Few celebrities have reinvented themselves as publicly—and as often—as Miley Cyrus. Once the face of Disney Channel as Hannah Montana, she’s since evolved into a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter with a career defined by constant reinvention. And as she’s grown up in front of the world, so has her family.
As Miley’s career skyrocketed, the Cyrus family was right there alongside her in headlines—something Tish Cyrus talks about in her episode of The Squeeze. Think: parental divorces, new marriages, shifting sibling dynamics, and moments of reconciliation. The media caught, tracked, and covered it all—sparking intense speculation and curiosity.
But with five siblings, two well-known parents, and a laundry list of scroll-stopping stories over the years, it’s hard to keep up. That’s why in this post, we’re giving the lowdown on what happened to Miley Cyrus’ family. We’ll cover defining moments, recent hot topics, and nostalgic memories that explain how Miley and her family navigate life—both publicly and privately.
What Happened to Miley Cyrus’ Family? Here’s What We Know
Most know Miley for a few different reasons. Her rise to fame as Hannah Montana, her successful transition into pop music, and her iconic yet controversial moments across award shows, TMZ headlines, and Teen Vogue magazine covers. However, the more popular she became, the more attention was directed toward her family.
For nearly three decades, Billy Ray Cyrus and Tish Cyrus were seen as a cornerstone couple in entertainment. Essentially, their long and loving marriage shaped the family’s public identity.
In 2022, that image shifted. Tish filed for divorce, citing “irreconcilable differences,” and the world STOPPED. Okay, we’re being dramatic—but it was devastating. What followed were new romantic relationships, public reactions to those relationships, and a visible fracture within the family.
But each member has their own story, which is exactly what we’re here to talk about today.
Who Is Miley Cyrus?
Miley Cyrus is a Grammy-winning artist who rose to fame through Disney Channel but established her name through her own bold creative evolution. And while controversial at times, she’s unarguably one of the MOST influential artists of her generation. But let’s do a mini Miley recap, shall we?
Miley Cyrus Early Years: Touring with Billy Ray, Acting as Hannah Montana, and Finding Her Identity
Miley Cyrus was born in November 1992 in Franklin, Tennessee. Even then, though, her life was anything but average. At the time, her dad, Billy Ray Cyrus, was a huge country music superstar, most known for his 1992 hit “Achy Breaky Heart.” For Miley, this meant touring, living life on the road, and experiencing new cities regularly.
However, Miley had always dreamt of being a performer—and at 11 years old, she took the leap. Miley auditioned for Hannah Montana in 2004, landed the part in 2005, and hit the big screen in 2006. From there, her life became a whirlwind of touring and filming while also trying to balance being a regular kid. Basically, that whole “double life” thing from Hannah Montana had some truth to it.
Speaking of Disney stars, tune into “About Being… a Child Star (with Alyson Stoner)” from Tell Me More. It’s an interesting, firsthand perspective on the experience!
Miley Cyrus Teen Years: Independent Albums, Happy Hippie Foundation, and Rocky Relationships
After the show ended, Miley went on to totally reinvent herself. It started after the release of her very first independent album, Breakout, in 2008. In 2013, she transitioned into more controversial territory with her album Bangerz—home to hits like “We Can’t Stop” and “Wrecking Ball.”
And THEN came the 2013 VMA performance with Robin Thicke, which we actually covered in our “What Happened in 2013 Pop Culture?” post. The twerking, the flesh-toned bikini, the foam finger, the infamous fuzzy teddy bear costume. Now? It’s EVERYTHING. But back then? Oh, it shook things up. People were not happy with this transition, saying Miley was scandalous and over-sexualizing herself. (That’s show-biz, baby!)
In the midst of chaos, Miley founded the Happy Hippie Foundation, a nonprofit organization supporting homeless youth and the LGBTQ+ community. She even garnered celeb support from people like Ariana Grande, Joan Jett, and Maren Morris.
At the same time, Miley and Liam Hemsworth were dating, then engaged, then broke off the engagement, then got re-engaged, married, and later divorced. This was a turbulent time for Miley, and she even stated that it was a “decade-long, love-filled but ultimately trauma-driven connection.” And we can’t forget that she also lost her house in the Woosley Fire—an experience she’s since said was transformative.
Miley Cyrus Recent Years: Endless Summer Vacation, Grammy Wins, and Romantic Changes
Miley’s the first to admit that she did a lot of soul-searching. She became sober in 2020, released her Younger Now AND Endless Summer Vacation albums, won a Grammy for her song, “Flowers,” and began focusing on a more low-key lifestyle. This era of her life really reminded us of “Letting Go of Who I Used to Be” from Let’s Try This Again. Reinvention is powerful!
