Billy Ray Cyrus has shared his reaction to daughter Miley Cyrus' apparent rebrand, after she dropped her surname across her website and social media this week, with her site now simply reading "Miley" at mileyofficial.com.
A rebuilt relationship through music
The father and daughter have grown closer in recent years, something Billy Ray has credited largely to music. Earlier this year, he described their shared connection to the industry as their lifeblood, saying Miley had witnessed the highs and lows of the business since childhood and understood it as a kind of circus you hope to eventually succeed in.
His response to the name change
Sharing a throwback photo of Miley with her brother Braison on Instagram, Billy Ray reflected on how he'd always simply called his daughter "Miley," just as he'd always called his son by his first name alone. He said family means more to him than ever, and revealed he'd spoken to Miley directly this week, telling her he felt good about her decision to go by just her first name.
He compared the move to other artists known by a single name, name-checking Dolly Parton, Cher, Elvis, and Prince, describing it as a natural progression for an artist of Miley's stature. He ended his post by expressing excitement for her upcoming album.
A relationship that's had its ups and downs
Billy Ray has previously said his relationship with Miley has never been stronger, following years of speculation about estrangement between them. Miley addressed the same topic in a 2025 interview with the New York Times, saying she didn't consider herself estranged from her father, but acknowledged that timing had played a role in how their relationship evolved over the years.
She reflected on learning to see her parents as individuals rather than solely as a couple, saying she'd previously carried some of her mother's hurt as her own, but that watching both parents find happiness in new relationships helped her separate her love for each of them individually.
