Miley Ray Cyrus (/ˈmaɪliˈsaɪrəs/MY-leeSY-rəs, bornDestiny Hope Cyrus; November 23, 1992) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. An influential figure inpopular music, Cyrus is known for her evolving artistry and image reinventions. A daughter ofBilly Ray Cyrus andTish Cyrus, she was an establishedchild star before developing a successful entertainment career as an adult. Cyrus emerged as ateen idol asMiley Stewart in theDisney Channel television seriesHannah Montana (2006–2011), growing a profitable franchise and achieving two number-one soundtracks on theBillboard charts.
Destiny Hope Cyrus was born on November 23, 1992, inFranklin, Tennessee,[2] toLeticia "Tish" Jean Cyrus (née Finley) and country singerBilly Ray Cyrus.[2] She was born withsupraventricular tachycardia, a condition causing an abnormal resting heart rate.[3] Her birth name, Destiny Hope, expressed her parents' belief that she would accomplish great things. Her parents nicknamed her "Smiley", which they later shortened to "Miley", because she often smiled as an infant.[4] In 2008, she legally changed her name to Miley Ray Cyrus; her middle name honors her grandfather,Democratic politicianRonald Ray Cyrus, who was fromKentucky.[5] Cyrus'sgodmother is singer-songwriterDolly Parton.[6]
Against the advice of her father's record company,[7] Cyrus's parents secretly married on December 28, 1993, a year after her birth.[8] They had two more children, son Braison and daughterNoah.[9] From a previous relationship, her mother has two other children,Brandi andTrace.[10] Her father's first child, Christopher Cody, was born in April 1992[8] and grew up separately with his mother, waitress Kristin Luckey, inSouth Carolina.[7][11]
All of Cyrus's maternal siblings are established entertainers. Trace was a vocalist and guitarist for the electronic pop bandMetro Station.[12] Noah is an actress and, along with Braison, models, sings, and is a songwriter.[13][14][15][16][17] Brandi was formerly a musician for theindie rock band Frank + Derol[18][19] and is a professionalDJ. The Cyrus farmhouse is located on 500 acres of land outside Nashville.[20]
Cyrus attended Heritage Elementary School in Williamson County while she and her family lived in Thompson's Station, Tennessee.[21] When she was cast inHannah Montana, the family moved toLos Angeles and she attended Options for Youth Charter Schools[22] studying with a private tutor on set.[23] Raised as a Christian, she was baptized in aSouthern Baptist church before moving toHollywood in 2005.[24] She attended church regularly while growing up and wore apurity ring.[25] In 2001, when Cyrus was eight, she and her family moved toToronto, Canada, while her father filmed the television seriesDoc.[26] After Billy Ray Cyrus took her to see a 2001Mirvish production ofMamma Mia! at theRoyal Alexandra Theatre, Miley Cyrus grabbed his arm and told him, "This is what I want to do, daddy. I want to be an actress."[27] She began to take singing and acting lessons at the Armstrong Acting Studio in Toronto.[28]
Cyrus's first acting role was as Kylie in her father's television seriesDoc.[4] In 2003, she received credit under her birth name for her role as "Young Ruthie" inTim Burton'sBig Fish.[29] During this period she auditioned withTaylor Lautner for the feature filmThe Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D. Although she was one of two finalists for the role, she chose to appear inHannah Montana instead.[30] Her mother took on the role of Miley's manager and worked to acquire a team to build her daughter's career.[31][32] Cyrus signed with Mitchell Gossett, director of the youth division at Cunningham Escott Slevin Doherty.[33] Gossett is often credited with "discovering" Cyrus and played a key role in her auditioning forHannah Montana.[34] She later signed with Jason Morey of Morey Management Group to handle her music career; Dolly Parton steered her to him.[32] She hired her father's finance manager as part of her team.[32]
Career
2006–2009:Hannah Montana and early musical releases
Cyrus auditioned for theDisney Channel television seriesHannah Montana when she was thirteen years old.[35] She auditioned for the role of Miley Stewart's best friend, but was called to audition forMiley Stewart instead seeing her comical performance.[35] Despite being denied the part at first because she was "too small and too young" for the role,[36] she was later cast as the lead because of her singing and goofy acting abilities.[37] The series premiered in March 2006 to the largest audience for a Disney Channel program[38] and quickly ranked among the highest-rated series on basic cable.[39] The success of the series led to Cyrus' being labeled a "teen idol".[29][40] She toured withthe Cheetah Girls as Hannah Montana in September 2006 and performed songs from the show's first season.[41]Walt Disney Records released asoundtrack credited to Cyrus's character in October of that year.[42] The record was both a critical and commercial success, topping theBillboard 200 chart in the United States; it went on to sell over threemillion copies worldwide.[43] With the release of the soundtrack, Cyrus became the first act withinthe Walt Disney Company to have deals in television, film, consumer products, and music.[40]
Cyrus signed a four-album deal withHollywood Records to distribute her non-Hannah Montana soundtrack music.[44] She released the two-disc albumHannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus in June 2007.[45] The first disc was credited as the second soundtrack by "Hannah Montana", while the second disc served as Cyrus's debut studio album.[45] The album became her second to reach the top of theBillboard 200, and has sold over threemillion copies.[46] Months after the release of the project, "See You Again" (2007) was released as the lead single from the album.[47] The song was a commercial success, and has sold over twomillion copies in the United States since its release.[48] She collaborated with her father on the single "Ready, Set, Don't Go" (2007).[49] Next Cyrus embarked on her highly successfulBest of Both Worlds Tour (2007–08) to promote its release.[50][51]Ticketmaster officials commented that "there [hadn't] been a demand of this level or intensity sinceThe Beatles orElvis."[52] The tour's success led to the theatrical release of the 3D concert filmHannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert (2008).[53] While initially intended to be a limited release, the film's success led to a longer run.[54]
Cyrus and friendMandy Jiroux began posting videos onYouTube in February 2008, referring to the clips as "The Miley and Mandy Show"; the videos garnered a large online following.[55] In April 2008, several pictures of Cyrus in her underwear and swimsuit were leaked online by a teenager who hacked herGmail account.[56][57] Further controversy erupted when it was reported that the then-15-year-old Cyrus had posed topless during a photo shoot byAnnie Leibovitz forVanity Fair.[58]The New York Times subsequently clarified that although the shot left the impression that Cyrus was bare-breasted, she was wrapped in a bed sheet and was not topless.[59]
Cyrus went on to release her second studio album,Breakout (2008), in June of that year.[60] The album earned the highest first-week sales of her career thus far and became her third to top theBillboard 200.[61][62] Cyrus later starred withJohn Travolta in the animated filmBolt (2008), her debut as a film actress; she also co-wrote the song "I Thought I Lost You" (2008) for the film, which she sings as a duet with Travolta.[63] The film was both a critical and commercial success and earned her aGolden Globe Award nomination forBest Original Song.[64]