Naturally, though, the divorce of Billy Ray and Tish Cyrus began to impact her reputation. Enter Tish’s marriage, Billy Ray’s marriage, sibling feuds, and Miley leaving her dad out of her acceptance speech at the 2024 Grammys. Don’t worry, we’re getting there in a sec.
Now, though, you can find her engaged to musician Maxx Morando, keeping their relationship intimate but private. She’s also focusing on new music, a visual album, a 20th-anniversary celebration for Hannah Montana, and exploring acting again.
So… this leads us into our next topic. Who are Miley Cyrus’ family members and what are they up to?
Miley Cyrus’ Family Members: Parents, Siblings, and Background
A blended family dynamic naturally adds to the complexity of public perception. You have all these different Cyrus’ making headlines and redefining their images, but have no idea how they’re related. We get it!
Quick breakdown before we dive in. Billy and Tish share three biological children: Miley, Braison, and Noah. Tish has two biological kids, Trace and Brandi, from her first husband, Baxter Neal Helson. Billy Ray has one biological kid, Christopher Cody, with ex-girlfriend Kristin Luckey.
Okay, now that we’ve got that out of the way! Here’s more about the Cyrus family:
Billy Ray Cyrus (Dad)
Known globally as the “Achy Breaky Heart” singer, Billy Ray Cyrus didn’t just rise to fame because he’s Miley’s dad. He skyrocketed to success in 1992, introducing the family to the public eye long before Hannah Montana.
Aside from his Grammy-nominated hit, Billy Ray’s also known for the “Old Town Road” Remix in 2019, his debut in Hannah Montana, and his autobiography, Hillbilly Heart. He and Tish share three children together—Miley, Noah, and Braison. And, for a while, they raised a blended family in Nashville and Los Angeles.
For more intimate conversations on father-daughter relationships, tune into THIS podcast episode of Let’s Be Honest.
Tish Cyrus (Mom)
Before Kris Jenner came along, Tish Cyrus was an OG momager. In addition to raising a blended family of 5, she also guided Miley’s early career. Tish was an executive producer for The Last Song, starred in a reality show and podcast titled Sorry We’re Cyrus, and owns a production company.
Basically, she was the backbone of the Cyrus family, which is what made the eventual split SO much more emotional. You can actually hear her talk all about her life in “Tish Cyrus: Prioritizing Peace” from The Squeeze! It’s a vulnerable, emotional episode featuring candid conversations about divorce, family, and anxiety.
Noah Cyrus (Sister)
The youngest full sibling, Noah Cyrus, got to watch Miley grow up in the public eye for years. And because Miley’s Hannah Montana career was at its peak, people definitely speculated that Tish didn’t show Noah nearly as much attention. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
In addition to being Miley’s manager, Tish was also Noah’s manager. Because of this, Noah went on to voice act in Ponyo, release her single “Make Me Cry,” and earn a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. She continues to make a name for herself through her music and her honesty about addiction and mental health.
Braison Cyrus (Brother)
Braison Cyrus, Miley Cyrus’s younger brother, tends to stay out of the spotlight. However, don’t think that means he hasn’t made a name for himself. In 2018, Braison released his first song, “I’ll Never Leave You.” He’s continued writing music through 2025 while also helping co-write and produce music for his siblings and Billy Ray.
Trace Cyrus (Half-Brother)
Part of the older sibling group, Trace is Miley’s half-brother and co-founder of the pop-rock band, Metro Station. Actually, fun fact! He formed this band alongside Mason Musso, the older brother of Mitchell Musso, who Trace met on the set of Hannah Montana.
As Tish’s biological son, Billy Ray adopted Trace (and Brandi) in 1993, the year Billy and Tish got married. Now, Trace focuses on his country music career, frequently releasing singles as he navigates turbulent family dynamics and sobriety.
Brandi Cyrus (Half-Sister)
Brandi Cyrus, Miley Cyrus’s older half-sister, is Tish’s daughter from her previous relationship. She’s always been a steady presence in the blended family, supporting Miley from Hannah Montana to today.
Outside of her family’s reputation, Brandi’s a media personality, DJ, musician, podcaster, and equestrian! Even though things have been rocky in recent years, she and Miley are just as close as ever. In fact, they even celebrated a “double engagement” holiday season!
Christopher Cody Cyrus (Half-Brother)
Billy Ray’s son from another relationship, Christopher Cody Cyrus, is Miley’s older half-brother. Like Braison, he lives pretty far outside of the public eye. Most recently, it came out that Chris has tried to keep a lot of his emotions about Billy Ray private, but it’s definitely affecting him.
