Miley Cyrus makes bold name change as she teases new music
Miley Cyrus… or just Miley (Getty Images)
It looks like a rebrand is underway for Miley Cyrus… or should we say, Miley.
The former Disney child star has dropped her surname from both her official website and her Instagram handle. On Instagram, she now has the mononymous username of @miley, while her website is just mileyofficial.com.
The 33-year-old also shared some colour-drenched portraits on Instagram, seemingly teasing a new era of music. She captioned one with: “MILEY.”
Fans were excited by the cryptic changes, with many referencing her debut solo single “See You Again”. In it, the lyrics include: “She’s just being Miley.”
Others shared their eagerness for new music, with one writing: “She’s coming!” Another said: “I’m having a visceral reaction to this,” as someone else replied: “Same! I’m itching for a new album.”
Of course, this wouldn’t be the star’s first name change. She was born Destiny Hope Cyrus, but legally changed her name to Miley Ray Cyrus in 2008. The name comes from a nickname her parents gave her – “Smiley” – which they eventually shortened to just Miley.
Miley released her album Something Beautiful in May last year, as well as the singles “End of the World”, “Easy Lover” and “Secrets” from it.
This year she has released the song “Younger You”, as part of the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special.
Miley’s time of change
The name change comes at what will inevitably be a difficult time for Miley, following the death of her godmother, Dolly Parton.
The beloved singer died on 25 August at the age of 80, and was laid to rest on 28 August in a private funeral with her immediate family.
Parton was close friends with Miley’s father, Billy Ray Cyrus, and she was chosen as Miley’s godmother because of that.
The “Jolene” icon said of her goddaughter in 2009: “I’ve known her since she was a baby. When she was born, he said, ‘You just have to be her godmother,’ and I said, ‘I accept.’” She added: “She’s just like one of my own.”
Miley paid tribute to Parton, saying she knows she would want her to “feel it, write a song about it, and then continue on and be strong”.
She added: “I will always love her and want to make her proud. My heart breaks for the world, her family and friends who will miss her deeply. We’re in this loss together and we will see her in all of the most beautiful things.”
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