Miley Cyrus is peeling back the layers of her complex family history — and revealing that time, reflection, and growth have helped her reconnect with her father, Billy Ray Cyrus, following years of estrangement.
In a new interview with The New York Times, the pop star and actress opened up about how her perspective on her parents’ marriage and divorce has evolved, saying she’s learning to see both her mom and dad as individuals, rather than just as “Mom and Dad.”
“As I’ve gotten older, I’m respecting my parents as individuals instead of as parents,” Miley said. “My mom really loved my dad her whole life, and I think being married to someone in the music industry and not being a part of it is obviously really hard.”
A Complicated History: Divorce, Distance, and Healing
Miley’s parents, Tish and Billy Ray Cyrus, were married for nearly 30 years before finalizing their divorce in 2022. The split followed a turbulent relationship filled with separations, reconciliations, and eventually, public tension — especially between Billy Ray and his children.
Following the divorce, Miley and Billy Ray reportedly became estranged, with fans noticing their absence from each other’s social media and public events. At the same time, both parents moved on with new partners: Tish married Prison Break star Dominic Purcell, while Billy Ray tied the knot with singer Firerose, whose real name is Elizabeth Rose Hurley.
Owning Her Family’s Pain
Miley revealed that a big part of her emotional journey involved understanding the weight she unknowingly carried from her mother’s hurt.
“I took on some of my mom’s hurt as my own,” Miley shared. “Because it hurt her more than it hurt me as an adult, and so I owned a lot of her pain.”
That realization — seeing how her mother’s heartbreak influenced her own feelings — helped Miley reframe her relationship with her dad.
Love for Her Parents as Individuals
While she once viewed her parents as a unit, Miley now says she’s learned to appreciate them separately.
“Now that my mom is so in love with my stepdad, who I completely adore, and now that my dad, I see him finding happiness too — I can love them both as individuals instead of as a parental pairing.”
This shift has allowed her to rebuild the father-daughter bond she once had with Billy Ray, despite public fallout and years of silence.
A New Generation Perspective on Public Drama
Miley also addressed the intense public scrutiny that has followed her family throughout the years. As a child star turned global icon, she’s no stranger to tabloid headlines — and she’s not letting them affect her peace anymore.
“The thing I like about the new way that the world works is that everything is so fast,” she said. “In the ’90s, when something happened in a tabloid, remember how it would happen for a year? Now it’s just gone.”
Miley added that she’s grown accustomed to the occasional wave of embarrassing headlines or online speculation.
“I’ve gotten so used to it that I’m like, ‘If this is the symptom — that sometimes we deal with these embarrassing or difficult public opinions — then that’s something I’m willing to take to have the life that we have.’”
Family First, Fame Second
Through all the fame, feuds, and personal growth, Miley’s core message is clear: healing takes time, and love can exist outside the traditional family mold.
Whether she’s on stage, in the studio, or navigating the complex dynamics of her upbringing, Miley Cyrus continues to show that vulnerability and strength can go hand in hand.
Check Out the Gallery:
Swipe through iconic throwback moments of Miley, Billy Ray, and the Cyrus family — from Hannah Montana days to recent red carpet reunions.
???? What do you think of Miley’s evolving family journey?
Let us know in the comments — and keep it kind! Families are complicated, even for celebrities.