Timeline of Major Family Events: Getting to Know the Cyrus Family
Long Marriage of Billy Ray and Tish
For nearly 30 years, Billy Ray and Tish Cyrus celebrated a long, often complex marriage. But a 30-year marriage? In the entertainment industry? It was—and honestly still is—unheard of! They got married in 1993, had three kids, blended their children from previous relationships, and balanced fame and privacy.
That said, their marriage was definitely… rocky. Billy Ray filed for divorce in 2010, Tish filed for divorce in 2013, and there was a lot of back and forth. However, they decided to go to counseling to repair their marriage and keep the family together. And honestly, kudos to that!
Want an inside look at this kind of conversation? Don’t miss out on “When a Good Marriage Isn’t the Right One” from Barely Filtered.
Multiple Reconciliation Attempts Before 2022
As we said before, the two did experience a few divorce filings and reconciliation attempts. Come February of 2020, though, Tish told the world that she and Billy Ray had separated and were no longer living together.
Billy Ray was in Tennessee, Tish was in California, and Miley has since admitted that this was the height of a “dark decade.” She even went as far as to say that nobody was really speaking to each other. And, instead of talking about issues as they happened, things just kind of built up and exploded.
This isn’t just a Cyrus family thing, though—a LOT of us have this bad habit. If you can relate, listen to “Break These 3 Rules and Watch Your Life Change” from She’s So Lucky.
Final Divorce Filing and Citing Irreconcilable Differences in April 2022
Even though Billy Ray and Tish separated in 2020, they didn’t file for divorce until 2022. This time, it was Tish filing for the divorce, once again citing “irreconcilable differences.” This just goes to show that although the relationship was complicated, it was deeper than just “getting divorced and moving on.”
Tish lost her mom, the couple decided to take different paths, and all the kids had totally different experiences. Noah Cyrus, for example, said that they were dealing with “normal family stuff.” Miley, on the other hand, said it was “messy, difficult, and dark.” However, Miley was super clear about one thing: she’d ALWAYS go to bat for Tish. Mother-Daughter relationships just hit different.
Tish’s Engagement and August 2023 Wedding to Prison Break Actor Dominic Purcell with Miley As Maid of Honor
This is when things really get complicated. In August 2023, Tish married Prison Break actor Dominic Purcell in a private, poolside ceremony at Miley’s Malibu home. Miley was the maid of honor, Trace and Brandi attended happily, and Noah was… not present.
Why, you may ask? According to resources, Noah and Dominic were allegedly “friends with benefits” in 2022, before he started dating Tish. And according to other sources, Tish never gave Noah the chance to talk about her and Dominic’s relationship. All allegations, but it’s easy to understand how this would cause a rift in the family dynamics.
In fact, an Instagram commenter mentioned the awkward love triangle in a 2024 post by Noah. Her reply was, “Hey real grandma, I’m so sorry but will you pleeeeeass just choke on the fattest—”. We’ll leave the rest to your imagination.
Billy Ray’s Marriage—and Later Divorce—with Firerose
Tish wasn’t the only one who reclaimed her independence, though. Billy Ray Cyrus also remarried in October 2023 to singer Firerose. Emphasis on married, because he first MET the star on the set of Hannah Montana around 2010. He recognized her potential, invited her to watch the show’s rehearsal, and the two formed a friendship.
Their marriage only lasted 7 months, though, as Billy Ray filed for divorce in May 2024. The reason? “Irreconcilable differences” and “inappropriate marital conduct.” The Cyrus kids became even more divided after this.
Noah showed strong support, and Miley chose to omit Billy Ray from her speech after winning Record of the Year in 2024. Yeah, two totally different reactions—but the girls had different relationships with each parent.
Impact of New Relationships on the Cyrus Family Structure
The Cyrus family was known for YEARS for their tight-knit, down-to-earth familial relationships. However, after Tish and Billy Ray divorced, this slowly fractured. Miley, who was once super close to her dad, began to distance herself and defend her mom. Noah, having grown closer to her dad, began to drift away from the family altogether.
Miley later acknowledged that she took a role in cleaning up the drama because communication is more important than conflict. We’ll get deeper into how things look now in a second.
Miley Cyrus Family Issues
Divorce of Parents and Emotional Impact
As we said before, Tish and Billy Ray hadn’t lived together since 2020, which led to their eventual divorce in 2022. Except, naturally, the divorce was long, emotional, and public. Can you imagine divorcing someone after almost 30 years? And THEN having a camera shoved in your face as you’re trying to navigate things?
