Miley Cyrus facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Miley Cyrus
Cyrus in 2019
Born	Destiny Hope Cyrus (1992-11-23) November 23, 1992 (age 32) Franklin, Tennessee, U.S.
Other names	Miley Ray Cyrus Miley Ray Hemsworth
Occupation	Singer songwriter actress director
Years active	2001–present
Organization	Happy Hippie Foundation The Miley Cyrus Foundation
Works	Discography songs videos performances
Spouse(s)	Liam Hemsworth ​ ​ (m. 2018; div. 2020)​
Parent(s)	Billy Ray Cyrus Tish Cyrus
Relatives	Ron Cyrus (grandfather) Trace Cyrus (half-brother) Noah Cyrus (sister) Brandi Cyrus (half-sister)
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	Pop rock country
Instruments	Vocals guitar piano
Labels	Walt Disney Hollywood RCA Smiley Miley Columbia
Signature

Miley Ray Cyrus (born Destiny Hope Cyrus, November 23, 1992) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She is known for changing her music style and image often. Miley is the daughter of singer Billy Ray Cyrus. She became a famous child star before having a successful career as an adult.

Miley became a teen idol playing the main character in the Disney Channel TV show Hannah Montana (2006–2011). This show became very popular and had two number-one soundtracks. Her solo music career began with albums like Meet Miley Cyrus (2007) and Breakout (2008). These albums reached number one in the US. Her song "Party in the U.S.A." (2009) became a huge hit.

Later, Miley released Bangerz (2013), which was her fifth album to top the charts. It included the hit songs "We Can't Stop" and "Wrecking Ball". "Wrecking Ball" was her first song to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. She has explored different music styles on albums like Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz (2015), Younger Now (2017), and Plastic Hearts (2020). Her album Endless Summer Vacation (2023) featured the worldwide hit "Flowers". This song won two Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year. Her newest album, Something Beautiful (2025), is a visual album and a musical film.

As an actress, Miley has been in movies like Bolt (2008) and Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009). She also starred in The Last Song (2010). On TV, she was a coach on The Voice (2016–2017). She also appeared in an episode of Black Mirror (2019) and hosted Miley's New Year's Eve Party (2021–2022).

Miley has won many awards, including three Grammy Awards. She was named a Disney Legend for her work with The Walt Disney Company. She also started the Happy Hippie Foundation in 2014. This group helps young people who are homeless or part of the LGBTQ community.

Early Life and First Steps in Entertainment

Destiny Hope Cyrus was born on November 23, 1992, in Franklin, Tennessee. Her parents are Leticia "Tish" Jean Cyrus and country singer Billy Ray Cyrus. She had a heart condition when she was born. Her parents called her "Smiley" because she smiled a lot as a baby. This nickname was later shortened to "Miley." In 2008, she officially changed her name to Miley Ray Cyrus. Her middle name honors her grandfather, Ronald Ray Cyrus. Singer-songwriter Dolly Parton is Miley's godmother.

Miley's parents married in 1993. They had two more children, Braison and Noah. Miley's mother also had two older children, Brandi and Trace, from a previous relationship. All of Miley's siblings are involved in entertainment.

Miley went to Heritage Elementary School in Tennessee. When she got the role in Hannah Montana, her family moved to Los Angeles. She then studied with a private tutor. Miley was raised as a Christian and was baptized in a Southern Baptist church. In 2001, when Miley was eight, her family moved to Toronto, Canada, for her father's TV show Doc. After seeing a musical called Mamma Mia!, Miley told her father she wanted to be an actress. She started taking singing and acting lessons.

Miley's first acting role was in her father's TV series Doc. In 2003, she was in Tim Burton's movie Big Fish. She auditioned for Hannah Montana when she was thirteen. Even though she was first told she was "too small and too young," she got the lead role because she could sing and act in a funny way. Her mother became her manager and helped build her career.

Music and Acting Career

Becoming a Star with Hannah Montana

Cyrus performing on her Best of Both Worlds Tour in 2007

Hannah Montana first aired in March 2006. It quickly became one of the most popular shows on Disney Channel. Miley became known as a "teen idol" because of the show's success. In 2006, she toured as Hannah Montana, singing songs from the show. Walt Disney Records released a soundtrack that year, which became a big hit and sold millions of copies. Miley became the first artist from the Walt Disney Company to have deals in TV, movies, products, and music.

Miley signed a deal with Hollywood Records for her own music. In June 2007, she released Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus. One disc was a Hannah Montana soundtrack, and the other was Miley's first solo album. This album also reached the top of the charts. Her song "See You Again" (2007) was very popular. She also sang with her father on "Ready, Set, Don't Go" (2007).