In March 2009, Cyrus released "The Climb" (2009) as a single from the soundtrack toHannah Montana: The Movie.[65] It was met with a warm critical and commercial reaction, becoming a crossover hit in both pop and country music formats.[66] The soundtrack, which features the single, went on to become Cyrus's fourth entry to top theBillboard 200; at age 16, she became the youngest artist in history to have four number-one albums on the chart.[67] She released herfourth soundtrack as Hannah Montana in July 2009, which debuted at number two on theBillboard 200.[68] Cyrus later launched her first fashion line, Miley Cyrus andMax Azria, throughWalmart.[69] It was promoted by the release of "Party in the U.S.A." (2009) and theEPThe Time of Our Lives (2009).[70][71] Cyrus said the record was "a transitioning album [...] really to introduce people to what I want my next record to sound like and with time I will be able to do that a little more".[71] "Party in the U.S.A." became one of Cyrus's most successful singles to date and is considered to be one of hersignature songs.[72] She embarked on her first world tour, theWonder World Tour (2009) which was a critical and commercial success.[73] On December 7, 2009, Cyrus performed forQueen Elizabeth II and other members of theBritish royal family at theRoyal Variety Performance inBlackpool,Lancashire.[74]Billboardranked her as the fourth best-selling female music artist of 2009.[75]
2010–2012: New image withCan't Be Tamed and focus on acting
Hoping to foster a more mature image, Cyrus starred in the filmThe Last Song (2010), based on theNicholas Sparks novel.[76] It was met with negative critical reviews[77] but was a box office hit.[78][79] Cyrus further attempted to shift her image with the release of her third studio album,Can't Be Tamed (2010).[80] The album featured a more dance-oriented sound than her prior releases and stirred a considerable amount of controversy over its lyrical content and Cyrus's live performances.[81][82][83][84] It sold 106,000 copies in its first week of release and became her first studio album not to top theBillboard 200 chart in the United States.[85] Cyrus released herfinal soundtrack as Hannah Montana that October; it was seen as a commercial failure due to its low position on the charts compared to her previous albums.[86]
Cyrus was the subject of further controversy when a video posted online in December 2010 showed her, then aged eighteen, smokingsalvia with abong.[87][88][89] 2010 ended with her ranking at number thirteen on theForbes Celebrity 100 list.[90] She embarked on her worldwideGypsy Heart Tour in April 2011 which had no North American dates;[91] she cited her various controversial moments as the reason, claiming that she only wanted to travel where she felt "the most love".[92][93] Following the release ofCan't Be Tamed, Cyrus officially parted ways with Hollywood Records.[94] With her obligations toHannah Montana fulfilled, Cyrus announced her plans to take a hiatus from music so she could focus on her acting career.[95] She confirmed she would not be going to college.[96][97]
Cyrus hosted the March 5, 2011, episode ofSaturday Night Live where she poked fun at her recent controversies.[98][99] That November it was announced that Cyrus would be the voice of Mavis in the animated filmHotel Transylvania;[100] however by February 2012 she was dropped from the project and replaced withSelena Gomez. At the time Cyrus said her reason for leaving the movie was wanting to work on her music;[101] later it was revealed the real reason behind her exit was because she bought her then-boyfriend Liam Hemsworth a birthday cake shaped like a penis and licked it.[102] She made an appearance on theMTV television seriesPunk'd withKelly Osbourne andKhloé Kardashian.[103][104] Cyrus starred alongsideDemi Moore in the independent filmLOL (2012).[105] The film had a limited release; it was a critical and commercial failure.[106][107][108] She starred in the comedy filmSo Undercover playing the role of an undercover FBI agent at a college sorority.[109]
Cyrus released a string of live performances known as theBackyard Sessions on YouTube during the spring and summer of 2012; the performances were of classic songs she personally liked.[110] She collaborated with producersRock Mafia on their song "Morning Sun" (2012), which was made available for free download online.[111] She had previously appeared in the music video for their debut single, "The Big Bang" (2010).[112] Cyrus later provided guest vocals on "Decisions" (2012) byBorgore.[113] Both Cyrus and Hemsworth appeared in the song's music video.[114] She went on to guest star as Missi in two episodes of theCBS sitcomTwo and a Half Men.[115] Cyrus drew significant media attention when she cut her traditionally long, brown hair in favor of a blonde,pixie cut; she commented that she had "never felt more [herself] in [her] whole life" and that "it really changed [her] life."[116][117]
In 2013, Cyrus hiredLarry Rudolph to be her manager, best known for previously representingBritney Spears.[118][119] It was confirmed that Cyrus had signed withRCA Records for her future releases.[120] She worked with producers such asPharrell Williams andMike Will Made-It on her fourth studio album, resulting in a hip hop-influenced sound.[121] She collaborated with numerous hip hop artists releases[121] and appeared on theSnoop Lion song "Ashtrays and Heartbreaks" (2013), released as the lead single from his twelfth studio album,Reincarnated.[122] She collaborated withwill.i.am on the song "Fall Down" (2013), released as a promotional single that same month.[123] The song entered theBillboard Hot 100 at number fifty-eight, marking her first appearance on the chart since "Can't Be Tamed" (2010).[124] She provided guest vocals on theLil Twist song "Twerk", which also featured vocals byJustin Bieber.[125] The song was unreleased for unknown reasons but leaked online.[125] On May 23, 2013, it was confirmed that Cyrus would be featured on theMike Will Made It single "23", withWiz Khalifa andJuicy J.[126] The single went on to peak at number eleven on the Hot 100, and had sold over onemillion copies worldwide as of 2013.[127]
Cyrus released her new single "We Can't Stop" on June 3.[128] Touted as her comeback single, it became a worldwide commercial success, topping charts in territories such as the United Kingdom.[129][130] The song's music video set theVevo record for most views within twenty-four hours of release and became the first to reach 100million views on the site.[131] Cyrus performed withRobin Thicke at the2013 MTV Video Music Awards, a performance that resulted in widespread media attention and public scrutiny. Her simulated sex acts with a foam finger were described as "disturbing" and the whole performance as "cringe-worthy".[132][133] Cyrus released "Wrecking Ball" (2013) as the second single fromBangerz on the same day as the VMAs.[134] The accompanying music video, which showed her swinging naked on a wrecking ball, was viewed over nineteen million times within 24 hours of its release, and drew criticism from some for allegedlyobjectifying Cyrus, including fellow singerSinéad O’Connor, who said that "you will obscure your talent by allowing yourself to be pimped, whether it's the music business or yourself doing the pimping".[134][133][135] Despite this, the single became Cyrus's first to top the Hot 100 in the US, and maintained the number-one spot for three weeks.[136] It sold over two million copies.[137]