Tish openly discussed how the experience made her anxiety skyrocket. She wasn’t able to eat, she couldn’t sleep, and she was constantly crying. Because remember, on top of the divorce, Tish was also dealing with the passing of her mother. She described her experience as a “severe psychological breakdown.”
She talks more about this in her episode on The Squeeze. And if you’re in a similar situation, make sure to listen to “Body First Healing: How to Get Unstuck & Recover from Trauma” from The Balanced Blonde // Soul on Fire.
New Relationships and Public Reaction
Aside from their clashing personalities, Tish describes her marriage to Prison Break actor Dominic Purcell as a “fairytale.” She’s said she’s found her soulmate, that their romance is magical, and that he plans things to make her feel special. Really, that’s all a girl wants.
And honestly, the public perception was 50/50. Some people were happy for her because she was able to branch out and find love again. Others were a little, well, confused on how to feel due to Noah’s previous (alleged) relationship with Dominic.
While this was happening, Billy Ray also moved on and began another relationship with Firerose. Even though their marriage later ended in divorce, for the most part, people never really supported it. It wasn’t just because of Billy Ray and Firerose’s age gap, either—it was about loyalty and emotional legacies.
Rumors, Speculation, and Clarifications
Enter the rumors. After people found out about Noah and Dominic’s alleged relationship, it really added fuel to the fire. HOWEVER, it’s so important to note this: neither Tish nor Noah has confirmed or denied these rumors. They’re total speculation amplified by tabloids.
Remember that while we see stars in magazines and social media posts, they’re real people. Noah, as we mentioned earlier, did give a very public rebuttal to social media comments. But honestly, haven’t we all been there? Since then, the two appear to be on neutral terms—but we’re getting to that!
What Happened to Miley Cyrus’ Family?
It’s no secret that the Cyrus family went through marital challenges, public scrutiny, separation, and shifting relationships. But you gotta give it to ‘em, they did it with a hell of a lot of grace.
Of COURSE, there were emotional fractures, tabloids spinning narratives, and fans throwing out harsh opinions. This was especially true around the final divorce in 2022, the subsequent remarriages, and the lack of family attendees at weddings. However, the family was nothing but candid about the experience. In a world full of non-stop BS, we can all appreciate a little authenticity.
Over time, Miley actively worked to reconcile the drama. She admits that she’s not taking the “traditional therapy” route, which would’ve felt more like war. Instead, she’s working on building bridges, sharing joy, and appreciating positive experiences. Most importantly, she emphasizes viewing each family member as their own individual rather than a single unit.
How the Public and Media Fueled the Narrative
There’s rarely anything good that comes from paparazzi at every corner and snarky tabloid stories covering every magazine’s front page. Sure, sometimes we get a story like “Chelsea Handler Is More Confident Than Ever” from Not Skinny But Not Fat. But most of the time? The media does nothing but contribute to the drama.
All that to say: mass social media unfollowings, paparazzi coverage, and speculation magnified every move for the Cyrus family. Even neutral moments were framed as feud indicators. However, Miley has publicly dismissed a lot of them, reinforcing her close bond with Tish and reminding fans that not everything online reflects reality.
Where Are They Now? (2025 Update)
Things are totally different for the Cyrus family now than they once were. Miley’s engaged, Noah’s releasing music, Tish and Dominic are happily married, and Billy Ray is working on repairing bonds. Noah, Miley, Brandi, and Tish were even seen together in a photo from “The Cut.”
If you take anything from this post, let it be this: The Cyrus family’s story isn’t one of constant conflict. It’s one of evolution. Public, messy, and imperfect, of course—but it’s also marked by growth and reflection. Their experiences are real and raw, and they approach them with a true sense of authenticity.
The Cyrus family’s story is one of strength, resilience, and authenticity—regardless of what tabloids say.
Every family has its own challenges—some just have to deal with them in front of the whole world to see. Although much of the Cyrus’ family’s recent story involves conflict and confusion, it’s also been shaped by growth, reflection, and ongoing efforts to move forward. And, honestly, we can’t wait to see them continue to flourish in the future.
Want more of this kind of content? Head to the Dear Media blog! We cover pop culture topics, health and wellness tips, love life advice, and more. And, as always, our lineup of Dear Media podcast hosts covers anything and everything you want to hear about.
ALSO! We’ll be hosting a Dear Media IRL event in NYC featuring Amanda Hirsch, Good Guys, The Toast, and Heather McMahon! More details to come soon—you won’t want to miss out.
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