Miley then went on her very successful Best of Both Worlds Tour (2007–08). Tickets sold out incredibly fast. The tour was so popular that a 3D concert film, Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert (2008), was released in theaters.

Cyrus singing on her 2009 Wonder World Tour

In 2008, Miley released her second solo album, Breakout. It had the highest first-week sales of her career at that time. She also voiced a character in the animated movie Bolt (2008) and co-wrote a song for it. The movie was a success.

In March 2009, Miley released "The Climb" from the Hannah Montana: The Movie soundtrack. It was a hit in both pop and country music. The soundtrack became her fourth album to reach number one. At 16, she was the youngest artist to have four number-one albums. She also launched her first fashion line with Walmart. Her song "Party in the U.S.A." (2009) became one of her most famous songs. She then went on her first world tour, the Wonder World Tour (2009).

Changing Her Image and Focusing on Acting

Cyrus performing on her Gypsy Heart Tour in São Paulo, 2011

Miley wanted to show a more grown-up image. She starred in the movie The Last Song (2010). She also released her third album, Can't Be Tamed (2010). This album had a more dance-like sound and caused some discussion because of its lyrics and Miley's performances. It was her first album not to reach number one. Her final Hannah Montana soundtrack was released in October 2010.

In December 2010, a video of Miley smoking a plant caused controversy. She then went on her worldwide Gypsy Heart Tour in April 2011. After Can't Be Tamed, Miley left Hollywood Records. She decided to take a break from music to focus on acting.

Miley hosted Saturday Night Live in March 2011. She also appeared on the TV show Punk'd. She starred with Demi Moore in the movie LOL (2012) and in the comedy film So Undercover.

In 2012, Miley released a series of live performances called Backyard Sessions on YouTube. She also sang on songs like "Morning Sun" (2012) and "Decisions" (2012). Miley got a lot of attention when she cut her long brown hair into a short blonde pixie cut. She said she felt more like herself than ever before.

Bangerz and New Music Styles

Cyrus performing at the 2013 Jingle Ball in Tampa, Florida

In 2013, Miley signed with RCA Records. She worked with producers like Pharrell Williams and Mike Will Made-It for her fourth album. This album had a hip hop sound. She sang on songs with other artists like Snoop Lion and will.i.am. She was also featured on the song "23" with Wiz Khalifa and Juicy J.

Miley released her song "We Can't Stop" on June 3, 2013. It became a huge hit around the world. The music video broke records for views on Vevo. Miley performed with Robin Thicke at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards. Her performance caused a lot of discussion and was seen as very bold. She then released "Wrecking Ball" (2013). The music video showed her swinging on a wrecking ball, which caused a lot of talk. Despite this, "Wrecking Ball" became her first song to reach number one in the US.

Her fourth album, Bangerz, was released on October 4, 2013. It was very successful, debuting at number one. Miley hosted Saturday Night Live for the second time. In late 2013, MTV named her Artist of the Year.

In January 2014, Miley performed an acoustic concert for MTV Unplugged with Madonna. She also started her Bangerz Tour (2014), which was praised by critics. During this time, Miley also worked on her fifth album with Wayne Coyne from the Flaming Lips. She said she was taking her time to make sure the music was ready.

In 2015, Miley hosted the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards. She surprised everyone by performing a new song, "Dooo It!" (2015). After the show, she announced that her fifth album, Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz (2015), was available for free online. This album was described as experimental and psychedelic.

The Voice and Younger Now

Cyrus performing on The Today Show in 2017

In 2016, Miley became a coach on the TV show The Voice. She was the youngest coach on the show. In September 2016, she starred in Crisis in Six Scenes, a TV series created by Woody Allen. She also had a voice role in the movie Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017).

On May 11, 2017, Miley released "Malibu" as the first song from her sixth album. It reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her sixth album, Younger Now, was released on September 29, 2017. The title track was also released as a single. Miley performed songs from the album on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. She also sang "The Climb" at charity events and protests. Miley returned as a coach for the thirteenth season of The Voice.

She Is Coming and Black Mirror

Before Younger Now was released, Miley was already working on her seventh album. She worked with Mark Ronson on the song "Nothing Breaks Like a Heart" (2018), which was very popular, especially in Europe.

In 2019, Miley became known for her cover songs. She sang "Islands in the Stream" with Shawn Mendes to honor her godmother Dolly Parton. She also covered songs by Ariana Grande and Elton John.

