When the popular singer Miley made the decision to remove “Cyrus” from her social media profiles earlier this week, it sparked widespread speculation. Some pondered if this was a tribute to her godmother, Dolly Parton, or a result of a rift with her father, the renowned country artist Billy Ray Cyrus. Others questioned if it was connected to her upcoming album release.
Today, Billy Ray Cyrus took to social media to clarify the situation. Sharing a throwback photo of him with his children, he revealed, “I always called my little girl Miley. Just … Miley.” He went on to explain that Miley’s original name was Destiny Hope Cyrus, but due to her constant smiling as a baby, he playfully started calling her Smiley, which eventually evolved into Miley.
During Miley’s early years, Billy Ray introduced her to Dolly Parton, whom he had befriended while touring as her opening act. Parton eventually became Miley’s godmother. Both Billy Ray and Miley have publicly expressed their grief over Parton’s recent passing.
On the day of Dolly Parton’s demise, Billy Ray Cyrus, who turned 65, emphasized the importance of family and supported Miley’s decision to use her first name professionally. Drawing parallels to iconic figures like Dolly, Cher, Elvis, and Prince, he viewed it as a natural evolution for a legendary superstar.
It appears that Miley’s social media name change is more of a rebranding effort than an official alteration. Her upcoming tenth studio album, “Bass Persuades,” is set to be released on September 18, alongside the announcement of two concerts at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles in October. Excited about the upcoming performances, Miley shared on Instagram, “I’ve sat in those seats many times, but I’ve never taken the stage. L.A. is my heart and I’m bringing it home.”