In a move that surprised absolutely nobody who’s been paying attention for the past two decades, Miley Cyrus has decided to drop her last name. The 33-year-old singer—sorry, the 33-year-old Miley—has officially rebranded herself as just “Miley,” joining the elite mononymous club that includes Cher, Madonna, Beyoncé, and that guy who lives in the apartment above me who insists everyone call him “Spartacus.”
The Great Name Purge of 2026
It all started on August 31, when Miley quietly changed her Instagram handle from @mileycyrus to simply @miley. Her 200+ million followers all gasped, then immediately started guessing whether this was a new album announcement, a family feud, or maybe just her finally getting tired of typing those extra five letters.
She then posted a bold red-and-black photo of herself with the caption just “MILEY.”
That’s it. No explanation. No dramatic essay about finding herself. Just “MILEY,” like she’d just found the caps lock key and decided to make it everyone’s issue.
And guess what?
The very next day, she announced her 10th studio album, Bass Persuades, dropping September 18. The timing was so obvious it could have been a clear plastic umbrella. But we’ll allow it, because Miley—sorry, Miley—has always been a master of the theatrical reveal.
But Why, Though?
Ah, the million-dollar question. Or in Miley’s case, the multi-platinum question.
The Family Feud Theory: Some eagle-eyed fans pointed out that Miley and her father Billy Ray Cyrus have had a famously complicated relationship over the years. The estrangement became especially public after her parents’ divorce in 2022, though tension had apparently been brewing since the Hannah Montana days, which, let’s be honest, sounds like the world’s most awkward family Thanksgiving.
The timing is definitely interesting. Billy Ray had just joined Miley onstage for her Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special earlier this year, which was supposed to show their repaired relationship. But then Miley went and dropped “Cyrus” like it was a hot potato. Coincidence? Maybe. But in the world of celebrity rebrands, nothing is ever just a coincidence.
The Artistic Rebirth Theory: Miley has described her upcoming album as exploring “a peaceful kind of love” and reflecting her “evolution.” She told actress Daryl Hannah for Wonderland magazine: “Once your relationship with yourself changes, every relationship around you changes too.” That’s pretty poetic and definitely sounds like someone who might decide they no longer need their dad’s last name attached to their artistic identity.
The “Because She Can” Theory: Let’s be real—when you’ve been famous since you were 11, have multiple Grammy wins, and have survived more career pivots than most people have outfits, you can call yourself whatever you want. If Miley wants to be just Miley, who are we to argue? Especially when she’s backed it up with a new record deal with Atlantic Records and a two-night stand at the Hollywood Bowl coming in October.
The Timing Is… Interesting
It’s worth noting that this rebrand comes just days after the death of Miley’s beloved godmother, Dolly Parton, who passed away at age 80. In an emotional tribute, Miley wrote: “What I KNOW is Dolly would want me to feel it, write a song about it, and then continue on and be strong. I have an angel by my side. I always have.”
If this name change is part of her “continuing on and being strong,” then honestly, Dolly would probably approve. She’d also probably say something like, “Honey, I’ve been Dolly for decades. You go be Miley.”
Is This a Bold New Era or Just a New Instagram Handle?
Miley’s website has been redirected from mileycyrus.com to mileyofficial.com. Her social media handles across all platforms now just say “Miley.” Even the press release announcing her new album refers to her as “Miley,” leaving out the surname completely.
This puts her in the company of entertainment royalty who are so famous they don’t need a last name. You know—Beyoncé, Adele, Cher, Prince, and now… Miley. It’s a power move, and honestly? She’s earned it.
The artist formerly known as Miley Cyrus will release Bass Persuades on September 18. You can call her Miley. She insists.
KATE SMITH