As I delve deeper into the captivating saga of Miley Cyrus, I can’t help but marvel at her resilience and strength in the face of adversity. The tale of her life reads like a rollercoaster ride, filled with highs and lows that would break most mortals.
In 2024, Miley Cyrus became the youngest celebrity ever to be bestowed with the title of Disney Legend. She received this recognition at Disney’s D23 Expo in Anaheim, California. Sharing the stage with esteemed figures like Harrison Ford, Angela Bassett, and James Cameron, the multi-Grammy winning artist struggled to hold back tears as she graciously accepted the honor. In a moving tribute, she acknowledged her time as a Disney star on “Hannah Montana” and thanked her dedicated fans for making her dreams come true, quoting from the beloved character, “This is the life.”
Regrettably, Miley Cyrus’ journey towards becoming a Disney Legend wasn’t straightforward. As her career transitioned from child stardom to tabloid headlines, scandals, and pop fame, she experienced a wide range of challenges that life often presents. There were controversies that sparked public debate, romantic relationships that garnered public interest, and countless opportunities for growth and learning, all under the scrutiny of the world.
On the contrary, Cyrus has faced challenges that many people may not be fully aware of, such as personal health issues and periods of sorrow and mourning. Although Cyrus is relatively young in comparison to other Disney Legends, upon reflection of her challenging real-life journey, it becomes clear that her year of triumph is long overdue.
She was born with a rare heart condition
From the very start of her life, Miley Cyrus has been deeply immersed in the world of entertainment. Incidentally, the year her father Billy Ray Cyrus’s hit song “Achy Breaky Heart” peaked on country charts happened to be the same year Destiny Hope Cyrus (later known as Miley) entered the world, earning the nickname “Smiley.” Her godmother, the renowned country artist Dolly Parton, added a touch of glamour to her early years. However, beneath this shiny surface, life at home wasn’t always smooth sailing, as Cyrus herself would disclose later on.
2009 was the year when Miley Cyrus published her memoir titled “Miles to Go,” where she revealed that she was born with tachycardia, an uncommon medical issue that makes her heart beat abnormally even at rest. Although it’s not a life-threatening condition, she’s had to adapt to living with it, expressing (through MTV) that there isn’t a moment on stage when she doesn’t think about her heart.
In the later stages of her life, Cyrus’ openness about suffering from tachycardia attracted criticism. Her frequent use of drugs and alcohol caused alarm among medical experts, who emphasized the potential harm such behavior could cause to her health. A notable instance was when Cyrus had to cancel a concert in 2014 due to an allergic reaction to antibiotics, which underscored the potentially severe repercussions her lifestyle might have had, given her birth defect.
She’s faced sexism throughout her career
Many young female entertainers share tales of the challenges they faced during their careers. Miley Cyrus isn’t an exception, as she’s encountered sexism since her early years. From being stereotyped as a Disney child star to being assumed all pop stars are divas, Cyrus has openly discussed the sexist remarks hurled at her.
2008 saw an instance where the Disney teen idol found herself in controversy. A photograph by Annie Leibowitz, featuring her with her back exposed, was published in Vanity Fair, causing uproar among parents of “Hannah Montana” fans. However, at that time, Cyrus was less vocal about her opinions, offering an apology to those families who felt offended, viewing the image as an artistic expression of herself.
In the later stages of her career, Cyrus became intolerant towards sexist remarks, particularly in work environments. She discussed an incident on Joe Rogan’s podcast (as reported by EW) involving a disagreement she had with the directors of the VMAs in 2020. The dispute was over lighting, and one of them remarked, “If a man were doing this, we wouldn’t be having this issue,” to which Cyrus responded, “A man wouldn’t be dealing with this because a man doesn’t promote our show using sex the way I do.”
Playing Hannah Montana gave Cyrus an identity crisis
As a devoted fan, I can’t forget the moment when Miley Cyrus, at just 13 years old, catapulted onto our screens as the lead in Disney Channel’s “Hannah Montana.” Playing a character named Miley, who secretly was a famous pop star, this role marked her debut. Interestingly enough, my beloved Billy Ray Cyrus, a renowned country singer in real life, portrayed Miley’s on-screen father on the show. However, the intriguing drama that unfolded on the series seemed to have an uncanny resemblance to Miley’s personal life, creating a fascinating blend of fiction and reality.