On October 2, 2013, MTV aired the documentaryMiley: The Movement, that chronicled the recording of her fourth studio albumBangerz,[138][139] which was released on October 4.[140] The album was a commercial success, debuting at number one on theBillboard 200 with first week sales of 270,000 copies.[141] On October 5, Cyrus hostedSaturday Night Live for the second time.[142] On November 5, Cyrus featured on rapperFuture's "Real and True" withMr. Hudson; an accompanying music video premiered five days later on November 10, 2013.[143] In late 2013 she was declared Artist of the Year by MTV.[144]
On January 29, 2014, she played an acoustic concert show onMTV Unplugged, performing songs fromBangerz featuring a guest appearance byMadonna.[145] It became the highest-ratedMTV Unplugged in the past decade, with over 1.7million streams.[146] Cyrus was also featured in theMarc Jacobs Spring 2014 campaign along withNatalie Westling and Esmerelda Seay Reynolds.[147] She launched her controversialBangerz Tour (2014) that year, which was positively received by critics.[148][149] Two months into her tour, Cyrus'sAlaskan Klee Kai was found mauled to death at her home after fighting with a coyote. Two weeks later, Cyrus suffered an allergic reaction to theantibioticcephalexin, prescribed to treat a sinus infection,[150] resulting in her hospitalization inKansas City. Though she rescheduled some of her US tour dates, she resumed the tour two weeks later, beginning with the European leg.[151]
Reports began to surface in 2015 that Cyrus was working on two albums simultaneously, one of which she hoped to release at no charge.[158] This was confirmed by her manager who claimed she was willing to end her contract with RCA Records if they refused to let her release a free album.[158] Cyrus was the host of the2015 MTV Video Music Awards, making her its first openlypansexual host, and gave a surprise performance of a new song "Dooo It!" (2015) during the show's finale.[159][160] Immediately following the performance, Cyrus announced that her fifth studio album,Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz (2015), was available for free streaming onSoundCloud.[160] The album was written and produced primarily by Cyrus, and has been calledexperimental andpsychedelic,[161][162][163] with elements ofpsychedelic pop,[164][165]psychedelic rock,[166] andalternative pop.[167]
In 2015, following the release of her fifth studio album, Cyrus resumed working on her sixth studio effort.[168] She was a key advisor during thetenth season of the reality singing competitionThe Voice.[169] In March 2016, Cyrus had signed on as a coach for theeleventh season ofThe Voice as a replacement forGwen Stefani; Cyrus became the youngest coach to appear in any incarnation of the series.[170] In September 2016, Cyrus co-starred inCrisis in Six Scenes, a television seriesWoody Allen created forAmazon Studios. She played a radical activist who causes chaos in a conservative 1960s household while hiding from the police.[171][172] On September 17, 2016, she appeared onThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and coveredBob Dylan's "Baby, I'm In the Mood for You".[173] Cyrus also had an uncredited voice cameo asMainframe in the superhero filmGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, released in May 2017.
On May 11, 2017, Cyrus released "Malibu" as the lead single from her sixth album.[174] The single debuted at No. 64 on theBillboard Hot 100 and peaked at No. 10 on the chart on its second week.[175] On June 9, Cyrus released "Inspired" after performing the song at theOne Love Manchester benefit concert.[176] It served as a promotional single from the album. On August 8, Cyrus announced that her sixth studio album would be titledYounger Now and would be released on September 29, 2017.[177][178] The album's title track was released as the second single from the album on August 18 and debuted and peaked at No. 79 on theBillboard Hot 100.[179] On August 27, Cyrus performed the track at the2017 MTV Video Music Awards.[180] On September 15, she performed "Malibu", "Younger Now", "See You Again", "Party in the U.S.A." and a cover of theRoberta Flack hit "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" (written byEwan McColl) for theBBC Radio 1Live Lounge.[181] On October 2, as part of her one-week regular musical appearances onThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Cyrus sang her 2009 hit single "The Climb" for the first time since 2011 alongside a cover of "No Freedom" byDido to honor the victims of theLas Vegas shooting.[182] The former song has since been performed at multiple charity events, protests, and marches, including at theMarch For Our Lives demonstrations inWashington, D.C.[183] That same year, Cyrus returned as a coach in thethirteenth season ofThe Voice after taking a one-season hiatus.[184][185] On October 5, 2017, Cyrus confirmed that she would not be returning toThe Voice for season fourteen.[186] On October 30, 2017, Cyrus revealed she would not release any further singles fromYounger Now, nor would she tour for it.[187]
On May 31, 2019, Cyrus tweeted that her seventh studio album would be titledShe Is Miley Cyrus and would comprise three six-song EPs, which would be released before the full-length album:She Is Coming on May 31,She Is Here in the summer, andShe Is Everything in the fall.[198]She Is Coming, which also included vocal collaborations withRuPaul,Swae Lee,Mike Will Made It andGhostface Killah, debuted at number five on the USBillboard 200 with 36,000 album-equivalent units,[199] while the lead single "Mother's Daughter" entered at number 54 on the USBillboard Hot 100.[200] TheWuki remix of "Mother's Daughter" received a nomination forBest Remixed Recording at the62nd Annual Grammy Awards while the original music video won twoMTV Video Music Awards.[201][202] Cyrus promoted the EP with a summer European tour that visited A-list festivals likeGlastonbury andPrimavera Sound.[203]
Cyrus starred in "Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too", an episode of theNetflix sci-fi seriesBlack Mirror, which was filmed in South Africa in November 2018. It was released on Netflix on June 5, 2019.[204] In the episode, she played fictional pop star Ashley O and voiced herAI doll extension, Ashley Too. The plot was compared toBritney Spears'sconservatorship and theFree Britney movement, which Cyrus has been an advocate for.[205] The music video for the song "On a Roll" from the episode was released on June 13;[206] the song itself and the B-side "Right Where I Belong" were released to digital platforms the next day.[207]
On June 27, it was revealed that Cyrus had collaborated withAriana Grande andLana Del Rey on "Don't Call Me Angel", the lead single of the soundtrack to the 2019 filmCharlie's Angels.[208] It was released on September 13, 2019.[209] In August 2019, Cyrus released "Slide Away", her first song since announcing her separation from then-husband Hemsworth. The song hinted at their breakup and contained lyrics such as "Move on, we're not 17, I'm not who I used to be".[210] A music video was released in September 2019 that contained further references, including aten of hearts playing card at the bottom of a pool to represent the end of her decade-long relationship with Hemsworth.[211]
2020–2022:Plastic Hearts and television projects
