
Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley
Todd Plitt/Getty ImagesSorry Hannah Montana fans, Miley and Billy Ray Cyrus they don’t seem to have the same close relationship they portrayed on screen for years.
Billy Ray and ex-wife Tish Cyrus welcomed daughter Miley (born Destiny Hope) in November 1992. While Billy Ray had a career of his own before his relationship with his daughter — “Achy Breaky Heart” reached topped the US Hot Country Songs chart upon release — work Hannah Montana introduced the singer to a new generation when she starred as the fictional Miley and Robby Ray Stewart on the Disney Channel from 2006 to 2011.
After the series ended, Billy Ray claimed the lead role Hannah Montana “destroyed” the Cyrus family. (Billie Ray and Teece broke up and reconciled on various occasions before finally splitting in April 2022.)
“I’d take that back in a second. For my family to be here and for everyone to be well and safe and sound and happy and normal would be fantastic,” he said. GQ in 2011. “Eck, yeah. I’d delete it all in a second if I could.”
Miley’s mom, The Cyrusesand older sister, Brandy Cyruslater addressed Billy Ray’s earlier comment, noting that they didn’t feel the same way.
“The family is not broken, first of all,” Brandi said during a February 2024 appearance on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast. “We’re doing great.”
Keep scrolling to look back at Miley and Billy Ray’s ups and downs over the years:
The “Hannah Montana” Years.

Miley and Billy Ray Cyrus
Cover imagesBilly Ray starred as Miley’s father Hannah Montana for the four seasons of the Disney Channel show, even releasing the duet “Ready, Set, Don’t Go” in 2008. While Billy Ray admitted that the show “destroyed” her family, Miley never acknowledged exactly his comments.
Their “Vanity Fair” cover.
Miley and Billy Ray posed together for the Vanity fair June 2008 cover. Hannah Montana Fans will remember the photo of the father-daughter duo lounging in matching black shirts and jeans — or the controversial photo of Miley smiling with her bare back out as a white sheet covered her breasts.
At the time, Miley spoke fondly of her parents when asked if she has to be careful what she says and does.
“Not really. That’s what my parents are for,” Miley said. “They’re there to take care of it and I can just do what I love.”
You don’t follow Billy Ray
After Billy Ray and Tish’s divorce in 2022, eagle-eyed fans noticed that Miley was unfollowing her father on Instagram. This action sparked rumors of a feud between the two. (Us Weekly confirmed that Miley is still unfollowing Billy Ray.)
Miley gets emotional with Billy Ray

In a series of TikTok videos to promote the August 2023 release of her single, “Used to Be Young,” Miley reminisced about her childhood and “got emotional” talking about her dad.
“My dad grew up the opposite of me, so I think that’s where me and my dad’s relationship with fame and success is very different,” he said at the time. “The fact that he felt loved by a large audience affected him more emotionally than it did me. When he feels special or important it’s like healing a childhood wound and they always made me feel like a star.”
Billy Ray’s Marriage Drama
The rift between Miley and Billy Ray seemed to grow as she got married Firerose — who is 27 years his junior — in October 2023.
Instead of supporting his marriage, Miley seems to be more on board with Tish’s marriage Dominic Purcell. (Miley, Brandy Cyrus and Trace Cyrus was at Tish’s wedding while their brothers Noah Cyrus and Braison Cyrus did not attend.)
Miley’s 2024 Grammys Speech

Miley further fueled rift rumors following her record of the year win for her song “Flowers” when she seemingly left Billy Ray out of her acceptance speech. Miley called her mom, Brandi’s sister, a friend Max Morado and associates Thomas “Kid Harpoon” Hull, Michael Pollack, Brian Rajaratnam and Note the “Spike” Stent..
“Not everyone in the world is going to get a Grammy, but everyone in this world is spectacular. So don’t think that’s important — even though it’s very important, right, guys?’ she added, naming her mom, sister, and boyfriend. “We are very excited. I want to thank everyone who is standing on stage. I don’t think I forgot anyone, but I might have forgotten the underwear. Goodbye.”
Anecdotes about the legacy of “narcissism”
During Miley’s June 2024 appearance on My next visitor needs no introductionhe said to the host David Letterman that Mama Tish is “[her] hero,” but has a more complicated relationship with Billy Ray.
“He almost gave me this map and it’s a map of what I should do and what I shouldn’t do, and he guided me through both,” Miley said. “Without my dad, I know… who I am as a person wouldn’t exist. Because my dad as a creative and as an artist and the way his brain works has always made me feel more secure in my own mind.”
She continued, joking: “Me too inherited narcissism from my father. I don’t know anything about my own brothers except the part I did. … I moved to LA, and that’s all I really knew.”
Miley’s 32nd birthday
Billy Ray found time to celebrate his daughter on her 32nd birthday. “Happy Birthday Millie!!! I hope it’s the best!” she wrote via Instagram on November 23. “(I know I dropped the ‘y’. That’s what I’ve been calling @mileycyrus most of her life. ❤️).”