In the “Rock This with Allison Hagendorf” podcast in 2021, Cyrus confessed that she often struggled to distinguish Miley Stewart, her character from “Hannah Montana,” and herself. She explained that the premise of the show was that when you embody a character, especially one with an alter ego like Hannah Montana, you are considered valuable. This idea, according to Cyrus, was constantly reinforced in her mind, almost to the point where she felt insignificant without being Hannah Montana. She described this feeling as akin to an “identity crisis.”
The resolution of that identity crisis influenced an episode in the Netflix series “Black Mirror,” where Cyrus played the part of a discontented pop star, Ashley O, who was created expressly for her. Critics often drew parallels between Cyrus’ performance as Ashley O and a dystopian adaptation of Hannah Montana.
She struggled with being a role model as she got older
After the conclusion of “Hannah Montana” in 2011, Miley Cyrus was 19 and had spent significant years of her teenage life portraying a fictionalized version of herself on the Disney Channel. However, being Miley Cyrus outside of that role wasn’t easy, as she grappled with balancing her own personal life with being a public figure idolized by children. This dual existence culminated in a scandal in 2010, when she was caught on camera using salvia, although it was legal in California, it made Cyrus confront her role as a role model to young fans.
After “The Bong Incident,” it’s common knowledge about how things progressed, but Cyrus perceived her questionable lifestyle choices during her youthful years as a natural phase of growing up. In an interview with British Vogue in 2023, she explained, “I was seeking attention because I was distinguishing myself from the character I had portrayed. At that age, 20 or 21, one tends to feel a need to prove oneself: ‘I’m not like my parents.’ ‘I am who I am.'” Despite being criticized by the world and herself during those years, she has grown more understanding and forgiving towards both herself and others as an adult.
In essence, numerous young artists acknowledge Cyrus as their inspiration, despite her reputation for being unconventional. Yet, it was crucial for Cyrus to understand that being a role model doesn’t necessarily involve conforming to societal norms.
Her Bangerz era was rife with public scrutiny
Beyond her role in “Hannah Montana,” Miley Cyrus’ pop career has produced some timeless classics, such as “Party in the U.S.A.” and “The Climb.” However, in 2013 she took a more unconventional route. The song “We Can’t Stop” solidified her image as a modern party icon, while “Wrecking Ball” became her first single to top the Billboard charts. Interestingly, the music video for this song saw Cyrus taking a bold step by swinging on a wrecking ball in a nude outfit.
In the aftermath of Cyrus’ actions, she faced the repercussion of being dismissed from the cast of “Hotel Transylvania” following a controversial post where she licked an explicit birthday cake. The incident sparked a frenzy in the media, with some voices defending Cyrus. One such defender was her godmother, Dolly Parton, who expressed her support to Time magazine in 2014, stating, “If I hadn’t known Miley for her intelligence and talent, I might have had concerns… I followed my own path, so why can’t she find hers?”
At the 2013 VMAs, Miley Cyrus’s performance with Robin Thicke became a turning point, as she notoriously danced provocatively on Thicke on live television. If there were any doubts about Cyrus distancing herself from her Disney roots, this act certainly made it clear. Reactions ranged widely online, from harsh criticism to the creation of iconic memes. It’s safe to say that Taylor Swift’s reaction in the audience was not typical.
Guilt forced Cyrus to change her ways
Despite the public’s view of her shifting significantly following the VMAs, Miley Cyrus handled the media uproar remarkably calmly, choosing instead to seize the moment and make a positive impact on the world. In 2014, she established the Happy Hippie Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping homeless LGBTQ+ youth. The following year, she extended kindness by inviting a homeless fan to accept the Video of the Year award for “Wrecking Ball”, which was given in light of the Robin Thicke incident.