On August 14, 2020, Cyrus released the lead single from her seventh studio album, "Midnight Sky" and confirmed the cancellation of the EPsShe Is Here andShe Is Everything due to major recent changes in her life that did not fit the essence of the project, including her divorce from Hemsworth, and the burning of the couple's house during theWoolsey Fire inCalifornia.[212][213] "Midnight Sky" became her highest-charting solo single since "Malibu" in 2017, peaking at number 14 on the USBillboard Hot 100. Internationally, in the United Kingdom the song has thus far peaked at number five on theUK Singles Chart. The track was latermashed up withStevie Nicks' "Edge of Seventeen".[214]
In October, Cyrus had a thirdBackyard Session onMTV and announced via Instagram that her seventh studio albumPlastic Hearts would be released on November 27, 2020.[215][216] It was previously intended to be calledShe Is Miley Cyrus, completing the EP series once finalized.[217] The album was released to positive reviews from critics and performed well, debuting at number two on the Billboard 200, with 60,000 units, becoming her twelfth top ten entry on the chart. With that entry, Cyrus broke the record for attaining the most USBillboard 200 top-five albums in the 21st century by a female music artist.Plastic Hearts marked a step of Cyrus intorock andglam rock music and spawned two other singles: "Prisoner" featuring English singerDua Lipa and "Angels like You", which peaked at 8 and 66 respectively in the United Kingdom.[218] The album also included vocal collaborations withBilly Idol andJoan Jett. Due to popular demand and social media virality, Cyrus included the live covers ofBlondie's "Heart of Glass" andThe Cranberries' "Zombie".[219]
Cyrus won a2020 Webby Special Achievement Award.[220] In February 2021, Cyrus performed at the first TikTok Tailgate show inTampa, for 7,500vaccinated healthcare workers. It served as a pre-show beforeSuper Bowl LV. It aired onTikTok andCBS.[221] The performance was featured in the music video for "Angels like You".[222] In March 2021, Cyrus departed RCA and signed withColumbia Records, a sister label of RCA under theSony Music umbrella.[223][224] That same month Cyrus embraced her days as Hannah Montana and wrote an open letter to the character on social media for the show's 15th anniversary, despite all statements that her days as Montana gave Cyrus anidentity crisis.[225][226] Rumors about a possible revival of the show have been around ever since.[227] On April 23, 2021,The Kid Laroi released a remix of his single "Without You" featuring Cyrus, her first release under Columbia Records.[228] On April 3, 2021, Cyrus performed at theNCAA March Madness Final Four in Indianapolis with the frontline health care workers in the audience.[229]
In May 2021, Cyrus signed an overall deal withNBCUniversal, including a first-look deal with her studio Hopetown Entertainment, as part of which she would develop projects for the company's outlets and star in three specials; with the first project off the deal being theStand By YouPride concert special, which was released the following month onPeacock.[230][231] In June, Cyrus released a studio cover version ofMetallica's "Nothing Else Matters", which was included inThe Metallica Blacklist, atribute album to the band'shomonymous record, featuring renditions recorded by various artists and released in conjunction to the original album's 30th anniversary.[232] The track also featuresElton John on the piano,Yo-Yo Ma andRed Hot Chili Peppers'Chad Smith.[233] The singer initially teased a Metallica cover album in October 2020 and had already performed the track live during her set atGlastonbury.[234]
In February 2022, Cyrus embarked on her music festival concert tour,Attention Tour, in support ofPlastic Hearts, which took place inNorth,South, andCentral America. This marked her first tour to South America since her Gypsy Heart Tour in 2011. The tour concluded on March 26, 2022.[239][240][241] On April 1, 2022, Cyrus released her third live album,Attention: Miley Live.[242] Most of the album was recorded during her concert as part of the Super Bowl Music Fest at theCrypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on February 12, 2022, with the set list including songs from her albumsPlastic Hearts,Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz,Bangerz,The Time of Our Lives,Breakout, andMeet Miley Cyrus, along with multiple cover songs. The album also includes two unreleased tracks—"Attention" and "You". She said the album was "curated by the fans for the fans".[243] Emily Swingle ofClash gave acclaim to Cyrus's versatile vocals, saying her "voice is truly a force to be reckoned with, seamlessly fitting whatever genre she chooses to tackle. From the playful,country-hip-hop banger that is '4x4', torap-heavy '23', to thebluesy, rich cover ofJanis Joplin's 'Maybe', it seems like Cyrus can fit into just about any genre she gets her paws on."[244] By the end of that month, Cyrus released the deluxe version of the album, which includes six additional songs including a mashup of "Mother's Daughter" and "Boys Don't Cry" featuringAnitta, that are mostly part of her time at the Lollapalooza festival in Brazil and other shows in Latin America; she commented on the addition of her single "Angels Like You" at her concert in Colombia in gratitude due to the song reaching the number one spot on iTunes in that country and because her fans sang the song all night outside the hotel where she was staying in Bogotá.[245][246] The following month, NBC announced thatMiley's New Year's Eve Party had been renewed for a second iteration set to be aired on New Year's Eve 2022–23.[247][248] In August 2022, it was announced that Cyrus was set to star in aChristmastelevision filmDolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas, produced byDolly Parton forNBC.[249]
In late 2022, Cyrus and her longtime collaboratorMike Will Made It teased new music to be released in 2023.[250] Days later, during the second edition ofMiley's New Year's Eve Party, the singer's next lead single, "Flowers", was announced.[251][252] It was released on January 13, 2023,[253][254] and debuted at number one on theBillboard Hot 100,Global 200, andGlobal Excl. US charts.[255] With thirteen weeks each atop the Global 200 and Global Excl. US charts, it became the longest-running leader on the former chart, at the time.[256] Topping the Hot 100 for eight non-consecutive weeks, it was Cyrus's second US number-one single—her first in a decade, since "Wrecking Ball" (2013)—and her longest-running chart-topper.[257][258] "Flowers" became a global success,[259] reaching number one in 37 countries,[260] including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the UK.[261] It was 2023's most-streamed and most-downloaded song across various platforms in numerous countries,[262] and the most-consumed song on US radio.[263] On Spotify, the single became the fastest track to surpass 100 million and 1 billion plays (7 and 112 days), at the time.[264][265] Due to 57 weeks atop theBillboardAdult Contemporary chart, it became the longest-running number one song on anyBillboardairplay chart in history.[266] It also earned the most cumulative weeks atop allBillboard airplay charts (106 weeks) of all time.[267] "Flowers" topped the year-end charts in various regions,[268] and ranked as the second best-performing song of the year on theyear-end Hot 100 chart of 2023.[269] According to theInternational Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), it was thebest-selling song in 2023 globally.[270] A demo version of the track was made available in March 2023.[271] "Flowers" was certified seven-times platinum by the RIAA in March 2025.[272]