Cyrus performing She Is Coming at Primavera Sound

On May 31, 2019, Miley announced her seventh album would be called She Is Miley Cyrus. It would have three EPs (smaller albums) released before the full album. The first EP, She Is Coming, was released on May 31. It included songs with RuPaul and Swae Lee. The lead song, "Mother's Daughter", was also popular. Miley promoted the EP with a tour in Europe.

Miley starred in "Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too", an episode of the Netflix series Black Mirror, released on June 5, 2019. She played a pop star named Ashley O and voiced her AI doll. The episode's plot was compared to real-life situations of pop stars.

In September 2019, Miley released "Don't Call Me Angel" with Ariana Grande and Lana Del Rey for the movie Charlie's Angels. In August 2019, she released "Slide Away", a song about her separation from her husband, Liam Hemsworth.

Plastic Hearts and TV Projects

On August 14, 2020, Miley released "Midnight Sky", the first song from her seventh album. She said the planned EPs were canceled due to big changes in her life, like her divorce and her house burning down. "Midnight Sky" became a high-charting solo song for her.

In October 2020, Miley announced her seventh album, Plastic Hearts, would be released on November 27, 2020. It was praised by critics and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. This album showed Miley moving into rock and glam rock music. It included songs with Dua Lipa, Billy Idol, and Joan Jett. Miley also included live covers of "Heart of Glass" by Blondie and "Zombie" by The Cranberries.

In March 2021, Miley signed with Columbia Records. She also wrote an open letter to her Hannah Montana character for the show's 15th anniversary. On April 23, 2021, The Kid Laroi released a remix of his song "Without You" featuring Miley.

In May 2021, Miley signed a deal with NBCUniversal to develop projects and star in specials. The first project was a Pride concert special called Stand By You. In June, she released a cover of Metallica's "Nothing Else Matters" for a tribute album.

Miley headlined several music festivals in 2021, including Lollapalooza. She also announced a tour in South America for early 2022. The second special from her NBCUniversal deal was Miley's New Year's Eve Party, which she co-hosted with Pete Davidson.

In February 2022, Miley began her Attention Tour to support Plastic Hearts. This was her first tour in South America since 2011. On April 1, 2022, she released her third live album, Attention: Miley Live. The album included songs from her past albums and two new songs.

Endless Summer Vacation and Something Beautiful

In late 2022, Miley announced new music for 2023. Her next song, "Flowers", was released on January 13, 2023. It debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and other global charts. "Flowers" was number one in 37 countries and became the most-streamed and downloaded song of 2023. It also broke records for how fast it reached 100 million and 1 billion plays on Spotify.

Miley's eighth album, Endless Summer Vacation, was released on March 10, 2023. She called it her "love letter to LA." The album is a pop and dance-pop record. It debuted at number three in the US. "River" and "Jaded" were also released as singles from the album.

A concert special called Endless Summer Vacation (Backyard Sessions) premiered on Disney+ on March 10, 2023. It showed Miley performing songs from the album and "The Climb". In August 2023, Miley released the song "Used to Be Young".

At the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, Miley won her first two Grammy Awards for "Flowers": Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance. In March 2024, she was featured on "Doctor (Work It Out)" by Pharrell Williams. She also sang on "II Most Wanted" from Beyoncé's album Cowboy Carter. This song reached the top ten in the US and UK. "II Most Wanted" won Best Country Duo/Group Performance at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, giving Miley her third Grammy.

Her ninth album, Something Beautiful, was released on May 30, 2025. Miley described it as "hypnotic" and about "healing." It is a progressive pop album. The first song from the album was "End of the World". The album received good reviews and reached the top ten in many countries. A musical film of the same name, directed by Miley, premiered on June 6, 2025.

Musical Style and Influences

Cyrus credits singers Elvis Presley (left) and Britney Spears (right) as influences.

Miley Cyrus is mainly known as a pop singer, but she also has a rock style. Her music has included many other genres like teen pop, country, hip hop, and psychedelic. Miley has said that Elvis Presley is her biggest inspiration. She also looks up to artists like Madonna, Dolly Parton, and Britney Spears.

Her early albums, like Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus, had a pop-rock sound. With Breakout (2008), Miley tried different genres. She co-wrote eight songs on that album, showing her skill as a songwriter. Her early songs often talked about love and relationships.

Miley has a strong voice that can be described as raspy, similar to Pink and Amy Winehouse. Her songs like "Party in the U.S.A." (2009) show her powerful singing. Songs like "The Climb" (2009) have a country feel. Miley explored an electropop sound on "Fly on the Wall" (2008) and later on Can't Be Tamed (2010).

