the couple pop-up arm-in-arm at various events. Needless to say, these two defined “whirlwind romance” to a T.
Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth Engagement
Three months after they were confirmed to have gotten back together, rumors of an engagement began surfacing. In June 2012, Cyrus confirmed the engagement through People magazine. According to the singer, “I’m so happy to be engaged and look forward to a life of happiness with Liam.” The actor proposed on May 31st with a stunning 3.5-carat Neil Lane ring.
The Engagement is Called Off: Miley Cyrus and Liam Split
Rumors of the wedding getting called off would continue to persist for most of 2013, creating mental pressure for both parties involved. The media wanted to know more about behind the scene plans, without leaving room for both Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth to really process it all. By 2013, People confirmed that the wedding was postponed indefinitely. The reason? The couple wanted to figure out their life together, before making such a huge commitment.
Miley Cyrus’ Sexuality
Cyrus has always been open when it comes to different personal matters. This includes discussing her sexuality in an interview with Elle U.K. She goes on to say, “I’m very open about it—I’m pansexual,” before adding that she’s single at the moment. “I’m 22. I’m going on dates, but I change my style every two weeks, let alone who I’m with.”
This level of honesty is also why her fans were not too surprised to learn about Cyrus’ brief relationship with model Stella Maxwell during the period she and Hemsworth were broken up.
Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus Re-Engagement
We did say this was one whirlwind romance, right? By 2015, it was clear that the couple were slowly mending their relationship. There were many hints on social media long before Cyrus confirmed the status of her relationship during an interview with Ellen DeGeneres. In the same TV appearance, the singer also divulged that her engagement to Hemsworth was back on.
The following years saw nothing but love between Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth. In 2017, Cyrus released a new song called “Malibu”, which is no less than a public declaration of love for her fiancé. Cyrus also talked about how their time apart helped their relationship become stronger.
December 23, 2018: Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus Wedding
Hemsworth and Cyrus were wed in Franklin, Tennessee in a private celebration together with their family. Their original plan was to marry in their shared Malibu residence, but this property was devastated by the wildfires.
Their wedding was followed by a very busy year. Aside from marking almost 10 years of being together, they were also working on a number of individual projects. One such project was the Miley Cyrus Black Mirror episode. It became a trending topic all over social media due to her amazing performance on the Netflix show.
By August 2019, however, it was becoming apparent that there was trouble in paradise. It wouldn’t be long before Cyrus’ reps confirmed everyone’s suspicions: the newlyweds were separating. By then, people simply thought that it wouldn’t be a permanent thing—like all the other times before. That is, until Kaitlynn Carter.
Miley Cyrus Kaitlynn Carter Affair
On August 9, 2019, Kaitlynn Carter, who recently split from her husband Brody Jenner, posted a photo of her and Cyrus on social media. Following this, Entertainment Tonight also released photos of the two kissing on a yacht, while they were in Italy.
Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus Divorce: Their Permanent Separation
Those anticipating a reconciliation between the two were left broken-hearted after Hemsworth and Cyrus made it clear that it wasn’t going to happen. Hemsworth confirmed their official separation on Instagram, making it clear that he was no longer speaking about the subject and was moving on from it.
Cyrus addressed their breakup in the song “Slide Away”, which she released just a few days after Hemsworth’s post. By August 21, reports surfaced that Hemsworth had officially filed for divorce and cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason behind it. Miley Cyrus’ wedding may have been a love-filled affair, but these two did have a prenup prepared.
Reports suggest that the former couple have not spoken to each other since their split.
Miley Cyrus and Cody Simpson
After the Miley Cyrus Kaitlynn Carter affair was over, the singer was ready to start anew with Cody Simpson. The two have known each other for a long time and sources close to the singer say that they are very comfortable with each other. There were no strings attached between the two, however.
The couple’s relationship lasted 10 months and in an interview for the Call Her Daddy podcast, Cyrus said she needs someone boring after being with Cody Simpson. She continued on to say that what she needs at the moment is someone calming, akin to an anchor.
Miley Cyrus: Midnight Sky and VMAS 2020 Performance
Miley Cyrus came back this year with her newest single, “Midnight Sky.” Now, it’s no secret that the singer-songwriter has always written songs about personal experiences and the Miley Cyrus new song is no exception. The lyrics obviously talk about her relationship and divorce from Hemsworth, with lines that go:
Yeah, it’s been a long night and the mirror’s telling me to go home
But it’s been a long time since I felt this good on my own
Lotta years went by with my hands tied up in your ropes
Forever and ever, no more
There’s a sense of celebration throughout the song, however. It’s clear that Cyrus feels freer now that she’s single. These two did spend a decade of their lives in an on and off relationship, after all.
The song is a pre-release from her upcoming seventh studio album titled She is Miley Cyrus. It is slated for release in November 2020, following a bit of delay due to the pandemic and Cyrus’ vocal cord surgery.
If her performance on this year’s VMAS is any indication of what we can expect from the album, it’s going to be a masterpiece. Her stage at the VMAS went viral within hours, with many praising not just her glowing looks, but the powerful song as well. Miley Cyrus Wrecking Ball era even made a brief appearance!
So, who is Miley Cyrus dating these days? While this remains uncertain (and it’s probably for the best!) one thing is clear: the singer is back with a vengeance and she’s not holding back. She has experienced a lot of ups and downs throughout the years, and we’re looking forward to seeing how this translates in her work.
