Miley Cyrus Drops Her Last Name: Her Father Responds!

• Miley Cyrus is now simply “Miley.”
• Billy Ray Cyrus reacts to his daughter's decision.
• Her new album, Bass Persuades.
• Miley will perform two shows at the Hollywood Bowl.

Miley Cyrus is about to take another symbolic step in a career that continues to reinvent itself.

With the release of her tenth studio album, Bass Persuades, scheduled for September 18, the singer has chosen to drop her famous last name professionally and will now go by simply “Miley.” This decision immediately sparked a wave of reactions and reignited widespread speculation about her relationship with her father, Billy Ray Cyrus.

Some were quick to interpret this change as yet another sign of the tensions that have reportedly marked their family in recent years. Billy Ray, however, was keen to offer a completely different account of the situation. He states that his daughter had told him of her intention before the official announcement and assures that he fully supports her decision.

For him, this is by no means a rejection of the Cyrus name, but rather a logical evolution for an artist who has become globally recognizable by her first name alone. This change comes at a particularly important time for Miley, with a new album, collaborations, and a spectacular return to the stage.

Billy Ray Cyrus Publicly Defends Her Choice

In response to the speculation surrounding Miley's decision, Billy Ray Cyrus took to X to directly defend his daughter.

His message begins with a particularly clear statement about the importance he places on their bond today.

“Family means more than ever right now. I've always called my little girl Miley. Just… Miley. Just like I've always called my little boy Braison. I bet you didn't know that… I was just CYRUS before ‘Achy Breaky Heart' came out in '92… I told Miley yesterday that I felt good about her using her first name. I mentioned Dolly and Cher. The more I think about it… Elvis… Prince… and so on. It's a natural progression for an iconic superstar legend. And the legend continues! I can't wait to hear the new album,” Billy Ray said on social media.

Music Remains a Bond with Her Father

Speculation surrounding Miley and Billy Ray is nothing new, but the two artists offered a significant sign of reconciliation earlier this year by participating in the 20th-anniversary celebrations for Hannah Montana.

Miley explained to People at the time that music had always been a special form of communication between her and her father, even during more difficult times in their family life. The two can express their emotions by sending each other a song, a text, or even a poem rather than necessarily having a long conversation. Billy Ray's public support for Miley's name change now seems to extend this dynamic.

Despite the many rumors, her father says he welcomes this new chapter and is eagerly awaiting the release of Bass Persuades.

Bass Persuades

This new identity coincides with the imminent release of a major project. Announced on September 1, Bass Persuades will be released on September 18 via Atlantic Records and will mark the singer's tenth studio album.

The album will feature ten songs and will include collaborations with Model/Actriz as well as Andrew Wyatt, a member of Miike Snow and longtime collaborator with numerous stars. Miley has described the album as a project deeply connected to the emotions that music can evoke, both in happy moments and during more difficult times.

She specifically addresses love, heartbreak, and all the stages in between. Above all, the singer hopes her fans will see themselves reflected in this new chapter.

A Rare Return to the Stage in Los Angeles

The release of Bass Persuades will also be accompanied by an event of particular interest to Miley's fans. The star will return to the stage for two shows at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, scheduled for October 16 and 18.

These concerts are expected to draw a great deal of attention, as they will mark a rather rare return to performing in front of a live audience for the artist. Above all, this short series of performances will give her the opportunity to showcase material from her new album in a spectacular setting.

Having reinvented her image several times since her debut, Miley seems intent on making the release of Bass Persuades the start of a true new artistic era—even extending to how her name will appear on her projects going forward.

The name change thus marks a new era for Miley, who can count on her father's public support as she prepares to release Bass Persuades.