Miley Cyrus’ involvement with homeless youth wasn’t merely a self-serving attempt to shift focus away from herself. Instead, she expressed her deep-rooted concern for the growing issue of homelessness among LGBTQ+ youth in an interview with Paper magazine, stating, “I can’t just drive by in my car and not do something… Is that fair? Am I that lucky?” Over time, The Happy Hippie Foundation has played a significant role in offering meals to the homeless, arranging housing for HIV-positive transgender individuals, and counseling survivors of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting.
Changes in Cyrus’ behavior were also influenced by significant events such as grief. The death of her dog Floyd in 2013 led her to adopt veganism almost instantly. Later, due to advice from her doctor, she transitioned to a pescatarian diet; however, this was not in line with her compassionate nature, as she expressed to Joe Rogan that eating fish brought her great sorrow, stating “I cried for a long time… it really hurts me to eat fish.”
Her later albums struggled to appeal to audiences
In 2024, Miley Cyrus earned her first two Grammy awards, one for best pop solo performance and another for record of the year, both for her popular single “Flowers.” This victory was particularly meaningful for the pop icon, given her career’s rollercoaster ride with critics. Prior to this achievement, her career had seen a blend of successes and setbacks in terms of critical acclaim. Her debut album post-Disney’s Hollywood Records, titled “Bangerz,” released in 2013, generated immense buzz in the pop music scene, despite some critics claiming that it lacked strong songs beyond its hit singles like “We Can’t Stop” and “Wrecking Ball.”
2015 saw the surprise release of “Miley Cyrus and Her Dead Petz” on SoundCloud, showcasing Miley Cyrus delving into psychedelic rock. The 23-track album received a mixed response from critics, with many reviews being rather harsh. However, The AV Club offered a more understanding critique, stating, “Regardless of the music or art’s quality, what truly matters is Miley’s capacity for unfiltered self-expression and raw emotional release.”
In the 2010s, Cyrus’ subsequent ventures fell short of matching the cultural impact achieved by “Bangerz.” Her 2017 release, “Younger Now,” aimed to separate herself from contemporary hip-hop’s misogyny but was met with criticisms about her authenticity when she reverted to a country sound. However, it wasn’t until her 2020 album “Plastic Hearts,” which embraced glam rock, that critics generally agreed she found her artistic voice again.
Miley’s house was destroyed by wildfires
Even well-known personalities aren’t exempt from the repercussions of natural disasters. For instance, in 2018, the Woolsey Fire swept through parts of California, destroying approximately 100,000 acres and causing almost $6 billion worth of damage. During this time, Miley Cyrus was safe in South Africa filming “Black Mirror,” but her then-husband Liam Hemsworth had to rescue their animals from the fire. In response to an unfortunate incident that came dangerously close to taking Hemsworth’s life, Cyrus expressed her feelings on Twitter, saying, “Although my house is gone, the bonds shared with family and friends remain strong. I am thankful for… all I have left.”
For Cyrus, losing the house was incredibly distressing because it was the place where she first recorded an album as Miley Cyrus, not Hannah Montana, before Hemsworth accidentally purchased it later on. This house held special significance to her, as it was where she found her voice as a songwriter under the guidance of her producer, Matthew Wilder. Unfortunately, the wildfire destroyed not only the house but also personal items, photos, and decades of cherished memories for both Cyrus and her partner.
The heartbreaking event led Cyrus and Hemsworth to get married, as Cyrus expressed to Vanity Fair, “Going through what we went through together feels like a bonding agent. The two of you are the only ones on Earth who truly comprehend it.”
She underwent surgery for abusing her vocal cords
Unfortunately, Miley Cyrus’ youthful exuberance seemed to impact her vocal health more quickly than is typical for singers. Despite being a celebrity with a distinctive voice, Cyrus didn’t seem to prioritize the care of her vocal cords as one would an instrument, engaging in activities and lifestyle choices that potentially jeopardized her entire music career.
During an interview with Joe Rogan (on YouTube), Cyrus shared that she was diagnosed with Reinke’s edema, a throat condition caused by excessive vocal use. She explained, “I started touring around age 12 or 13, and after a show, the adrenaline would keep me awake. I’d stay up talking all night, which later turned into smoking all night. Now, this is the result of that lifestyle.”