Cyrus's eighth studio album,Endless Summer Vacation, was released on March 10, 2023.[5] Her first studio effort with Columbia Records, she described the record as "[her] love letter to LA", which reflects upon physical and mental growth she experienced during production.[273] Cyrus decided to primarily focus on songcraft, before handling production, on the album—a pop anddance-pop record.[274] It debuted at number three on the USBillboard 200, earning 119,000 album-equivalent units.[275] "River", the second single off the record, was released on March 13, 2023,[276][277] and reached number 32 on the US Hot 100.[278] "Jaded", which peaked at number 56, became the third single in April 2023.[279][280]Endless Summer Vacation was the 19th best-selling album globally in 2023, according to the IFPI.[281]
A documentary concert special—as part of Cyrus'sBackyard Sessions series—titledEndless Summer Vacation (Backyard Sessions), premiered onDisney+ on March 10, accompanying the album's release.[282] Executive produced by Cyrus, it features her performing songs from the album, and her 2009 single "The Climb", with an appearance byRufus Wainwright.[283][284] In June, she voiced Van, a nihilistic female creature, in the second season of the Netflixadult animated sitcomHuman Resources.[285] An updated version of Cyrus's Disney+ special, titledEndless Summer Vacation: Continued (Backyard Sessions), premiered onABC on August 24, 2023. The day after, Cyrus released the single "Used to Be Young", which was included in the digital reissue ofEndless Summer Vacation[286] and debuted at number eight in the US.[287] On October 20,Dolly Parton released a rock re-recording of Cyrus's "Wrecking Ball" featuring her as a guest vocalist, as the final single off her studio albumRockstar (2023).[288]Billboard ranked Cyrus as the ninth-best-selling musician of 2023.[289]
Her ninth studio album,Something Beautiful, was released on May 30, 2025. Cyrus described it as "hypnotic" and "an attempt to medicate somewhat of a sick culture through music".[306] The album is aprogressive pop record centered around themes of "healing".[307][308] It was preceded by the lead single "End of the World" on April 3;[309] and the promotional singles "Prelude" and the title track in March,[310] and "More to Lose" and "Walk of Fame" (featuring Brittany Howard) in May.[311]Something Beautiful received generally positive reviews from music critics, with many considering it one of Cyrus's most ambitious and introspective records to date.[312]Rolling Stone'sRob Sheffield described the album as "Cyrus aiming higher than ever" while Nick Levine ofNME called it "a fully realized artistic statement".[313][314] The album debuted at number four on theBillboard 200 with 44,000 units, marking Cyrus's 11th top-five and 15th top-ten album.[315] Elsewhere, it reached number three in the UK and number four in Australia.[316][317] Amusical filmof the same name, written and directed by Cyrus,Jacob Bixenman, andBrendan Walter premiered on June 6, 2025 during theTribeca Festival[318] and was theatrically released—for one night only—by Columbia Records andSony Music Vision on June 12 in North America, and on June 27 internationally, as avisual companion to the record.[319][320]Billboard called the visual album a "one of a kind pop opera";[321] it was made available on Disney+ and Hulu in July 2025.[322]
Cyrus possesses amezzo-sopranovocal range,[340] although her vocals were once described asalto[341] with a "Nashvilletwang" in both her spoken and singing voice. Her voice has a distinctive raspy sound to it, similar in vein to that ofPink andAmy Winehouse.[342][343][99] On "Party in the U.S.A." (2009), her vocals featurebelterrefrains,[344] while those on the song "Obsessed" (2009) are described as "husky".[345] Releases such as "The Climb" (2009) and "These Four Walls" (2008) feature elements ofcountry music and showcase Cyrus's "twangy vocals".[346] Cyrus experimented with anelectropop sound on "Fly on the Wall" (2008), a genre that she would explore further with the release ofCan't Be Tamed (2010), her third studio album.[347] It was initially intended to featurerock elements prior to its completion,[348] and Cyrus claimed after its release that it could be her final pop album.[349] The album's songs speak of Cyrus's desire to achieve freedom in both her personal and professional life.[349] She began working onBangerz (2013) during a musical hiatus, and described the record as having a "dirty south feel" prior to its release.[350] Critics noted the use ofhip hop andsynthpop on the album.[351] The album's songs are placed in chronological order telling the story of her failed relationship with Liam Hemsworth.[352] Cyrus describedMiley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz (2015) as "a little psychedelic, but still in thatpop world".[155] For her rock-influenced album,Plastic Hearts, Cyrus cited Britney Spears andMetallica as major influences.[353] Inspired by pop and dance-pop,Endless Summer Vacation (2023) "feels like a recap of her career's 15-plus years, with Cyrus breezing through genres with the ease of a well-seasoned tourist".[354] Cyrus related its overall concept to her affection for Los Angeles.
Cyrus's controversial musical performances have received significant media attention, including on herBangerz Tour (2014) andMilky Milky Milk Tour (2015).[355] Her performance of "Party in the U.S.A." at the2009 Teen Choice Awards sparked a "national uproar" because of her outfit and perceived pole dancing.[356][357] She faced similar controversy over her performance of "Can't Be Tamed" (2010) onBritain's Got Talent, where the singer pretended to kiss one of her female backup dancers onstage;[358] she defended the performance, arguing that she did nothing wrong.[358]
Cyrus became the subject of media and public scrutiny following her performance of "We Can't Stop" (2013) and "Blurred Lines" (2013) with Robin Thicke at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards. Clad in a flesh-colored latex two-piece, she touched Thicke'scrotch area with a giant foam finger andtwerked against his crotch.[359] The performance resulted in a media frenzy; one reviewer likened the performance to a "bad acid trip",[132] while another described it as a "trainwreck in the classic sense of the word as the audience reaction seemed to be a mix of confusion, dismay and horror in a cocktail of embarrassment".[360] Cyrus entered the stage of her Bangerz Tour by sliding down a slide in the shape of a tongue, and draw media attention during the tour for her unique outfits and racy performances.[361]
At the66th Grammy's, she delivered a performance of "Flowers", modifying lyrics live to celebrate her wins—"I just won my first Grammy!".[364]
At the Gucci Summer Celebration in 2024, she performed a "slowed-down" version of "Flowers" during a private celebration—again at Chateau Marmont.[365]
In May 2025, she hosted aTikTok listening party at Chateau Marmont, described as a surprise intimate set for ~100 fans, featuring new tracks fromSomething Beautiful ("End of the World", "Easy Lover", "More to Lose") and a live debut of "The Climb".[366]
On May 30, she appeared unannounced on the album release ball at the 3 Dollar Bill Club onBrooklyn, where she performed "Easy Lover".[368] On June 2, she sang "More to Lose", "Easy Lover" and "Flowers" during the surprise performance atBemelmans Bar in theCarlyle Hotel in New York City.[369] On June 4, she held an album signing along with the live performance at theRough Trade shop in New York.[370] On the same day, she appeared onThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[371] On the next day her interview on theEvery Single Albumpodcast was released.[372]
