Miley Cyrus Opens Up About Complex Family Dynamic

Miley Cyrus is dishing about her parents Tish and Billy Ray Cyrus in a new interview with David Letterman. For the retired late-night host's Netflix show, My Next Guest Needs No Introduction, Miley, 31, sits with the legendary host and opens up about the complex family dynamic she grew up with and how that has impacted her now.

The "Achy Breaky Heart" singer, 62, and the podcast host, 57, were married for nearly three decades before calling it quits in 2022. They had three children together. After Tish filed for divorce, both parties moved on with new partners and got remarried in 2023, and the family seemed to be divided, especially among their children.

It was noted that Noah and Braison were absent from mom Tish's wedding to Prison Break star Dominic Purcell. During the Grammys, only Tish and Brandi were there for her big night. And just yesterday (June 12), it was reported that Billy Ray filed for divorce from his wife, singer Firerose, with just seven months of marriage under their belt. It is of note that Miley's interview with Letterman was recorded before the divorce news broke.

However, Miley kept the estranged rumors going when she evaded giving her father credit for being her "personal hero." With a long pause before answering, the Hannah Montana alum told Letterman, "I mean, honestly, my mom is my hero." Though she says she still has a "lot of love" for Billy Ray, Miley confirms it was her mother who was the one raising her. She did give kudos to both parents' contributions to her successes today "can’t be weighed on the same scale."

She adds that while she inherited her father's "perspective and reality on life," he also gave her her worst trait. With a laugh, the "Flowers" singer said, "I also inherited the narcissism from my father." She gave more background on her country star dad's childhood, saying he had it "really rough."

Reflecting on her career beginnings, Miley knows that despite the struggles, she grew up in a "beautiful big house," she had food and love, while her dad "didn't have that."

Back in August, Miley teared up while talking about her father. Looking at a video of her 8-year-old self singing along with Billy Ray to “Southern Rain,” Miley said, “I do have a lot of great memories singing music with my dad.” She remembers learning, absorbing, and seeing how her “wheels” were turning from watching his voice and the way that he used his voice as an instrument.

Miley's episode on My Next Guest Needs No Introduction is now streaming.

For over a decade, Miley Cyrus has been making music accompanied with visuals. Below, we've compiled the top 11 music videos that show just how Miley paved the way for herself in the music industry. Miley, whose real name is Destiny Hope Cyrus, was born on November 23, 1992, in Tennessee. Her father is country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, and he and her mother, Tish, gave her the nickname "Smiley," which they later shortened to "Miley" because she often smiled as an infant. In 2008, she legally changed her name to Miley Ray Cyrus. Her godmother is country singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. Amidst the height of Billy Ray's success and touring alongside Parton, he asked her to be Miley's godmother in 1992.

Cyrus auditioned for Disney Channel's Hannah Montana when she was thirteen years old, initially for the role of the title character's best friend. However, she was called to audition for the lead role. Despite being denied the part at first because she was "too small and too young" for the role, she was later cast as the lead because of her singing and acting abilities. She became a "teen idol" after the show's success, which ran for four seasons and ended with a theatrical feature film in 2009. Following her Disney days, Cyrus was hoping to develop a more mature image and starred in Nicholas Sparks' The Last Song. This is where she met her now ex-husband, Liam Hemsworth.

In 2023, Cyrus dropped her eighth studio album, Endless Summer Vacation. She described the record as her "love letter to Los Angeles," which reflects upon the "strength" she found in focusing on her physical and mental well-being. The music video for the album's debut single "Flowers" shades her ex-husband for cheating on her with 14 women. She said in March the song reflects a time in her life when she went through a lot emotionally and personally. It started as something that was troubling. Using a metaphor to describe “RIVER,” the songwriter said. "It feels like it’s an April shower. It never stops raining. And then it started raining down like love." The artist then said bluntly how “they” don’t want her to talk about her ex-husband, whose name is censored.

Keep scrolling below to see our favorite 11 Miley Cyrus music videos:

Dua Lipa joins Miley in 2020's "Prisoner" from Plastic Hearts, where the two bring back the 80's music era through their aesthetic vibes. Their voices complement each other so well! The video also references The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

The slot machine shows the different eras of Mileys in her life, followed by the iconic Hannah Montana sign. This music video is so nostalgic for fans as Cyrus' sound takes on a new glam rock sound.

"Midnight Sky," directed by Miley Cyrus, continues her '80s-inspired era in Plastic Hearts, evoking her inner Madonna. We are loving the glam, neon lights, and mirrored room.

Written about a place and person she loved at the time (ex-husband Liam Hemsworth), "Malibu" feels like her anthem of freedom. When Miley expresses raw emotions like in this 2017 track, we connect with her on a deep level between fan and artist.

"Slide away" is about letting go of your past, moving forward realizing things won't go back to how they used to be. The relatable song is accompanied by this music video, where you can see Miley's raw emotion and pain.

The first single from Miley's 2013 Bangerz, "We Can't Stop" was our first introduction to the bolder Miley that we now have come to know. Despite her hip-hop album being criticized even to the way she dressed in that era, this song was definitely a "banger."

Miley's godmother Dolly Parton wrote "Jolene," so naturally Miley covered the song as a tribute to her godmother. Her dad Billy Ray collaborated with Lil Nas X on a remix of "Old Town Road," and Lil Nas X recently did his own cover of "Jolene," which Dolly says she liked. Everything came full circle thanks to Dolly.

Remember when this music video was controversial because of Miley's clothing and dance moves?! Arguably, "Can't Be Tamed" is her most iconic video, giving us the pop version of Black Swan in her own way at 17 years old.

"When I Look At You" debuted over a decade ago, and it was used to promote the Nicholas Sparks film The Last Song, in which she co-starred with Liam Hemsworth. The piano ballad shows clips from the romantic film as Miley and Liam sit at the grand piano.

Featuring WATT, Elton John, Yo-Yo Ma, Robert Trujillo, and Chad Smith, Elton said Metallica's "Nothing Else Matters" is one of the best songs ever written by anyone. Miley's 2021 cover shows her more developed, adult voice that gives us chills.

The Kid LAROI adding Miley to the track was a brilliant move, as her voice collides so well with his. The video, along with many of her other music videos, was directed by Miley herself.