The journey for Miley Cyrus to reach a place of reconciliation with her father, Billy Ray Cyrus, was a gradual ascent. Months after rumors of a family estrangement swirled for over a year, the "Flowers" vocalist and her dad finally reunited, exchanging messages about "healing." On May 31st, in an interview with The New York Times, Miley confirmed that their rift was a thing of the past, offering a glimpse into the root cause of their conflict: the divorce of her parents.
"Timing, I believe, holds the key," Miley reflected. "As I've aged, I've come to respect my parents as individuals, transcending their roles as mere parents. My mom has adored my dad all her life, and being married to someone in the music industry while not being part of it yourself must be incredibly challenging," she mused.
Miley, now 32, whose mother Tish Cyrus filed for divorce from Billy Ray in 2022 after nearly three decades of marriage, continued, "I internalized some of my mom's pain, as it hurt her more deeply than it did me as an adult. I bore the brunt of her sorrow."
The transformations in her parents' love lives—Tish's marriage to Prison Break alumni Dominic Purcell and Billy Ray's blossoming romance with Elizabeth Hurley, both announced on social media eight months after his divorce from Firerose—served as catalysts for Miley to navigate her emotions and embark on a path towards healing.
"Now, seeing my mom deeply in love with my stepdad, whom I adore, and witnessing my dad find happiness too, I can cherish them both as individuals, rather than as a parental unit. I'm handling this like an adult," shared the "More to Lose" singer.
Yet, shifting her perspective wasn't a walk in the park. "Initially, it's tough because the child within you reacts impulsively before the adult in you can rationalize, 'Yes, he's your dad, but he's also a person who deserves to be blissful and content,'" Miley confessed. "My inner child has caught up."
Her comments echoed weeks after her dad posted a rare family photo featuring the two of them. Their reunion, which took place during the celebration of her brother Braison Cyrus's 31st birthday, transpired more than a year after rumors of a family rift erupted when she excluded Billy Ray from her 2024 Grammys acceptance speech.
"My dad and I have faced our hurdles over the past year," the former Hannah Montana star penned on her Instagram Stories on May 10. "Now, in my thirties, family stands as my utmost priority. I'm at peace knowing bridges have been mended, and time has indeed been a great healer. I'm grateful for the health and love that permeate my family."
Billy Ray echoed his own sentiments about bridging their gap the following day, on Mother's Day. "I'm immensely proud of Miley, her guts, courage, wisdom, and strength to step up when our family needed it most," the "Achy Breaky Heart" singer wrote on Instagram on May 11. "We're nearly at full healing."
The 63-year-old added, "We've all been through a lot. On this Mother's Day, I'd like to attest to a couple of truths. Firstly, I still firmly believe in the power of prayer and humbly request, if you do too, to offer an extra prayer for the Cyrus family. I'd gracefully accept it."
