Miley Cyrus has officially embraced a simpler identity: Miley. Her father, Billy Ray Cyrus, has now publicly backed the decision to permanently drop “Cyrus” from her stage name, comparing the move to artists such as Dolly Parton, Cher, Elvis and Prince.
Billy Ray shared his thoughts in a social media post, recalling that he has always called his daughter “Miley” and connecting the name change to his own history with the Cyrus name. He explained that before “Achy Breaky Heart” became his signature hit in 1992, his merchandise and branding simply featured “CYRUS.”
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“Family means more than ever now. I always called my little girl Miley. Just … Miley,” Billy Ray wrote. He added that he had recently told her he felt good about her decision to use her first name professionally, pointing to other iconic performers who became instantly recognizable through a single name.
The post also offered a glimpse into how Billy Ray views the change within Miley’s career. “It’s a natural progression for an iconic superstar legend,” he wrote, before adding that “the legend continues” and expressing excitement for her forthcoming album.
Miley’s decision arrives as she prepares to enter a new chapter with Bass Persuades, her 10th studio album and first release under Atlantic Records. The new album is scheduled for September 18 and follows days of carefully constructed clues that increasingly placed “Miley” at the center of her new era.
On August 31, she shared a red-and-black image containing only the word “MILEY,” while her social media usernames reportedly shifted toward @MILEY. Her official website also adopted the Miley-only branding at mileyofficial.com, reinforcing the impression that the change was more than a temporary campaign tactic.
The rollout began with mysterious billboards in New York featuring close-up imagery of Miley Cyrus’ eyes and the words “COMING SOON.” Fans initially speculated that the minimalist branding could signal a self-titled project, but the reveal ultimately led to Bass Persuades.
The album marks Miley’s first full-length project since Something Beautiful, which arrived May 30, 2025, through Columbia Records. It also closes the gap between her previous Sony Music era and her new relationship with Atlantic, where she signed in 2026 after 14 years with Sony.
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