For her album Bangerz (2013), Miley said it had a "dirty south feel," with hip hop and synthpop sounds. The songs on this album tell the story of her relationship with Liam Hemsworth. Miley described Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz (2015) as "a little psychedelic." For her rock album, Plastic Hearts, she was influenced by Britney Spears and Metallica. Her album Endless Summer Vacation (2023) is a mix of pop and dance-pop, showing her growth.

Stage Performances

Early Performances to Bangerz Tour

Miley's performances have often gotten a lot of attention. Her performance of "Party in the U.S.A." at the 2009 Teen Choice Awards caused a "national uproar" because of her outfit and dancing. She faced similar discussion for her performance of "Can't Be Tamed" (2010) on Britain's Got Talent.

Miley's performance with Robin Thicke at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards caused a lot of media and public discussion. She wore a skin-colored outfit and her dancing was described as very bold. For her Bangerz Tour (2014), Miley entered the stage by sliding down a tongue-shaped slide. She also got attention for her unique outfits and energetic performances.

Recent Performances

In March 2023, Miley launched Endless Summer Vacation (Backyard Sessions), a Disney+ concert special. She performed songs from Endless Summer Vacation and "The Climb". An updated version aired on ABC in August 2023.

Miley celebrated her 31st birthday with a show in L.A., where she sang "Flowers" live for the first time. She also covered Journey's "Faithfully".

At the 66th Grammy's, she performed "Flowers" and changed the lyrics to celebrate winning her first Grammy. In May 2025, she hosted a TikTok listening party, performing new songs from Something Beautiful and a live debut of "The Climb". She also appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to perform new music.

Personal Life

Miley lives in Hidden Hills, California, and also has a home in her hometown of Franklin. She was raised as a Christian. She has also been influenced by Tibetan Buddhism and Hindu beliefs.

Miley has spoken about her choice not to have children.

Identity and Support for Others

Miley shared her identity with her mother at age 14. She has said she doesn't want to label herself and is "ready to love anyone that loves me for who I am!" In 2015, Time magazine reported that she identifies as gender fluid. This means she doesn't feel strictly like a boy or a girl. She added that she is "open to every single thing that is consenting."

Miley is a strong supporter of the LGBT community. Her 2010 song "My Heart Beats for Love" was written for a gay friend. She has an equals sign tattooed on her finger to support same-sex marriage. After her marriage to Liam Hemsworth, Miley said she still identified as queer. In 2014, she started the Happy Hippie Foundation. This group helps young people who are homeless or part of the LGBTQ community.

Diet Choices

Miley became a vegan in 2014, meaning she stopped eating animal products. In 2020, she shared that she had to start eating fish because her brain wasn't working properly due to a lack of certain nutrients. She said it was hard for her to eat fish after being vegan for so long.

Relationships

Miley dated singer-actor Nick Jonas from 2006 to 2007. She was also in a relationship with model Justin Gaston from 2008 to 2009. In 2009, while filming The Last Song, she began a relationship with her co-star Liam Hemsworth. They were engaged from 2012 to 2013.

Miley and Liam got back together in 2016 and were engaged again. In November 2018, their home burned down in a wildfire. They married on December 23, 2018, in a private ceremony. Miley said their marriage helped redefine what a relationship looks like for a queer person like her. She believed losing their home made them realize the importance of being "in the now." On August 10, 2019, Miley announced their separation, and their divorce was finalized in January 2020.

After her separation from Liam, Miley dated Kaitlynn Carter and then Australian singer Cody Simpson. In August 2020, Miley announced she and Cody had split. In 2021, Miley began dating American musician Maxx Morando.

Helping Others

Miley has sung on several charity songs, including "Just Stand Up!" and "Send It On". She supports the City of Hope National Medical Center in California. During her tours in 2008 and 2009, she donated one dollar from each ticket sold to the organization. For her 16th birthday, Disney donated $1 million to Youth Service America in her name.

Miley has supported many charities, including the Elton John AIDS Foundation and Habitat for Humanity. In 2010, she promoted support for To Write Love on Her Arms. She also donated items to raise money for victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Miley has worked with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, meeting many children.

Cyrus performing at the Kids Inaugural: We Are the Future concert in 2009

In 2011, Miley appeared in a commercial for the American Red Cross to help those affected by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. She also received the Global Action Youth Leadership Award for her support of Blessings in a Backpack, which feeds hungry children. Miley encouraged kids to help causes they care about. In 2012, she released a cover of Bob Dylan's "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go" for Amnesty International.

