Billy Ray Cyrus reacts to daughter Miley dropping 'Cyrus' from her professional name

The name change quickly caught fans’ attention, with Miley now simply using “Miley” professionally. Her father, country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, subsequently addressed the decision in a candid Instagram post. “Family means more than ever now.

I always called my little girl Miley. Just … Miley. Just like I always called my little boy Braison,” Billy Ray wrote, referring to his son Braison Cyrus.

He went on to reveal that he had spoken with Miley about the decision and supported her choice. “I told @miley yesterday I felt good about her going with her first name. I mentioned Dolly and Cher,” he wrote, referencing other music icons who are widely known by their first names.

View this post on Instagram. Billy Ray also recalled that he had once considered performing professionally simply as “CYRUS” before his breakthrough hit. Achy Breaky Heartwas released in the early 1990s.

“Thinkin about it more and more … Elvis.. Prince …and so on. It’s a natural progression for an iconic superstar legend.

And the legend continues,” he wrote. Billy Ray ended the post by joking about his own professional name, writing, “Looking forward to the new album. Now … if only Mercury / Polygram would have just not insisted on the ‘Billy Ray’ part and just let me be CYRUS…… I could have done something!!!

Ha ha !!! 🤣 All good. 👍🏼”Billy Ray’s supportive message comes after years of public speculation surrounding his relationship with Miley. Their relationship became strained following his 2022 divorce from Miley’s mother, Tish Cyrus, with Miley later acknowledging that the divorce had caused tension within the family.

She subsequently clarified that she and her father were no longer on bad terms. Miley’s decision to go by her first name arrives alongside several major career announcements. In addition to.

Bass Persuades, she is returning to the Hollywood Bowl for her first performances there, telling fans that Los Angeles is “my heart” and that she is “bringing it home”.

For Billy Ray, however, Miley’s new professional identity appears to be less about leaving her family name behind and more about embracing a stage-name tradition shared by some of music’s biggest stars.