In the early years of her career, Cyrus had a generally wholesome image as a teen idol.[373] Her fame increased dramatically in the wake of theVanity Fair photo scandal in 2008, and it was reported that photographs of Cyrus could be sold to photo agencies for up to $2,000 per photo.[373] In subsequent years, her image continued to shift dramatically from her teen idol status.[373] In 2008,Donny Osmond wrote of Cyrus's imminent transition to adulthood: "Miley will have to face adulthood... As she does, she'll want to change her image, and that change will be met with adversity."[374] The release of her 2010 albumCan't Be Tamed saw Cyrus officially attempting to distance herself from her teenage persona by releasing controversial music videos for her songs "Can't Be Tamed" and "Who Owns My Heart".[375][376] Her behavior throughout 2013 and 2014 sparked a substantial amount of controversy, although her godmother Dolly Parton said "...the girl can write. The girl can sing. The girl is smart. And she doesn't have to be so drastic. But I will respect her choices. I did it my way, so why can't she do it her way?"[377] Liel Leibovitz atTablet noted in 2013: "Talking to the websiteHunger, the singer argued that those adults who deem her gyrations too sultry and her music too saccharine were simply too ancient—and Jewish—to get it. 'With magazines, with movies, it's always weird when things are targeted for young people yet they're driven by people that are like 40 years too old', Cyrus opined. And one group stands out in [her] mind as deserving of most of the blame: 'It can't be like this 70-year-old Jewish man that doesn’t leave his desk all day, telling me what the clubs want to hear.'"[378]
Cyrus was ranked number 17 onForbes's list of the most powerful celebrities in 2014; the magazine notes that "The last time she made our list was when she was still rolling inHannah Montana money. Now the pop singer is all grown up and courting controversy at every turn."[379] In August 2014, her life was documented in a comic book titledFame: Miley Cyrus; it begins with her controversial 2013 MTV Video Music Awards performance and covers her Disney fame as well as exploring her childhood in Tennessee.[380] The comic book was written by Michael L. Frizell, drawn by Juan Luis Rincón, and is available in both print and digital formats.[381] In September 2010, Cyrus placed tenth onBillboard's first-ever edition of its 21 Under 21 listicle;[382] she was ranked twenty-first in 2011[383] and eighteenth in 2012.[384] In 2013,Maxim listed Cyrus as number one on their annual Hot 100 list.[385] Cyrus was chosen byTime magazine as one of the finalists forPerson of the Year in November 2013;[386] she came in third place with 16.3% of the staff vote.[387] In March 2014,Skidmore College inNew York began to offer a special topics sociology course entitled "The Sociology of Miley Cyrus: Race, Class, Gender and Media" which was "using Miley as a lens through which to explore sociological thinking about identity, entertainment, media and fame".[388] In 2015, Cyrus was listed as one of the nine runners-up forThe Advocate's Person of the Year.[389] In March 2024, to commemorate the 65th anniversary ofInternational Women's Day, Cyrus was one of a number of celebrities who had their likeness turned intoBratz doll.[390]
Personal life
Cyrus resides inHidden Hills, California, and also owns a $5.8 million home in her hometown ofFranklin.[391][392] She was raised as aChristian and identified herself as such during her childhood and early adult life,[24] but she included references toTibetan Buddhism in her 2015 song "Milky Milky Milk"[393] and is also influenced byHindu beliefs.[394]
Cyruscame out to her mother at age 14[397][398][399] and has said: "I never want to label myself! I am ready to love anyone that loves me for who I am! I am open."[400] In June 2015,Time magazine reported that she identified asgender fluid.[401][398][399][400] She said she "doesn't relate to being boy or girl, and I don't have to have my partner relate to boy or girl",[397] adding that she is "literally open to every single thing that is consenting and doesn't involve an animal and everyone is of age".[397]
Cyrus is a supporter of theLGBT community.[402] Her 2010 song "My Heart Beats for Love" was written for one of her gay friends,[403] and she has since saidLondon is her favorite place to perform due to its extensive gay scene.[404] Cyrus has anequals sign tattooed on her ring finger in support of same-sex marriage.[405] After her 2018 marriage to Liam Hemsworth, Cyrus went on record to say she still identified asqueer.[406] In 2014, she founded theHappy Hippie Foundation, which works to "fight injustice facing homeless youth, LGBTQ youth and other vulnerable populations".[407]
Veganism
Cyrus became avegan and stopped eating animal products in 2014.[408] In 2020, she said onThe Joe Rogan Experience that she had to switch to apescatarian diet after suffering fromomega-3 deficiency: "I've been a vegan for a very long time and I had to introduce fish and omegas into my life because my brain wasn't functioning properly."[408] Cyrus said she cried when eating her first fish after her vegan diet, saying "I cried for the fish ... it really hurts me to eat fish."[409] Her decision to quit being vegan sparked backlash from people in the vegan andvegetarian community, who accused Cyrus of "spreading misinformation about omega-3" and "abandoning her vegan diet".[410]
Cannabis use
Cyrus has been open about her recreational use ofcannabis.[411][412] She toldRolling Stone in 2013 that it was "the best drug on earth" and called it, along withMDMA, a "happy drug".[413] While accepting the Best Video Award at the2013 MTV Europe Music Awards, Cyrus appeared to smoke ajoint onstage; this was removed from the delayed broadcast of the show in the United States.[414] In a 2014 interview withW magazine, Cyrus said "I love weed" and "I just love getting stoned."[415] In a 2017 interview onThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, she said she had quit cannabis before the press tour forYounger Now so she could be "super clear" when discussing the record.[416] In May 2018, she told Jimmy Kimmel: "I also think it's the most magical, amazing... it's my first and true love. It's just not for me right now at this time in my life, but I'm sure there will be a day I will happily indulge."[417] During a December 2018 interview withAndy Cohen, she credited her mother for reintroducing her to cannabis.[418] In 2019, Cyrus sent "Nothing Breaks Like a Heart" collaboratorMark Ronson a cannabis bouquet fromLowell Herb Co as a tongue-in-cheek Valentine's Day gift.[419] She invested in the company in August.[420]
Before and shortly after vocal cord surgery in November 2019, Cyrus said she had abstained from cannabis and alcohol.[421][422][423][424][425]
Cyrus and Hemsworth rekindled their relationship in March 2016,[435][436] and got engaged again that October.[437] In November 2018, their home burned down in theWoolsey Fire inCalifornia.[438][439] On December 23, Cyrus and Hemsworth married in a private ceremony at their home inNashville.[440] She said her marriage redefined "what it looks like for someone that's a queer person like me to be in a hetero relationship" while "still very sexually attracted to women". Cyrus said the ceremony was "kind of out of character for me" because they had "worn rings forever [and] definitely didn't need it in any way". She believed the loss of their home to be the catalyst for the wedding, saying "the timing felt right" and that "no one is promised the next day, or the next, so I try to be 'in the now' as much as possible".[441] On August 10, 2019, Cyrus announced their separation;[442] on August 21, Hemsworth filed for divorce, citing "irreconcilable differences".[443] Their divorce was finalized on January 28, 2020.[444]
