Billy Ray Cyrus Reacts to Miley Dropping Her Last Name

The country star is fully behind his daughter’s new one-name era as she prepares to release her 10th studio album, Bass Persuades.

September 5, 2026: Miley Cyrus is officially entering a new chapter — and her famous father, Billy Ray Cyrus, is giving the move his full support. The singer has dropped “Cyrus” from her professional name and is now presenting herself simply as “Miley” as she prepares for the release of her upcoming album, Bass Persuades.

Billy Ray addressed the change publicly on Instagram, explaining that he had actually spoken with Miley about her decision and felt good about her using only her first name.

HOLR breaks down what Billy Ray Cyrus had to say about his daughter’s new stage name.

Billy Ray Cyrus Says the Change Feels Natural

Billy Ray, 65, shared a throwback photo of himself with a young Miley and reflected on the fact that he has always called his daughter simply “Miley.”

“Family means more than ever now,” he wrote, explaining that he has always called his daughter Miley rather than using her full name.

He also revealed that Miley had asked for his opinion about the professional change.

Billy Ray said he told her he “felt good” about her going with her first name, viewing the decision as a natural next step in her career.

The singer then compared Miley’s new mononym with some of the biggest names in entertainment, mentioning Dolly Parton, Cher, Elvis and Prince.

For Billy Ray, the decision isn’t about Miley stepping away from her identity. Instead, he appears to see it as a sign of how recognizable she has become.

Billy Ray Even Joked About His Own Name

Billy Ray also used the moment to look back at his own career.

He recalled that before “Achy Breaky Heart” became a major hit in 1992, he had considered being known simply as “Cyrus.” He joked that his merchandise at the time featured the name “CYRUS.”

He playfully suggested that things might have turned out differently if his record label had allowed him to use the shorter name professionally instead of “Billy Ray.”

The comparison adds a personal touch to his reaction and shows that the father-daughter connection extends beyond their shared family name — both have thought about how their names fit into their musical identities.

Miley’s New Era Is Bigger Than a Name Change

The decision comes as Miley prepares to release her 10th studio album, Bass Persuades, on September 18, 2026.

The project follows her 2025 album Something Beautiful and marks another major creative shift for the Grammy-winning singer. Miley has described the new album as exploring the emotional range of music and life, including love, vulnerability, heartache and personal growth.

The title track and its accompanying music video have already been released, giving fans their first major look at the new era.

The album is also being promoted under the streamlined “MILEY” branding, making the name change feel like part of a larger artistic identity rather than a simple publicity stunt.

Miley Is Also Returning to the Stage

The new era will extend beyond the album.

Miley has announced two special performances at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on October 16 and 18. The shows will feature special guest Model/Actriz and mark her return to major live performances.

The Hollywood Bowl holds particular significance for Miley. She has said that it is one of her favorite places to experience music and that she has attended shows there many times but had never previously taken the stage herself.

 

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What About the Cyrus Family?

Billy Ray’s enthusiastic response also comes after years of public speculation surrounding his relationship with Miley and other members of the Cyrus family.

The family has previously faced reports of tension, particularly following Billy Ray’s split from Miley’s mother, Tish Cyrus. In 2025, however, Miley spoke about the family relationship improving, saying that time had helped heal old wounds and that family had become a priority for her.

His latest message appears to reinforce that more positive chapter.

Rather than questioning Miley’s decision to leave the family surname out of her professional identity, Billy Ray celebrated it — and even connected it to some of music’s most iconic one-name stars.

Is Miley Legally Changing Her Last Name?

There is an important distinction here.

Miley is changing how she is presented professionally and is currently going by “MILEY” as an artist. There has been no confirmation that she has legally changed her surname or removed “Cyrus” from her personal identity.

For now, the move is best understood as a professional rebrand connected to her upcoming album and new musical era.

HOLR has the latest news on Miley Cyrus’ new musical chapter and Billy Ray Cyrus’ reaction.

FAQs

Why is Miley Cyrus dropping her last name?
Miley is now professionally using only her first name as she launches a new musical era surrounding her upcoming album, Bass Persuades. A specific personal reason for dropping “Cyrus” has not been formally announced.

What did Billy Ray Cyrus say about Miley’s name change?
Billy Ray publicly supported the decision, saying he felt good about Miley going by her first name and calling the move a natural progression for an established superstar.

Did Billy Ray Cyrus support Miley’s decision?
Yes. He openly endorsed the change and compared Miley’s one-name identity with artists such as Dolly Parton, Cher, Elvis and Prince.

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