Miley Cyrus has made a significant change to her public identity, dropping her surname from her social media profiles as speculation grows over what she might be planning next.
What's changed
As of Monday, Cyrus's profiles now simply identify her as "Miley," accompanied by two new red-and-black promotional images, one showing her in full glam wrapped in a black fur jacket. She captioned the post with just her first name. She hasn't offered an explanation for the change, though fans reacted quickly online, with many speculating over what it could mean.
Why fans think new music is coming
The apparent rebrand comes shortly after Cyrus signed with Atlantic Records last month, ending her previous relationship with Columbia and RCA. If new music is on the way, it would mark her tenth studio album and her first release since 2025's Something Beautiful. She hasn't confirmed a release date, but previously teased the project's themes in a Q&A with Wonderland Magazine, describing it as a layered love story reflecting a more peaceful, self-assured chapter in her life, both in terms of romantic relationships and her relationship with herself.
A recent return to Hannah Montana
Earlier this year, Cyrus returned to the character that launched her career, performing as Hannah Montana for the show's 20th anniversary special, including songs "The Best of Both Worlds," "The Climb," and "This Is the Life." She's credited her late godmother, Dolly Parton, with encouraging the idea, saying Parton once advised her to promote something before it existed if she wanted it to happen.
A tribute to Dolly Parton
The apparent rebrand also comes just days after the death of Parton, who died on 25 August. Cyrus paid an emotional tribute on social media, describing Parton as her "Aunt Dolly" and saying their most meaningful moments together would remain private. She said one of their final conversations touched on music and personal transformation, and that she planned to process her grief the way she believed Parton would have wanted, by channelling it into music.
Parton became close to the Cyrus family after touring with Miley's father, Billy Ray Cyrus, in 1992, and was later asked to become Miley's godmother. Speculation has circulated online that Parton left Miley the rights to her song "Jolene," though reports indicate no court filings related to her estate or the future of her reported $650 million fortune have yet been made public.
