When the famous pop artist Miley removed the surname “Cyrus” from her social media profiles earlier this week, it sparked speculation and gossip.
Many wondered if this move was a result of emotional distress over her godmother, Dolly Parton, or a rift with her renowned father, country singer Billy Ray Cyrus. Another theory suggested it could be related to the impending release of her next album.
To dispel the confusion, Billy Ray Cyrus took to social media today to clarify the situation. He shared a heartfelt post on Instagram, revealing that he has always affectionately called his daughter Miley, a nickname that originated from her cheerful disposition as a baby.
Miley, originally named Destiny Hope Cyrus, earned her moniker from her father due to her constant smiling, eventually evolving into “Smiley” and then simply “Miley.” Additionally, Billy Ray introduced his daughter to Dolly Parton during his time as Parton’s opening act on tour, leading to Parton becoming Miley’s godmother.
Both Billy Ray and Miley have expressed their deep sorrow over the recent passing of Dolly Parton. Billy Ray, who celebrated his 65th birthday on the day Parton passed away, emphasized the importance of family during this challenging time and supported Miley’s decision to perform under a single name.
Acknowledging Miley’s choice, Billy Ray mentioned that he encouraged her to embrace her first name alone, drawing parallels to iconic stars like Dolly, Cher, Elvis, and Prince who are known by a single name. This adjustment appears to be a strategic rebranding rather than an official name change for Miley.
Miley’s upcoming tenth studio album, “Bass Persuades,” is set to be released on September 18, along with the announcement of two live performances at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles in October. Expressing her excitement, Miley shared on Instagram that she feels a special connection to L.A. and is looking forward to performing there for the first time.
This shift in Miley’s public persona reflects her evolution as an artist, gearing up for new music releases and live performances in the near future.