After announcing her separation from Hemsworth, Cyrus dated Kaitlynn Carter from August to September 2019.[445][446][447] In October 2019, Cyrus began dating Australian singerCody Simpson, a longtime friend.[448] In August 2020, Cyrus announced that she and Simpson had split up.[449] Her announcement coincided with the release of her single "Midnight Sky", which was inspired by her breakups with Hemsworth, Carter, and Simpson.[450][451][452] In 2021, Cyrus began dating American musicianMaxx Morando, who worked as a producer on her 2023 albumEndless Summer Vacation.[453][454]
Cyrus performing at the Kids Inaugural: We Are the Future concert in 2009
In January 2011, Cyrus met an ailing fan withspina bifida with the charityKids Wish Network.[482] In April 2011, she appeared in a commercial for theAmerican Red Cross asking people to pledge $10 to help those affected by the2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.[483] That same year,Hilary Duff presented Cyrus with the first-ever Global Action Youth Leadership Award at the first Annual Global Action Awards Gala for her support ofBlessings in a Backpack, an organization that works to feed hungry children in schools, and her personalGet Ur Good On campaign with the Youth Services of America. Cyrus stated: "I want (kids) to do something they love. Not something that seems like a chore because someone tells them that's the right thing to do or what their parents want or what's important to people around them, but what's in their heart."[484][485] In December 2011, she appeared in a commercial for the charityJ/P Haitian Relief Organization, and teamed up with her elder brother Trace Cyrus to design a limited-edition T-shirt and hoodie for charity. All proceeds from the sale of these items went to her charity, Get Ur Good On, which supports education for under-privileged children.[486][487] That month, she performed "The Climb" at theCNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.[488]
At the2014 MTV Video Music Awards, Cyrus wonVideo of the Year for her songWrecking Ball. Instead of accepting the award herself, she invited a 22-year-old homeless man by the name of Jesse to collect it on her behalf; she had met him at My Friend's Place, an organization that helps homeless youth find shelter, work, health care, and education. His acceptance speech urged musicians to learn more about youth homelessness in Los Angeles through Cyrus'sFacebook page.[499] Cyrus then launched aPrizeo campaign to raise funds for the charity; those who made donations were entered into a sweepstake for a chance to meet Cyrus on her Bangerz Tour inRio de Janeiro that September.[500] In early 2015, Cyrus teamed up withMAC Cosmetics to launch her own branded Viva Glam lipstick, with proceeds to theMac AIDS Fund.[501]
In June 2017, Cyrus performed atOne Love Manchester, a televised benefit concert organized byAriana Grande following theManchester Arena bombing on her concert two weeks earlier.[502] During an appearance onThe Ellen DeGeneres Show in August 2017, Cyrus said that she would donate $500,000 toHurricane Harvey relief efforts.[503] In August 2019, she performed at the Sunny Hill Festival inKosovo, a festival to raise funds to help people with financial difficulties there, created byDua Lipa and her father.[504] In September 2019, Cyrus met with another fan through the Make-A-Wish Foundation at the 2019iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada.[505][481] Cyrus and her boyfriendCody Simpson donated 120tacos to healthcare workers amid theCOVID-19 pandemic in April 2020.[506] That same month, she partnered again with MAC Cosmetics's annual Viva Glam campaign to donate $10 million toward 250 local organizations nationwide heavily impacted by the pandemic.
Cyrus is the founder of theHappy Hippie Foundation, which works to "fight injustice facing homeless youth, LGBTQ youth, and other vulnerable populations".[407] From 2014 to 2016 the foundation served nearly 1,500 homeless youth in Los Angeles, reached more than 25,000 LGBTQ youth and their families with resources about gender, and provided social services to transgender individuals, youth in conflict zones, and people affected by crises.[508] Happy Hippie encourages Cyrus's fans to support causes including gender equality, LGBTQ rights and mental health through awareness campaigns and fundraising. Leading up to the 2020 presidential election, Happy Hippie encouraged its Instagram followers to seek outVoteRiders for assistance ensuring that gender identity would not affect their right to vote.
On June 15, 2015, Cyrus launched the campaign #InstaPride[509] in collaboration with Instagram. The campaign features a series of portraits starringtransgender and gender-expansive people, which were posted to her Instagram feed with the hashtags "#HappyHippiePresents" and "#InstaPride". It stated that it was aimed at encouraging diversity and tolerance by showing these people in a positive light as examples for others who might be struggling to figure themselves out, and as a reference point for people who didn't know personally anyone in that situation. Cyrus was behind the camera for the entire photoshoot, and interviewed her 14 subjects to share their personal stories. She said she wanted to bring attention to and celebrate people who would not normally find themselves being the stars of a photoshoot or portrayed on the cover of a magazine.[510]
Following the loss of Miley and Hemsworth's Malibu home from theWoolsey Fire, the community and they launched the Malibu Foundation for relief efforts following the2018 California wildfires,[511] Miley's Happy Hippie Foundation donating $500,000 to the Malibu Foundation.[512][513]
In 2024 Cyrus announced that the foundation would be renamed as Miley Cyrus Foundation.[514]
Cultural impact and status
Cyrus has been compared to the "Queen of Pop",Madonna, being considered by many as the "Madonna of her generation".[515]
Cyrus's early success as ateen idol and the face ofDisney Channel's billion-dollar franchiseHannah Montana[516] played an important role in shaping the 2000s teen pop culture, earning her the honorific nickname of "Teen Queen".[517][518][519] Bickford statedHannah Montana adopted a business model of combining celebrity acts with film, television, and popular music for a pre-adolescent audience. He called the series "genre-defining"[520] and likened this model to1990steen pop artists such asBritney Spears andNSYNC, who were also marketed to children.[520] Morgan Genevieve Blue ofFeminist Media Studies stated the series' primary female characters, Miley and her alter ego Hannah, are positioned aspost-feminist subjects in a way their representation is confined to notions of femininity and consumerism.[521]The Times journalist Craig McLean named Cyrus the "world's biggest-ever teenage star".[522]
