Miley Cyrus

Miley Ray Cyrus is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Considered a pop icon, she was named the “Teen Queen” of the 2000s after becoming an international superstar from the age of 13 as the main character of Disney Channel’s widely popular television series, Hannah Montana (2006-2011).

She was born on a farm in Franklin, Tennessee, to Leticia “Tish” Cyrus and country singer Billy Ray Cyrus (her godmother being Dolly Parton). Her parents named her Destiny Hope, believing she was destined to achieve great things in life, and they nicknamed her “Miley,” derived from “Smiley,” because of her frequent smiles as a child.

In 2001, when Miley was eight years old, her family moved to Toronto, Canada, while her father filmed the television series Doc (2001-2004). Cyrus discovered her love for acting after her father took her to a production of Mamma Mia!. She began taking singing and acting classes at the Armstrong Acting Studio in Toronto. She had her first acting role in Doc, and in 2003, she played Ruthie in Tim Burton’s Big Fish.

At age 11, Miley auditioned for Hannah Montana, a Disney Channel series about a teenager leading a secret double life as a pop star. Initially auditioning for the role of the best friend, she ultimately secured the lead role. When the series premiered in 2006, it broke records with the largest audience ever for a Disney Channel show, making Cyrus a teen idol. As Hannah Montana, she achieved significant success, including two number-one soundtracks and a top-ten single on the Billboard charts in the United States.

With the success of Hannah Montana, Cyrus released her debut album, Meet Miley Cyrus, in 2007 under her real name. The album peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified triple platinum. In 2008, she followed up with her second studio album, Breakout, which showcased her talent as a songwriter. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, and its lead single, “7 Things,” reached number nine on the Billboard Hot 100.

While continuing her role as Hannah Montana through a feature film and the final season, Cyrus also focused on building her career as an actress and singer. In 2010, she released her third studio album, Can’t Be Tamed, and starred in The Last Song. These projects marked her successful transition into a more mature public image, embracing the persona of a budding rock star.

Cyrus dramatically transformed her image with the release of her 2013 album Bangerz, leaving behind her Disney persona to embrace a more provocative and controversial identity. The album was a massive success, with its music videos racking up millions of views. Following her highly publicized performance with Robin Thicke at the MTV Awards, she became the most searched person on Google that year.

Miley married Liam Hemsworth in 2018 during a very intimate ceremony. After eight months of marriage, the couple split up. After her divorce, she released the album Plastic Hearts (2020), with a more rock-n-roll style.

Later in 2023, she released the first single from her album Endless Summer Vacation titled “Flowers”, which debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent nine non-consecutive weeks at the top of the global charts. The song became Cyrus’ second and longest-running US number-one single and was awarded​​ her first two Grammy Awards, for Best Pop Solo Performance and Record of the Year.

Cirus collaborated in the duet “II Most Wanted” from Beyoncé’s album Cowboy Carter (2024). The song was released as the album’s third single in April of that year, becoming an instant hit that reached the top ten in the US, the UK, and the Billboard Global 200 charts. At the 67th Grammy Awards, II Most Wanted won Best Country Duo/Group Performance, giving Cyrus her third Grammy win. She announced in early 2025 the release of her next project, Something Beautiful, describing it as a “visual album” and the start of a new era. 

The singer has supported homeless people in Los Angeles, people from the LGBT community in vulnerable situations, and people affected by political conflicts. She founded the Happy Hippie Foundation in 2014 to that effect.

In 2015, Cyrus spoke about her sexuality for the first time with Paper Magazine. She spoke about being aware of her bisexuality since she was 14 and of telling her mother, who was afraid that her daughter would suffer from being judged, but above all, she accepted her.

I remember telling her I admire women in a different way. And she asked me what that meant. And I said, I love them. I love them like I love boys.

Later, in 2016, in an interview with Variety, she spoke about her first relationship being with a girl. Cyrus has been open about her bisexuality and encouraged her fans to be who they really are. When she was married to Hemsworth, she also defended that she was still bi:

I’m in a hetero relationship, but I still am very sexually attracted to women.

As part of promoting her single “Used to be Young”, Cyrus released a series of short videos in 2024 where she examines photos and videos from when she was younger. In one of the videos, she showed a photo taken by a paparazzi of her with her Disney co-stars, which has become a meme, and talked about her bisexuality:

If you guys didn’t know I was bisexual from this damn picture, I don’t know what’s wrong with you. I mean, hello?

Miley Cyrus has built an impressive career as a singer, songwriter, and actress, seamlessly transitioning from childhood star to international stardom. With over 90 acting credits, eight studio albums, and more than 40 singles, she has cemented her place as a multifaceted artist. Her accolades include three Grammy Awards, a Brit Award, five Billboard Music Awards, three MTV Video Music Awards, and eight Guinness World Records. Recognized on lists such as Time 100 in 2008 and 2014 and Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2014 and 2021, Cyrus is hailed as one of the most successful artists of the 2010s by Billboard. She remains a rare example of a childhood star who achieved enduring success and influence in adulthood. She was honored as a Disney Legend in 2024 at the D23 Expo, becoming the youngest recipient. She dedicated the award to her fans and her role as Hannah Montana, highlighting its impact on her career.

Miley Cyrus is undeniably a pop music bicon with a distinguished career, effortlessly blending genres from pop and country to hip hop, experimental, and rock. She has cemented her place as one of the most influential figures of her generation and proudly identifies as bi.