In 2021, Cyrus underwent emergency vocal surgery following a hospitalization for tonsillitis. The operation wasn’t a one-time solution; instead, Cyrus needed to learn about the importance of vocal rest for preserving her voice’s health in the long run. Post-surgery, she had to quit using drugs and alcohol altogether and embrace sobriety to protect her voice further. According to her mother Tish, these changes have had a beneficial effect on Cyrus’ life as a whole.
Her divorce from Liam Hemsworth was hard
Miley Cyrus’ relationship with actor Liam Hemsworth spanned many years, experiencing periods of togetherness and separation. They first encountered each other while filming the lesser-known drama “The Last Song” in 2010. They became engaged in 2012, but separated following persistent media speculation for several months. Their bond was reignited in 2016 before they tied the knot in 2018. However, their marriage didn’t last long as they filed for divorce less than a year later. Despite appearances suggesting a turbulent romance, Cyrus maintains that there was genuine love between them.
Cyrus reminisced in a TikTok video on the decision to wed, having accepted that while the marriage was born out of love, it was also a result of the trauma of losing their home. She revealed that her performance at Glastonbury in 2019 was “the day that I had decided that it was no longer going to work in my life, to be in that relationship.” And yet, in a very Hannah Montana move, Cyrus still performed, with some publications labeling it a reinvention of Cyrus’ artistic image.
Looking back on my divorce from Hemsworth, it wasn’t an easy pill to swallow after all the efforts we put into our relationship over the years. The constant rumors and speculation about how and why it ended didn’t help either. Yet, this challenging experience served as a powerful source of inspiration for me, leading to the creation of my 2020 album “Plastic Hearts” and the Grammy-winning hit single “Flowers.”
She mourned the loss of her grandmother
2020 brought an enormous grief to the Cyrus family with the passing away of Loretta Finley, fondly known as “Mammie,” who was Miley’s cherished grandmother. Known well among Cyrus’ fanbase, she often graced red carpet events alongside her granddaughter and even visited the set of “The Voice” when Miley served as a coach and Dolly Parton appeared as a guest star.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Cyrus announced the passing of her grandmother and honored her memory by vowing to maintain her spirit through acts of kindness and treating others with the compassion we all aspire to receive. Later on, she paid tribute to her grandmother in her album “Endless Summer Vacation” by dedicating a song titled “Wonder Woman,” which celebrates the resilience that was passed down from her grandmother, to Cyrus’ mother, and then to Cyrus herself.
Cyrus finds unique and unusual methods to recall her grandmother’s influence on her career. An example of this is a sketch she performed during the 2015 VMAs, where Mammie made marijuana-infused cookies with Snoop Dogg. Interestingly, Cyrus disclosed in 2023 that these were actually edibles.
Miley’s relationship with her father has become estranged
2024 was a significant year for Miley Cyrus, both personally and professionally. She was honored as a Disney Legend and won her first two Grammy awards, marking professional milestones. However, amidst this success, she also experienced some personal hardships. Her parents, Billy Ray Cyrus and Tish Cyrus, divorced in 2022, and the family dynamics were further strained when Miley and her older sister Brandi chose not to attend their father’s second marriage to Firerose, whom he had met on the set of “Hannah Montana.” Media outlets raised concerns once more when Miley failed to acknowledge her father during her acceptance speeches at the 2024 Grammys.
The situation between Billy Ray and Firerose has become increasingly complex due to their impending divorce. A private conversation between Billy Ray, leaked by Firerose, reveals him using derogatory language towards not only his current spouse but also his daughter and her mother, employing disrespectful sexist slurs. Miley, so far, has chosen to stay out of the public eye regarding her parents’ divorce, though she has been vocal in expressing her support for Firerose’s new relationships since her separation from Billy Ray.
In essence, Miley appears to be staying mum regarding any perceived distance with her father, yet in an interview with David Letterman, she acknowledged on “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction” (as reported by Billboard) that “[There’s] a roadmap of what’s acceptable and what isn’t, and he’s been a guide for me in both areas. … I’ve inherited the self-centeredness from my father.” Considering Miley’s recent professional trajectory, it seems she is now charting her own path.
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2024-08-15 14:31