During the Best of Both Worlds Tour, tickets were sold out in minutes and stadiums were completely filled making it the highest-grossing concert tour for a new act in 2007 and 2008.[523] According toBillboard boxscore,[524] the Best of Both Worlds Tour had a total attendance of approximately one million people[525] and grossed over US$54 million, earning Cyrus the award for Breakthrough Act at the 2008Billboard Touring Awards.[523] In 2012,Rolling Stone ranked Cyrus as one of the top 25 teen idol breakout moments of the rock era, which Andy Greene wrote: "Miley's rise was meteoric. Tickets to her 2007 Best of Both Worlds tour sold out faster than any tour in memory ... It seemed like she was poised to become a more stable version of Britney Spears – especially after singles 'The Climb' and 'Party In The USA'".[526] Due to her popularity,Paul McCartney compared their success to that ofthe Beatles in an interview during his tour in 2011. In this regard, he commented: "I think when they have new sensations, like Miley Cyrus or Justin Bieber, teenagers identify with them, in the same way that the boys identified with The Beatles, [...] when you have thousands of teenagers feeling the same, they become elated because they have this love for something in common, whether it is The Beatles, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, or whatever."[527][528]
Over the years, Cyrus's song "Party in the U.S.A." gained popularity in American culture on holidays and historic events. The song has re-entered the charts everyIndependence Day since its release. Following thedeath of Osama bin Laden on May 2, 2011, a resurgence in popularity of the music video occurred. The officialYouTube video was flooded with comments regarding the death of bin Laden and it was immediately deemed a celebratory anthem for the event.[529] In 2013, an online petition on theWhite House's "We the People" petitions website was urging then-presidentBarack Obama to change the U.S. national anthem from "The Star-Spangled Banner" to "Party in the U.S.A."[530][531] Following the2020 presidential election, as major news outlets announcedDemocratic nomineeJoe Biden the winner of the presidential race, on November 7, 2020, supporters in New York City started singing "Party in the U.S.A." atTimes Square.[532]
Cyrus's albumBangerz (2013), along with its promotional events, is considered to be one of the most controversial moments in the 2010s wider popular culture and established Cyrus among the decade's most controversial figures.[533]Glamour writer Mickey Woods likened the promotional "era" for the album to those ofBritney Spears's andChristina Aguilera's third and fourth studio albumsBritney (2001) andStripped (2002), respectively, adding that Cyrus's record "will probably be retrospectively deemed iconic, maybe even classic".[534]Billboard listedBangerz as one of the greatest and most influential albums of the 2010s noting that "with this pivotal album release, Cyrus took control of her public persona, surprising less with her provocative antics than with her constant artistic evolution".[535] The album was ranked number 230 onRolling Stone's "250 Greatest Albums of the 21st Century".[536]Bangerz is considered atrendsetter in "weaving together urban and pop influences, what's most revered now is what it represented then" according to Lyndsey Havens.[537] Patrick Ryan ofUSA Today commented that Cyrus's collaborations withMike Will Made It on the album contributed to his new-found prominence, stating that Mike Will Made It's position as an executive producer has helped him "[jump] to the forefront as an interesting character [...] in an era where a lot of producers have fallen behind the scenes again".[538]Vice described Cyrus as "the most punk rock musician out there" and that she was "spinning circles around every single pop star who [was] trying to be edgy" at the time.[539]MTV named Cyrus their Best Artist of 2013, and James Montgomery ofMTV News elaborated on the network's decision that Cyrus "[declared] her independence and [dominated] the pop-culture landscape", adding that "she schooled—and shocked—us all in 2013, and did so on her own terms."[540]Billboard staff called Cyrus the "Most Talked About Pop Star" of 2013, and also recognized the controversial evolution of her career as the "Top Music Moment" of the year, elaborating that she was a "maelstrom that expanded and grazed nearly every aspect of pop culture in 2013".[541] The publication also ranked "We Can't Stop" as the best song of 2013 for being "one of the bolder musical choices in recent memory",[542] and as one of the songs that defined the 2010s decade.[537] The song's music video and Cyrus's controversial 2013 VMAs performance with Robin Thicke were declared as the 27th greatest music video and one of the most "defining" pop culture moments of the 2010s.[543][544]
In 2015, Rebecca Nicholson fromThe Guardian published an article calling Cyrus theMadonna of her generation, saying that "she's aDisney survivor with a fluid approach to gender identity. And, like the old three-chord punks, she gives really good quote". According to Nicholson, Cyrus takes "the 90s Madonna approach to public sexuality: it's deliberately provocative, and crucially, it is not being served up for male consumption." Likewise, she defends Cyrus's controversial rebellion, highlighting that behind the character there is a human, talented and strong person who manages to connect with the public, just like the "Queen of Pop".[515] In November of the same year,Vulture ranked Cyrus number one on its "Disney and Nickelodeon Stars Gone Pop" listicle, writing that "no post-millennium child star [had] grown up as wildly, rapidly, or successfully as [Cyrus]" at the time.[545] Appearing at number eight on the 2021 revision of the ranking, the publication named her as one of the few child stars with a successful music career as an adult, calling her "the archetype for Disney 2.0 stars" who "picked up the child-star trap of getting pigeonholed and set it on fire".[546]Billboard cataloged the singer as one of the "Greatest of All TimeBillboard 200 Artists", occupying position thirty-one; she was on the ninth rank among female artists.[547] In 2017, the aforementioned magazine also published an article naming the singer a "Queer Superhero" for her philanthropic fight for the LGBTQ+ community.[548] In 2019,Billboard ranked her 62nd on its "Greatest of All Time Artists" chart,[549] and 55th on the2010s decade-end chart of Top Artists, signifying the most successful acts of the decade.[550][551]
Due to her continual artistic reinventions, sonic and stylistic evolution, and versatility, Cyrus has been nicknamed the "Pop Chameleon" by media and various publications.[552][546] She has also been considered apop icon by several publications,[553][554] with theBBC calling her "the ultimate 21st century pop star".[555] In 2023,The Hollywood Reporter named Cyrus as one of its "Platinum Players" in music.[556]Billboard included Cyrus in its "Greatest Pop Stars of 2023" listicle, naming her the "Comeback Artist of the Year". The magazine called her 2023 single "Flowers" the "biggest chart smash of her career" and noted that it "re-established [Cyrus] as one of pop's foremost hitmakers".[554] In 2024, at age 31, Cyrus became the youngest recipient of theDisney Legends award, for her outstanding contributions to the Walt Disney Company.[557] That year, she was ranked number 15 onBillboard's "Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century"; the magazine wrote that Cyrus has "endured as one of the century's most significant pop stars—because no matter what style she's trying out, at the end of the day, she's always still just being Miley".[558] In 2025,Billboard ranked her twenty-first on its "Top Artists of the 21st Century" list,[559] and ninth on its "Top 100 Women Artists of the 21st Century" list.[560] Artists that have cited Cyrus or her work as inspiration or an influence includeChappell Roan,[561]JoJo Siwa,[562]Lea Michele,[563]Lil Nas X,[564] andTroye Sivan.[565]
^abcAbramowitz, Rachel (May 28, 2008)."All lenses are on Miley".Los Angeles Times.Archived from the original on February 1, 2012. RetrievedJune 4, 2010.
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