No Achy Breaky Heart: Billy Ray Reacts to Daughter Dropping the Cyrus Name

Billy Ray Cyrus says he fully supports daughter Miley's decision to drop the family surname from her professional identity, revealing that at home she has always simply been 'Miley'. The country star, who once considered going mononymous himself, said he 'felt good' about the move as she prepares to release her tenth studio album, 'Bass Persuades'.

Miley removed 'Cyrus' from her website and social media branding in late August 2026 ahead of the new record. The change is strictly professional. Miley has not legally changed her surname.

Billy Ray Recalls When He Almost Went by 'Cyrus'

Billy Ray shared his reaction on X, a platform still commonly referred to as 'Twitter', saying he told Miley he supported the change. He compared her new mononymous identity with stars including Dolly Parton, Cher, Elvis Presley and Prince.

He also recalled that he had once considered doing something similar. Before his breakthrough with 'Achy Breaky Heart' in 1992, some of Billy Ray's merchandise carried only the name 'CYRUS'. It appeared alongside a POW MIA flag and the message 'You are not forgotten'.

He joked that his record label, Mercury/Polygram, insisted on putting 'Billy Ray' in front of it. Had the label allowed him to keep the shorter name, he suggested, his career might have looked rather different.

Mononym Marks the Start of Miley's New Chapter

Miley's decision to drop the last name comes as she begins a new phase of her career. 'Bass Persuades' is due on 18 September 2026 through Atlantic Records.

The album follows her departure from Columbia Records earlier this year and forms the centre of her latest era.

The rebrand has featured heavily in the campaign. Miley removed 'Cyrus' from her online presence and bought a wrap-around cover of the Los Angeles Times featuring her face and first name.

The album will feature Model/Actriz on 'Different Religion' and Andrew Wyatt of Miike Snow on 'Neon Signs'.

Miley will perform the album in full during two Hollywood Bowl shows on 16 and 18 October. The concerts will mark her debut at the venue, despite her having lived in Los Angeles for years. Model/Actriz is also due to join her on stage.

Miley Describes Inspiration Behind Album

Miley has described 'Bass Persuades' as a love story, but not a simple one. Speaking to Wonderland, she said love stories are layered and that the album reflects both her relationship with fiancé Maxx Morando and her own personal growth.

The couple became engaged in December 2025. Miley described their relationship as a peaceful kind of love and said changes in how someone relates to themselves can affect their relationships with others.

She has also said she wrote the album's ten-track list before recording and stuck to it throughout the process. An Apple Music pre-release listing also showed an additional track titled 'MILEY'. The cover shows Miley in a black-and-white close-up holding a rose between her lips.

Miley Pays Tribute to Godmother Dolly Parton

The new era began only days after the death of Miley's godmother, Dolly Parton, who died aged 80 on 25 August 2026 following a brief illness. Miley paid tribute to Parton after her funeral, calling her an 'angel' while saying some of their most personal memories would remain private.

Fans have also rushed to get their hands on the new album. A limited-edition signed vinyl release, available only in the US, sold out almost immediately. International fans were left frustrated, while debate returned online over whether some signed records were genuinely hand-signed or produced using an autopen.

Similar questions were raised around Miley's previous album, 'Something Beautiful'. Billy Ray's comments also come after months of speculation about tension within the Cyrus family. He has said the family is focused on the future and that he is looking forward to hearing what his daughter does next.