In 2014, Miley won Video of the Year at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards for "Wrecking Ball". Instead of accepting it herself, she invited a young homeless man named Jesse to speak. He asked people to learn about youth homelessness. Miley then started a campaign to raise money for a charity that helps homeless youth. In 2015, she teamed up with MAC Cosmetics to launch a lipstick, with money going to the Mac AIDS Fund.

In June 2017, Miley performed at One Love Manchester, a concert organized by Ariana Grande after a bombing. In August 2017, Miley donated $500,000 to help with Hurricane Harvey relief. In 2019, she performed at a festival in Kosovo to raise funds for people in need. In April 2020, Miley and her boyfriend Cody Simpson donated 120 tacos to healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also partnered with MAC Cosmetics again to donate $10 million to organizations affected by the pandemic.

Miley has shown support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

Happy Hippie Foundation

Miley is the founder of the Happy Hippie Foundation. This group works to "fight injustice facing homeless youth, LGBTQ youth, and other vulnerable populations." The foundation helps young people find shelter, resources, and support. Happy Hippie encourages Miley's fans to support causes like gender equality, LGBTQ rights, and mental health.

In June 2015, Miley launched the #InstaPride campaign with Instagram. It featured photos of transgender and gender-expansive people. Miley took the photos and interviewed the people to share their stories. She wanted to celebrate people who might not usually be featured in magazines.

After Miley and Liam's home was lost in the Woolsey Fire in 2018, the community and they started the Malibu Foundation for relief efforts. Miley's Happy Hippie Foundation donated $500,000 to this foundation. In 2024, Miley announced that the foundation would be renamed as Miley Cyrus Foundation.

Cultural Impact

Miley's early success as a teen idol and the face of Disney Channel's Hannah Montana helped shape teen pop culture in the 2000s. She was called the "Teen Queen." The Best of Both Worlds Tour sold out very quickly and made a lot of money. Rolling Stone magazine called Miley's rise "meteoric." Paul McCartney even compared her success to that of the Beatles.

Miley's song "Party in the U.S.A." has become very popular in American culture, especially on holidays like Independence Day. After the death of Osama bin Laden in 2011, the song became a celebratory anthem. In 2013, some people even suggested changing the US national anthem to "Party in the U.S.A."

Miley Cyrus figure at Madame Tussauds London

Miley's album Bangerz (2013) and its events were some of the most talked-about moments in pop culture in the 2010s. Glamour magazine said Bangerz would likely be seen as an "iconic" album. Billboard called Bangerz one of the most important albums of the 2010s. They said Miley took control of her public image and showed constant artistic growth. MTV named Miley their Best Artist of 2013.

In 2015, Rebecca Nicholson from The Guardian compared Miley to Madonna, calling her the "Madonna of her generation." She said Miley is a "Disney survivor" who is bold and connects with her audience. Vulture ranked Miley as one of the most successful child stars to become an adult music artist. Billboard has ranked Miley among the "Greatest of All Time Billboard 200 Artists."

Because she often changes her music and style, Miley has been called the "Pop Chameleon." The BBC called her "the ultimate 21st century pop star." In 2023, The Hollywood Reporter named Miley one of its "Platinum Players" in music. Billboard called her the "Comeback Artist of the Year" in 2023. In 2024, at age 31, Miley became the youngest person to receive the Disney Legends award. Artists like Chappell Roan and Lil Nas X have said Miley or her work inspired them.

Discography

Filmography

Tours

Headlining

• Best of Both Worlds Tour (2007–2008)
• Wonder World Tour (2009)
• Gypsy Heart Tour (2011)
• Bangerz Tour (2014)

Promotional

• Milky Milky Milk Tour (2015)
• Attention Tour (2022)

Opening act

• The Cheetah Girls – The Party's Just Begun Tour (2006–2007)

Awards and Recognition

Miley has received many awards and nominations throughout her career. In 2009, at just 16, she was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Song for "I Thought I Lost You" from the movie Bolt. In 2025, she was nominated again for "Beautiful That Way" from The Last Showgirl. She also won an MTV Movie Award for Best Song From A Movie for "The Climb" in 2009.

Miley has received 50 Teen Choice Award nominations from 2006 to 2014, which is more than anyone else in the history of those awards. In 2024, she won her first two Grammy Awards at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. By 2025, she has received 9 Grammy nominations in total.

Images for kids

• 

  Miley Cyrus's signature

See also

In Spanish: Miley Cyrus para niños

• Honorific nicknames in popular music
• List of Billboard Social 50 number-one artists
• List of most-followed Instagram accounts